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Wednesday, February 01, 2017

IWSG--Writing and Reading

It's not only the first day of February but also the first Wednesday of the month, making it Insecure Writer's Support Group Day. This month, the co-hosts are Misha Gerrick, L.K. Hill, Juneta Key, and Joylene Nowell Butler. Our question for this month is How has being a writer changed your experience as a reader?

I started writing back in my twenties, so I've been both a reader and a writer for quite some time now. The biggest effect writing has had on my reading is to make me more critical as I read a story. Of course typos and grammar mistakes jump out at me, but I also notice pacing, consistency issues, and other aspects of craft. Sometimes these observations lower my opinion of the story; other times, I feel impressed by the author's skill. Either way, I'm less immersed in the reading than I would be if I were just a reader.

How about you? Do you feel being a writer has affected your reading? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.

7 comments:

  1. Less immersed it a good way to put it. Glad I don't make movies - I'd be bummed if I couldn't still get lost in those.

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  2. LOL! Most definitely. I even catch typos in movie credits. :)

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  3. I don't think it's made much difference.

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  4. I wouldn't say I'm less immersed, but I do notice those things. Actually, I like reading to cement a subconscious map of where beats and major plot/character pacing should fall.

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  5. Same. Once you write, you start to pick apart how others do it, hopefully learning as you go.

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  6. I'm always looking to read or watch a great story. The problem is I don't just enjoy them anymore. I critique them and it does take away the fun sometimes.

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  7. Totally get that and agree. Great post.
    Happy IWSG Day!
    Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

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