I recently visited a childhood friend. Cindy and I became best friends in Junior High and through High School. She was the maid of honor at my wedding. We stayed in touch over the years as much as we could with growing families and living three states apart.
I don't remember being such a tyrant about having someone read my writing. But this makes me understand why I don't mind having people read my work. From the first draft that goes to my critique partners to the finished product I put out for readers, I've never had a problem with allowing them to read the story. I write because I have a desire and a need to write. And I write to entertain. That can't be done if no one reads my work.
I have several writer friends who have a hard time letting anyone see their written work. I've never understood that. I don't begrudge them their feelings, but as I stated, I write for others to read. That is what writers do. They write to put their feelings and thoughts on paper and to share with readers.
What if Laura Ingalls Wilder hadn't put her life to paper and sent it out for the world to read? We would have never experienced those cold winters or the history that she put onto paper that entertain us even as adults. But think of all the children who would never have been entertained as they learned a bit about the backbone that made this country.That's how I like to write, to not only entertain the reader but also enlighten them to something they may not have otherwise experienced or heard about. And I like to think that because I'm thinking of the reader and what would keep their interest it helps me be a better writer.
Wanting to entertain and enlighten is what I think about when brewing up a new book. It's what makes me do deep research so the reader learns and has an enjoyable ride.
What was the last book you read that not only entertained you but you also learned something?
You can learn more about Paty at
her blog; www.patyjager.blogspot.com her website; http://www.patyjager.net or on Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/#!/paty.jager
, Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1005334.Paty_Jager and twitter;
@patyjag.
Nice post, Paty. Funny you calling yourself a tyrant, from what I've heard, you're anything but. I'm one of those who have a hard time putting my work out there for others. I've always been one to hang back, except when I'm singing. So I've started treating my writing as if I'm singing. ;)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy your stories and am glad you write for us! Thank you.
Hi Carra, All my writer friends have a hard time "letting go". I'm always pushing them to send this or that. I think that's great you are using your singing experience to help you overcome your shyness about your writing. I'm glad you enjoy my stories. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteGood post, Paty. I think we all write to entertain. I hadn't thought about the enlightening part of it, but I guess with the time I spend doing research, I'm actually enlightening me and the readers.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Thanks Mary! I agree the entertaining is the top of the list for why a writer writes. I love reading books that teach me something some times without my even knowing it. LOL Thank you for commenting!
DeletePaty, how wonderful you never lost touch with your childhood friend. Sharing memories are such fun, and often enlightening about how others remember us. I think it is a hoot your friend, Cindy, remembered you as this little storyteller who delighted in her captive audience. You were clearly a born writer; fascinating how destiny reveals itself. I really enjoyed your post today. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Ashley, It is fun to see how people saw you as a kid and see you now. Cindy's revelation surprised me. I know I read and wrote a lot as a kid. I even made picture books with a character named Joey Jiggle. He would fit in with the weird characters you see in cartoons these days. I didn't remember making my friends read my stuff. LOL Thanks for stopping in.
DeleteHi Paty; As you know I am a novice writer, but have one book published and have so far received 5-5 star reviews on amazon. Fortunately I have also sold many more books than I thought I would, but I am delighted. You have been an inspiration to me; and I write also because I had a story to tell and I love the research. I want my books to be read, but never actually thought about it being entertaining. Thank you Paty.
ReplyDeleteHi Becca, Thanks for stopping in and commenting and for your kind words. I'm happy for you and your recent published book.
DeleteFun post, Paty. :) I'm still in touch with a lot of my grade school friends on Facebook and they often remind me about the stories I used to write when we were kids. This one girl and I used to compete with each other on who could write the longest story for school assignments. She won. :)
ReplyDeleteI almost always learn something from every book I read. The book I'm reading now is fantasy, and even though the world is different from the one we live in, there are many similarities as far as culture, geography and meteorology that coincide with reality. So that's cool. The story is more like a religious historical novel than a fantasy anyway.
