Mar 05 2008
Random Thought: Another One Bites the Dust
So, another book bites the dust. Last week I put down The Road because the setting turned me off. I started reading Doctor’s Daughter and put it down at the 8th chapter. I lost interest.
I’ve made it no secret that I believe writers should read. This is for reasons I mentioned here. But I’m adding to the list of reasons.
Reading a lot helps me get in the mind of agents. And as a result, I begin to understand why agents turn down books, what’s publishable and what’s not. Don’t get me wrong, I realize most of agenting decisions involve personal taste, and I can’t get into every agents head. I also understand that almost everything that has been published was probably turned down at one point or another.
But there is something to be said that reading allows me see when a book loses its oomph. It helps me understand why agents ask for a partial or a full and pass on the project. And hopefully, it will help me write a publishable novel.
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it,s been so long since i have read a book from start to finish i think thats why i like to read blogs iv’e learned a lot since started reading them i don’t know if i’m gettin that lazy brain stuff it seems a remember more in short doses then i don,t have to re read and take notes mark my pages tiered just thinkin about it keep up the good work on your blog and i’ll keep comin back your so cute and don’t be so hard on your self!!!
BIONIC
marsh
“don’t be so hard on your self!!!”
Perhaps if I try, I won’t be. But I have no desire to end self torture. Time to call my therapist.
I think you have an interesting perspective on this. I have issues with reading books just due to time. I’m working on getting that resolved a little (see my latest blog post) and hopefully learning some new tricks.
I think it’s cool to see things from the perspective of an agent, as that allows you to focus on writing the best book possible.
I am clueless as to what an agent seeks I LOVE to read, books, magazines, newspapers. I am a better writer after reading a good book. When I feel crappy, I read the Bard—always inspires me. (and go around talkin bard-soak gor dats.
Aaron - I’m interested to see if the Kindle will make a difference. I wonder if the Kindle is the new treadmill. You know, everyone has excuses as to why they can’t excersize. They dont have time, the gym is too far away, the weather doesn’t permit it and so on. Then they go and buy a treadmill.
For months they walk or jog on the treadmill because it’s a new toy. But soon they give it up because in the end it was never about not having a treadmill, it was lack of interest. So what I’m saying is that the excuses you have made (i.e. you like to watch tv, spend time with your wife, play games on the internet) will still be there when the Kindle arrives. The novelty of the Kindle may wear off.
The biggest question for you to consider is why you don’t make time to read. Why do you make time for TV and not reading? Why do you play games on the Internet and not spend time reading? Get to the root of that and you will begin reading. Or the answer may be that reading isn’t an interest of yours, or maybe just a passing one.
Because I know you, I already anticipate your exact response.
Diane - It’s hard to say what an agent will be interested in. Obviously The Road is a successful book and The Doctor’s Daughter was published so an agent and a publisher saw something in both of those books that I did not.
This method has a higher likelihood of being pleasant than reading through slush. And higher costs, too. But likely more pleasant.
I agree that this is one of the best things about reading for a writer. Even better if you can figure out what you learned after a read.