SWRT 265 | Read Widely to Improve Craft

September 22, 2022

person typing on MacBook Pro on brown wooden table during daytime photo

This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss all the ways reading widely benefits you as a writer. There is so much more to be gained from reading as a writer than reading as a reader. Kathryn attests that her story craft has improved by reading beyond her favorite genre. How has reading improved your storytelling? What are the pitfalls to avoid when shopping for books? How can you find the books with the scenes that will deliver the help you need as a writer?

Would you like to join the Story Works Round Table? We’re looking for a new co-host!

Use the contact page to let me know you’re interested.

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

What we talked about:

Creating diversity within our reading. (3:07)

Why do people gravitate toward one genre? (4:36)

Reading widely within the same “genre” or “market”. (6:56)

Find the example that you need. (12:14)

Don’t get tunnel vision on a genre. (16:20)

The echo chamber problem. (18:09)

Books that explode as movies. (21:42)

Incorporating what you’ve learned as a reader into your writing. (23:30)

LINKS

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

Things we mentioned:

The Princess Bride

Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.

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About Your Hosts

Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Three times nominated for the Pushcart Prize, she is also a notable in Best American Essays and winner of the Page Turner Award. Author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series, Alida lives and writes in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.

Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.

Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com