Writers are readers. But are you the right kind of reader—a paleontological reader? As writers who want to hone our craft we need to read beyond simple enjoyment or displeasure. Sure, there are times when we need to escape — like anyone else — and simply wallow in the pleasures of a book, or of some poetry. And certainly, there have been many among us who have thrown a book down wondering how in the world did this get published! More often, we close the cover and just never return to a book that is not satisfying.
However, when we’re less in need of escape and more attuned to the writing life, we need to read like paleontologists, of a sort. That is, if something is pleasing, dig deep and figure out why it is pleasing. If it’s a turn-off, uncover its ugly bones and figure out why.
False Fossils
On the surface we may find that we thoroughly agree/disagree with an author’s choice of subject or perspective. We may discover authors who have a beautiful way with word choice, sentences, pacing, plotting, characterization, etc. We will find some who don’t. These are things we can discern just by sticking a shovel below the sod. But only recognizing these kinds of things is like finding false fossils. To truly piece together the wonder of something wonderful, we need to get right down into the Cambrian layer.
A Journey of Close Reading and Discovery
A reading journal is necessary for this kind of digging. I keep a reading journal where I record why I love something I’ve read, or why I disliked it. This may include words, phrases, or images that were memorable. (Also, I find that these word lists can serve a second function as writing prompts at a later date.)
But there’s digging, and there’s digging. While noting characters, plots, etc. is a handy thing to do for future reference, it’s only the top layer — the easy stuff — that is getting uncovered. We need to keep brushing the sand away despite the flies, the heat, and the long hours to find the bones — the structure of how a piece is put together.
As an example, I’ll run through what I unearthed about a short poem by Sharon Olds. The poem is “The Winter After Your Death.” (Due to copyright restrictions, I can’t reproduce it here. But if you click on the link you’ll find it, and be able to follow along.)
In this lovely 14-line poem, Pulitzer Prize winner Sharon Olds opens with an image of the natural world. This takes 3 lines. She then takes the “mellow light” mentioned and personifies it: “the sun closes her gold fan.” That action has precipitated a turning inward and the persona of the poem thinks of the one who died. “. . . my green heart/turns, and thinks of you.” After that internalization (and personification of her heart), the poem returns to the natural world where a carp is seen hanging like the sun, frozen under the ice with “. . . it’s scarlet heart/visible . . .”
There is much going on here, with lots of beautiful language. But if we dig deep, we can see that the bones of it are put together thusly:
- a natural image seen,
- a personification of the natural image,
- an internalization of the natural image and a personification of an aspect of the thinker,
- a return to the natural world in a way that connects both the personified images (the Sun and the heart).
Now, none of us may be able to write poems as beautiful as Sharon Olds! However, doing a little thinking about — and noting of — what pleases or displeases us about what we read, gives us access to new ways we might approach our own writing. Of course, the step after discovering some wonderful bones is putting them together — attempting some writing using what we’ve learned. When we are paleontological readers, who knows what we might discover?
Hey! Is that a tricera-apto-rex?
Resources
The Winter After Your Death, by Sharon Olds
Notes and other poems by Sharon Olds at the Poetry Foundation site
Reading Like a Writer by Francine Prose (Harper, 2007)
Sharon K. Connell
Personally, I think throwing down a book and wondering how it ever got published borders on the side or author arrogance. There are just as many kinds of readers as there are writers and authors. Just because I don’t enjoy a book (and I just finished one like that), doesn’t mean someone else won’t. I’ve seen many a good review on a book I didn’t not care for. So, I think we all have to be very careful about voicing that line, “How did this ever get published.”
Sharon K. Connell
Sorry for not proofreading before pressing “Post.” That should read …”I did not care for.” Yes, we authors do make mistakes. Hopefully, all will be caught.
Shutta Crum
True, Sharon–there are many books that I disliked that others liked and which found their way through to the public–some with good reviews. I’m not saying that they don’t deserve to be published. I’m saying that as I am getting older than dirt–I’m often irked with books that I have to struggle to finish, and will put them down. (Unless, of course, I have to read it for a book club or some such thing.) However, when I am thinking more like a writer–I know I need to pick those books up again, esp. if they’ve gotten good reviews somewhere. Then I need to tear them apart and see what it is about them that others like, but that I find unsatisfying. By exploring deeper we begin to educate ourselves on those aspects of our craft we want to avoid, and those we want to cultivate.
Lynda Courtright
Thoughtful post and comments. And what a lovely poem. Thank you!
As my writing skills grow, I’m more conscious of the beauty and shortcomings in what I read, and it does help me spot it in my own work. I find I’m more tolerant of a persistent fault in the author I’m reading than of the same problem in my own.
Melody Maysonet
Great advice! I definitely “study” while I’m reading for pleasure, but I don’t think I’ve ever gotten down to the bones. Thanks for the tip.
Niki Kantzios
Thanks for a perceptive article. Writing has nearly ruined me for pleasure reading because I’ve become so critical!
Shutta Crum
Still give yourself time for just plain fun reading!
Bethanie Gorny
I think studying the writing we read is how to read like a writer, as Francine Prose describes in her excellent book. But you take it further, suggesting we make notes about the writing we admire and then attempt to use it in our own writing. For me, this was a shove in the right direction, a more structured approach to reading like a writer. I plan on going that extra mile and practicing what I glean from my reading. Thank you for an excellent article.
Shutta Crum
Bethanie… So glad it helped!
Jerold H. Tabbott
A good point. Learn from what you read.
I think most serious indie authors involve themselves in critique reviews to other’s work, so critiquing others for one’s own benefit should come as no problem. Particularly if one is reading Kindle or iBooks, it is easy to highlight words and phrases which attract attention (whether positive or negative-no matter). Thereafter, it is simple to review and take lessons from their work.
Shutta K Crum
Thanks, Jerold, about mentioning reading Kindle or ibooks. I don’t tend to use them–being a librarian, I love the feel and smell of a book in my hands. But my husband uses them almost exclusively.