Required Reading - Tips for Authors

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I was the kid who got her first library card at four, and a trip to the library or bookstore was always magical. I was also over the moon every time the teacher said read quietly at your desk.

Good writers need to be good readers. Read everything you can get your hands on and make sure to read books in your genre.

I use the annual GoodReads reading challenge as a way to track what I’ve read throughout the year.

Here are some ideas of things to look for as you read:

The Industry

  • Read author acknowledgment pages. See who the agents and editors are. Keep a list of those who specialize in what you write. You will be at the querying stage, and this will help you target who represents your genre.

  • See what groups authors belong to.

  • Look at the publishers and editors for the type of books you write.

  • Recently at SleuthFest, author Richie Naraez reminded the audience to not only read contemporary books in your genre, but also read the classics. If you’re a mystery writer, you need to understand the history of the mystery (e.g. cozies, hard-boiled, pulp fiction, etc.).

The Craft of Writing

  • Pay attention to the dialogue and techniques.

  • Watch how authors transition from one scene to another.

  • Look at the ways the writer moves the story along. He or she doesn’t give you every mundane detail.

  • Look for “rules” or conventions in your genre. Does the murder happen in the first few chapters? Is the sleuth a professional?

  • When you like a book, think about what caught and held your attention.

  • Watch how the ending is revealed.

The Details

  • Look at the character names. In many cases, the name has some meaning or reveals something.

  • For series, see how the author sprinkles in details from the past in each book.

  • Where is the book set and how does that affect the story?

  • Look at the minor characters and how they support the protagonist.

  • Pay attention to how the writer uses conflict to move the story along.

Make sure that you have time to read. It’s research. And be kind and leave a review for the books you like. It doesn’t have to be a book report, but reviews do matter to writers.