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Monday, May 14, 2012

Monday Musings: Writing and Reading





I'm a voracious reader. Always have been.  As a teenager, my parents ended up having to hide my books so I would get my chores done because I would spend every chance I got reading.  It didn't really change when I had a family, except no one had to hide my books so I'd get my chores done.  :P 

However, things changed when I started writing.  It started off slow, like catching more errors than I did previously, to finally getting to the point that I books I'd previously read and loved, i couldn't read any more because I couldn't just read for entertainment anymore. I'd see every error. Every plot hole. Every missing comma.  So, now, I find it very hard to find books that are so good that I'm able to turn off my internal editor.  Which, has of course, really brought down the amount of reading I do. 

I've even started picking those things out in movies and television shows.  It's a bit depressing actually. LOL.

And now I'm finding I need to read certain books for certain reasons, but what I really want to do is chuck my e-reader out the window and gouge my eyes out.  ; ) Now, that's not to say there aren't a lot of FANTASTIC reads out there.  In fact, I have a TBR pile of books that I can't wait to read that take up an entire bookcase.  However, I do feel a bit like a book snob and I'm not sure I like the feeling.

So my question is, do you have the same problem? Are there certain books, that you just can't read because of your internal editor?  Have you figured out how to shut it off?


Comments (10)

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As long as I can find one thing that's compelling, I'll keep reading. If I like the character, or the plot is exciting, or there's a mystery to be solved, I'll read through some egregious mistakes. But, yes, I have the same problem, and sometimes I wish I could just let go and enjoy books at any level. I wish I could get into the really popular stuff without feeling my internal editor rolling her eyes.

That's not to say I'm some artiste. I know a lot of the stuff I read, people would turn their noses up at. But I know that going in. it all depends on what I'm looking for in my reading experience. The difference is, I do need SOMETHING to push me through, or I just spend the whole book irritated, and there are way better things to do with my time.
1 reply · active 672 weeks ago
This. So much this. :)
I am finding I do that more and more. I feel stupid too because I'm not a published author yet and the books i read--well--obviously they're published. I think they know a little more than I do, yet i still find myself editing, correcting things, even though I'm still learning (the learning will never stop). Its quite annoying and I can't sit and read like I used to. Like for example I used to love the author Karen Kingsbury (Christian fiction author) but now her writing seems dull to me. She uses a lot of she felt, he felt, and it drives me up the wall. Plus when I read books in my genre I get ideas and have to stop and go write. Pretty irritating.
1 reply · active 672 weeks ago
Don't feel stupid. I'm still sure that reading and finding those mistakes makes all of us better writers.
I'm right there with ya. I USUALLY can get into a book enough to turn that internal editor off. However, I know the book of which you speak, and, well, I can only offer (((hugs))). That being said, please don't throw my ereader out the window! lmao.
1 reply · active 672 weeks ago
Ha! No. I'm not going to through it out the window, but holy gee wow, man.
Yes, I'm with you. And it's so hard to plow my way through a book that is boring but I know I have to read. Oh and I love the new widget! I got it for my blog. How lovely!
1 reply · active 672 weeks ago
Thanks! Isn't it lovely?!
P. J. Hoover's avatar

P. J. Hoover · 671 weeks ago

I have this problem constantly, and I think i've also come to the point where I should never read a sequel to anything. If I loved the first book, I should leave it at that and keep that memory fond. And movies. Even The Avengers fell short for me. i'm a total critic and I never used to be.
that said, isn't it great when you do find something you love now?
Hey – great blog, just looking around some blogs, seems a really nice platform you are using. I’m currently using WordPress for a few of my blogs but looking to change one of them over to a platform similar to yours as a trial run. Anything in particular you would recommend about it?

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