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One of the first things any establish writer will tell you is to read. Read as much as you can, specifically in the genre of writing you are targeting for your own style. Reading helps you understand structure, vocabulary, plot and so forth. It also helps you see what’s popular, what are the types of books readers are reading and editors are publishing. Along this line, I say not only read as many books as you can, but find ways to discuss them with other readers. This is why I suggest joining a book club.
Book clubs are a great way to see what other readers think about the books that interest you. You can discover what some people think work and don’t work when it comes to the story and plot. It may be able to help you understand what to avoid or what to try and learn more about with your own writing. At the same time, you may find good friends among the group. These friends can become readers of your own stories and be able to help and give you insight into what you can do to make the story that much stronger. Who knows, you might enjoy the simple act of discussing books even if you don’t find any guidance within conversations.
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As a writer, I am always on the look out for story ideas. Inspiration can come from anywhere: a dream, a TV show, a role playing game (RPG), like Dungeons and Dragons (D&D).
Up until a two and a half ago, I never played D&D. I knew it existed and what it was generally about, but none of my friends played so I never played. That is until I met my fiance. He's been playing RPG games practically his whole life and he and his friends have a standing Saturday night game. A couple of months of dating, I met his friends. A couple of weeks after that, I witnessed my first Dungeons and Dragons game. A couple of months after that, I was building my first D&D character. Building a D&D character is like building a character for a story, so the process was natural for me. I wanted a female character who was head strong, independent and could kick some butt. This character has a tragic past, one that lead her into the game and meeting the existing set of characters. But, here's what was different for me.  Every parent wants their child to become an active reader. Some parents have children who love to read and they didn't have to do anything to force it. Other’s aren't so lucky. As a writer and avid book lover/reader, it’s hard to believe that when I was younger my dad had to force me to read Nancy Drew. After one book, I was hooked. Now I have a collection as part of my library. You may have a similar story, either as a parent or as an adult. But what do you do when even forcing your child to read one book doesn't spark that interest in reading.
Here are some of my suggestions. |
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