Tag: reading

Listen, fool…

~ Meg ~ 32 Comments

“The first and most important requirement is an understanding of human nature. … A man learns nothing when he talks; he learns by listening. Which is why those who talk the most are, in the ordinary run of things, fools.” – Essay on Novels, The Marquis de Sade

More writing advice from the esteemed (alright, notorious and dubious) Marquis de Sade. He is onto something, however.

Writers need to be students. Students of all that life has to inform us. I am a firm believer in reading, observing, listening and contemplating (possibly to a fault – I do drift off sometimes into my own private world of wonder). How else can a writer put him or herself into the mind of a character –a character who does not share your own life’s experience, beliefs, opinions, motivations, desires or biases?

Ask the why and the what for? What motivates people to do the things they do? Is it a lust for power, wealth, fame? Or duty, honor and family obligation?  Or most nobly, for love?

Observe people talking to their partners across the table at a restaurant. What do you gather from their facial expressions? Is it a romantic evening or is tension in the air? What can you gather by listening to the person next to you on the train as they talk on the phone? Is it business, a family matter, personal? (I am not advocating stalking, FYI!)

Just like traveling to the location we wish to use as our setting so as not to get it wrong, the characters we write also need to be authentic. And thus as we listen and observe, we then become empaths, placing ourselves in the situations we wish to write about.

And in the spirit of the above advice, I will stop talking and let the marquis’ words stand on their own.

Image thanks to NPR

Books, how I love thee.

~ Meg ~ 77 Comments

Writers, if you are not a lover of books, you need to have your heads examined. Seriously, you cannot, CANNOT be a good writer if you do not read. I have always loved books. As an only child, I grew up reading – making fictional friends to take the place of siblings. The first books I clearly remember reading were Richard Scarry’s picture books. Then it was Ramona Quimby and her big sister Beezus. Nancy Drew, Little House on the Prairie, Little Women….

I was a book nerd in high school, too. When other kids goofed off in free periods, I’d go bother the librarian. My high school librarian Mrs. Long, was a big, intimidating lady, but oh, she had great taste in books. She introduced me to Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Jules Verne, Douglas Adams…

And honestly, how can one pick a favorite? I’ve read the complete Sherlock Holmes collection and not just because of the TV series, either. (Although, I could listen to Benedict Cumberbatch reading a deli menu. That voice…) Other favorites include: Robinson Crusoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. More contemporary favorites are Tom Clancy’s: The Hunt For Red October, John Grisham’s: A Time To Kill, Khaled Hosseini’s: The Kite Runner and Sara Gruen’s: Water For Elephants.

Anthony Trollope asked, “What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book and a cup of coffee?” I couldn’t agree more. Perhaps I would add to that: a rainy or snowy day and a cozy blanket to wrap around your shoulders. To be forced by the weather to stay inside and curl up with a book? Heaven! And to have one with some heft, too, be it paper or electrons. As far as I’m concerned, a good story can go on forever. Lord of the Rings? Bring it on. Red Mars? But wait, there’s a trilogy.

I read many different genres and enjoy them all: mystery, thriller, romance, science fiction, espionage, historical fiction, biography… It’s been said that you can know a person by the type of books he (or she) reads. What does that say about me? Am I unknowable? Hmm. Perhaps just multi-faceted. Let’s go with that; it sounds so deep and sophisticated! *Snort*

Lately, I’ve been reading lots of history and non-fiction for research purposes. Beyond that, I just completed Graham Greene’s The End Of the Affair.  I am halfway through a biography of WB Yeats. I’m also working my way through the short stories of the Marquis de Sade. So what are you currently reading? Tell me what books you love. And what’s on your to-read list? If you like, join me on Goodreads. Winter is coming, let’s all curl up with a good book.

Books, How I Love Thee…

~ Meg ~ 23 Comments

 

Writers, if you are not a lover of books, you need to have your heads examined.  Seriously, you cannot, CANNOT be a good writer if you do not read!  I have always loved books.  As an only child, I grew up reading – making fictional friends to take the place of siblings.  The first books I clearly remember reading were Richard Scarry’s picture books.  Then it was Ramona Quimby and her big sister Beezus!  Nancy Drew, Little House on the Prairie, Little Women….

I was a book nerd in high school, too.  When other kids goofed off in free periods, I’d go bother the librarian.  My high school librarian Mrs. Long, was a big, intimidating lady, but damn, she had great taste in books!  She introduced me to The Hobbitt and my favorite book of all times:  Dune, by Frank Herbert.  This is the book that I’d want with me if I were marooned on a desert island.  (Desert?  Get it?)

But honestly, there are so many close seconds…  I’ve read the complete Sherlock Holmes collection and not just because of the TV series, either.  (Although, I could listen to Benedict Cumberbatch reading the phone book.  That voice…)  Other favorites include: Robinson Crusoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.  More contemporary favorites are Tom Clancy’s: The Hunt For Red October, John Grisham’s:  A Time To Kill, Khaled Hosseini’s:  The Kite Runner and Sara Gruen’s:  Water For Elephants.

Anthony Trollope asked, “What on earth could be more luxurious than a sofa, a book and a cup of coffee?”  I couldn’t agree more!  Perhaps I would add to that: a rainy or snowy day and a cozy blanket to wrap around your shoulders.  To be forced by the weather to stay inside and curl up with a book?  Heaven!  And to have one with some heft, too, be it paper or electrons!  As far as I’m concerned, a good story can go on forever!  Lord of the Rings?  Bring it on!  Red Mars?  Yes!  I already gushed about Dune, right?  Yeah well, there’s a trilogy!

Do you like spoilers?  Can you stand waiting till the end to find out if “our hero” makes it?  I have to be honest, before the advent of e-readers, I was unable to resist checking the last page of the book just to see if everyone gets out alive!  It’s not like it’s impossible to check in an e-book… But I just don’t do it!  Weird.

Anyway, I read many different genres and enjoy them all:  mystery, thriller, romance, science fiction, espionage, historical fiction, biography…  It’s been said that you can know a person by the type of books he (or she) reads.  What does that say about me?  Am I unknowable?!?  Hmm.  Perhaps just multi-faceted.  Oooh yes, that sounds deep and sophisticated!  *Snort*

Lately, I’ve been reading more historical fiction than anything else.  I recently read Vikingr by my friend, JS Malpas and have been swept away by the moving story of a blind girl and a young German soldier in All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.  So what are you currently reading?  Tell me what books you love!  And what’s on your to-read list?  If you like, join me on Goodreads!  Winter is coming, let’s all curl up with a good book!

(Header image courtesy of cardinalnewmansociety.org)