Hi Karen, I think most writers have been writing for a long time. It just takes nerve to decide to do more than a hobby with it.
DeleteThe best stories inform you of something you didn't know.
Jennifer Bernard's Bachelor Firemen series - learning a lot about fighting fires as well as starting them. She really uses humor well and I'm paying attention to how she does that while enjoying a good romance.
ReplyDeleteJudith, that sounds like a good series!
DeleteWe're definitely all different when it comes to letting others read our stories. I'm more like you, and generally need to hold back a little so there'll be someone left to do a final read. One person in my critique group won't let us read her work until she's edited it umpty-dozen times.
ReplyDeleteHey Jacquie, That's true. Just like we all have our own voices and style we have our own way of letting the world see our work.
ReplyDeletePaty, I think I learn something from every book I read, but especially historical romances. I am currently reading Liz Carlyle's "A Bride By Moonlight" and I long ago lost count of all the things I've learned! It's nice because it's an early Victorian, when train travel was just becoming a thing, so there is lots of change going on in society. Liz Carlyle always manages to insert a lot of history into her novels without her research showing. I love that!
ReplyDeleteCaren, I agree, it is so much more fun to learn historical information while reading a romance than while reading a text. That's great you've found an author that you enjoy! Thanks for stopping in and commenting!
DeleteHi Paty,
ReplyDeleteI've been writing since I was a girl but was very shy so nobody ever read my stories, or knew I wrote. When I finally had the guts to go indie four decades later, I felt like a deer caught in headlights just putting it out there into the big wide world!
Hi Gemma, There are a lot of "closet" writers out there. Congratulations on sending your babies out into the world! Sometimes I wonder if the reason I can put my work out there is because by nature I'm an introvert and if people read my stories, then I don't have to speak to them. ;)
DeleteThat's exactly why I write, Paty! I was a very shy child who had trouble expressing myself in words, so I'd write stories and even plays for my friends to act out. If no one reads my writing, what's the point?
ReplyDeleteSusan, like minds! I love it! It is the easiest way for a shy person or introvert like me to entertain when we're too scared to do it in person.
DeleteLike so many others, I've been writing--and reading--since I can remember, so I've learned an enormous amount from reading. (That's why, as a historical writer, I want to be as accurate about everything as I can. :) One wonderful thing I learned over the years was vocabulary. From the beginning, I read everything I could get my hands on, including 'older' books, and found words I wouldn't have run into in works just for young people. Of course, it wasn't always easy. I can distinctly recall when I was introduced to the word philanderer. I kept getting it confused with philanthropist. (Those 'phil' beginning were real pills. LOL)
ReplyDeleteLOL Barbara. There are a lot of words that still mix me up! I think those that read a lot are the most likely to be the writers. Thank you for commenting!
DeleteGreat post, Paty! I learn something from every book I read. I learn about occupations, settings, and whether or not I want to read another book written by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Diana, I agree, all books are a learning tool. I've learned a lot about different occupations and in Barb Cool Lee's romantic suspense book UNDER THE BOARDWALK, I learned about carnival rides and the old wooden horse carousels. It was fun!
DeleteThis is a great post! It's wonderful to hear how others see you. I just went to my 30th class reunion and people remembered me wanting to write in high school. I was shocked because while I remember doing it, I didn't remember it being such a part of me. I love hearing about those differences.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paty!
Hi Melissa, Yes! It is fun learning what others thought of you in your early years.
DeleteThanks for stopping in!
Paty, I believe we learn something from each book we read. Even in those we reread, we pick up a detail we'd forgotten or overlooked. I learned about Guatemala and Mexico City in your Isabella Mumphrey mysteries. I'm looking forward to your next book.
ReplyDeleteHI Caroline! I agree. Rereading a books is like re-watching a show, you see something you may have missed before. I'm glad you enjoyed Isabella's books. I'm working on the research for the next book.
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