Comments on: Nikki’s Literary Salon and Swimming Lessons

By: Shelli Cornelison

Shelli Cornelison — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:40:30 +0000

I’m so wearing silk pajamas to your house the next time I come over. I took French, too. Everyone said, “Take Spanish. What are you thinking? French? You’ll never use it.” Because I hate to admit I was ever wrong, I’ll just say I can still count to ten, and a girl never knows when she might wind up very, very, angry in Paris and need to talk herself out of a rash act. Counting to ten is a useful skill — in any language.

By: Lisa Iriarte

Lisa Iriarte — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:29:39 +0000

I agree with Suzie, IF you are a YA writer and actually prefer to read adult works. You should read YA and other things, or you’ll go crazy.

However, for me anyway, I read almost exclusively in the genre I write because I LOVE IT and never get tired of it. But, I write adult science fiction. I’ve read almost every sci-fi book out there with a strong, female protagonist. And yes, it helps me develop my own character’s voice to not be a carbon copy of others I’ve read.

By the way, if you want some YA/Middle Grade suggestions, my husband is reading The Shifter by Janice Hardy, and my daughter really enjoyed The Wizard’s Heir, but I don’t know the author.

By: Nikki Loftin

Nikki Loftin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:16:58 +0000

Why I love my agent? She reads my blog. Hi, Suzie! Hmmm. Maybe I’d better go read some nice, trashy adult UF now, just to keep my love of books alive.
haha. Kidding. I’m going to write now. Promise.

By: Nikki Loftin

Nikki Loftin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:15:12 +0000

Thanks for your comment, Lori. Yes, we all need David Sedaris. And Christopher Moore. And Charlaine Harris, Molly Harper, Katie MacAlister…. uh oh. I may set off my genre-addiction. Must write now…
So… did you start writing your MG first, or was it triggered by reading your son’s MG books?

By: Lori Walker

Lori Walker — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:09:21 +0000

Yep, Nikki. I think it’s ESSENTIAL to read in the genre you write in. My first draft of a YA included two sets of grandparents w/their OWN story lines. Kind friend pointed out, “Teens don’t want to read about parents, certainly not grandparents.” After a year immersed in YA classics and new releases, I could see how they worked. But, OMG, I needed a break. I needed David Sedaris and Flannery O’Connor and Atonement(which is still on my shelf because I got sucked into my son’s middle grade books). I’m totally w/Suzie on not just reading for “work”; fortunately the YAs I’ve read are so dang enjoyable (just finished an E. Lockhart and Thalia Chaltas’ book — amazing stuff).

By: suzie

suzie — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:54:29 +0000

I’m not a writer, but I think it’s important for writers to read in their own genre, otherwise they don’t know what’s out there. Usually the better well read a writer is, a better voice they have. But I think it’s also important to read some outside of a given genre so you’re still appreciating reading rather than letting it become work.