Writing Wrongs

May 17, 2007

Booking Through Thursday

It happens even to the best readers from time to time… you close the cover on the book you’re reading and discover, to your horror, that there’s nothing else to read. Either there’s nothing in the house, or nothing you’re in the mood for. Just, nothing that “clicks.” What do you do?? How do you get the reading wheels turning again?

You know, this is why, in part, I started to write. I wanted something made to order, not what someone else wanted to read, not what publishers (or their marketing departments) thought I wanted to read.

By that same token, I do realize that no one else may want what I do and/or write. Just because I love blueberry and anchovy pancakes doesn’t mean anyone else will. (Actually, I made that up and I’m not the least bit tempted by that combination.)

A lot of people have mentioned returning to old favorites. That’s a good tactic, I think. I try to avoid a reading slump by “reading around” which is not even close--morally or physically--to sleeping around. I know series are meant to be read one after the other, but that’s a one way ticket to burnout for me.

To avoid this, I’ll limit myself. If a beloved author has a new book out (especially if she’s still working toward being established), I will buy right away, but I might not read until much later.

Sadly, I burnt out on Sue Grafton. And Patricia Cornwell, too (although something happened around book 5 that felt wrong to me and I stopped in the middle of it).

So, I try to vary my reading material. Because once burnout happens, I can’t go back. That being said, I recently discovered Alice Hoffman. (Yes. I know. I’ve been under a rock. But think of the backlist!) I don’t think I’m ever going to get tired of her. Still, I’m not being exclusive.

Just call me a wanton reader.

Charity Tahmaseb wrote at 1:49 p.m.

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