SWRT 217 | What We’re Reading & Why We Chose It, part 2

August 12, 2021

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

This week we continue discussing what we’re reading now and why we chose it. Why would a successful, beautifully-written book lose readers? What niche mystery has Robert excited to read more?

VIDEO

AUDIO

SHOW NOTES

What we talked about:

How does the exterior structure of All the Light We Cannot See affect our experience of it? (0:41)

What happens when Alida loves a book? (4:19)

The problem of expectations. (5:24)

The problem of early success as an author. (8:30)

The problem of hype and recommendations. (9:45)

Keep yourself in mind! (12:33)

Read for pleasure and for craft! (14:55)

Does knowledge of craft hurt your reading? (19:00)

LINKS

Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.

Things we mentioned:

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
Wonder Boys
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
SWRT 132 Strong Female Protagonists part 2 (mentioned Robert B Parker)
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates

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