Most authors first got the idea to write a book while reading.
Back in 2009, I’d made a career change from a spacecraft electrical technician to become a business analyst. I know that’s quite a change. I wanted to put my newly earned finance degree to use and was ready for a change. A big change.
It was shortly after that career change, while reading lots of thriller novels in my spare time, that I decided to write a thriller novel.
The first couple of books that I wrote back in 2010 & 2011 never made it off my computer because they simply weren’t good enough.
That brings up a point - how do authors get better at the craft of writing?
They can take courses. Attend a writers workshop to critique their work. Go to college and get their MFA. Join a weekly critique group. Buy and read books on structure, craft, and other topics. Pay $$ to study under a bestselling author. Work with a developmental editor. Write 50 books and improve with each new book. Etc.
Or they can read. This is the advice of one of the best authors - Stephen King.
Most will read and study the bestselling authors in their chosen genre at some point. I did this early on before I’d published anything. I still read many favorites.
When I finished writing and editing my last book I was hungry to write something brand new.
Now several months later, I have a couple of new books in two different genres that I’ve been working on. Some mornings when I don’t feel like working on the next Darian Locke thriller, I’ll work on the other book. That way, I’m always making progress. (I have 5 or 6 different novels on my drive that I started in years past waiting to be rediscovered.)
I’ve also gotten back to my reading habit, which for authors can sometimes feel like a distraction from their writing. Or they read 80 pages of a book, get an idea for their WIP, and never return to finish reading that book.
I have plenty of other distractions, so I think of reading as a guide. It shows me what to aim for when I crack open an NYT bestseller or what doesn’t work when I browse the work of a brand new indie author who’s learning their craft.
Every book I read both entertains me and teaches me more about the craft of writing.
I’m currently reading a book by an author I’ve never read before named Leslie Wolfe. I love Kindle Unlimted because it allows me to download several different books.
Until next time. Take care & Happy Holidays!