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Calisa Rhose, cursed doll, Doctor, gypsy, gypsy curse, Home, love story, Mystery, Oklahoma, reading, Reunion, Scrimshaw Doll, The Wild Rose Press, Vietnam, writing methods
How do they do it?
Hi and I’m happy to see you here!
In all the years I’ve been writing one thing has not changed about how I write. I can’t write if I’m reading anything by someone else. Nope.
I’ve heard other writers say they can’t read in their genre while writing something new. Others don’t seem bothered by reading any genre, their own, or not while writing. I however just can’t seem to focus on my writing, my characters, my plot lines if I read anything at all.
I get too absorbed in what I read, I guess. I can add a few sentences here and there, but find it dang near impossible to immerse myself in my own work while someone else’s words are ringing in my head. Especially if I happen to be reading a great story. 🙂
Right now I’m reading a book for a friend, in preparation for her interview later this week on my blog.
I don’t want to write.
I want to read!
And speaking of reading, I find it hard to read more than one book at a time.
I have friends who may have two or three books going simultaneously. I’ve had to do that when I book myself up to read a stack of books by a certain dates. This tends to happen between edits for my authors when I try to cram all those good books I’ve had to put aside for work before a new round of edits come back. I don’t enjoy it at all, though I usually love the books themselves. I’d rather get wrapped up in one story, one set of characters until I reach the end. Then, give me a new book and I’ll jump in.
Even as an editor I find myself trying to focus on just one submission at a time—which is impossible when I have two or more authors awaiting edits at the same time.
The good thing for me with the Scrimshaw Doll series is I know I can take my time and catch up between releases because they space so nicely and each one is a stand-alone book. I admit I have a couple I need to catch up on and I will and it doesn’t matter which one I get to first.
How about you? How do you write?
If you’re a reader, how many can you wallow in at once? How many of the doll books have you managed to wade through? At one time?
Have you read Home? Want to? It’s just .99 on Amazon. 😀
Thanks for joining me this week and I’d appreciate tweets, facebooking, likes, and of course, comments! Feel free to visit and LIKE me on my facebook page or on my blog.
Interesting…I don’t have trouble reading while I’m writing (unless I literally try to do it at the same time :-)) But I don’t like to read more than one book at a time. If I’m engrossed in a story, I need to finish it before I start another one. But reading seems so different from writing, that it doesn’t interfere. I can also read any genre, whether I’m writing that genre or not. Maybe I’m not focused enough on what I’m writing? Hmmm…. I have read all the Scrimshaw books. In no particular order, and I love this series! I already have Home, but that’s a heck of a bargain!
I wish I could separate reading and writing mentality, Alicia. But I do try my best to get both in. Thanks for reading! 😀
The last time I was working on a manuscript, I stopped to read a book. I got engrossed in the author’s story, and when I finished the novel, I went back to my own characters, motivated to try harder. So I think reading is good for me for me. It just doesn’t seem like there’s enough time!
I read, Ann. I just try not to while writing…especially when I have a three week deadline to write a complete short story! Ack! So not helpful. 😆 But time is my enemy for reading too, that’s why I often end up cramming them in when I have a little *extra*.
Sometimes when I’m reading a wonderful, wonderful book, I feel so motivated to write I have to stop reading … and write. I tend to be easily influenced so I have to be careful or I’ll be emulating someone else’s style or voice. I don’t usually read while focusing on my own manuscripts. So my question is how can all you prolific authors write so many books and read so many manuscripts? I get very frustrated because I can’t write/read as much as I want to–I guess, simultaneously. 🙂 Ya’ll must have more hours in your day that I have. LOL No really, you’re better time managers. My down-fall! Really good post, Calisa. As for how many Scrimshaw books I’ve read: I’ve read Home and I’ve read Thicker Than Water. I own all the others and I’d love to just disappear for a few weeks and immerse myself in Scrimshaw!
Oh Jess, you sound a lot like me. Influence is part of my problem too. That and insecurity of my writing after reading a really awesome story like I just finished last night. LOL But I have to get a ms edited this week so I don’t know if I’ll make the deadline for my short story. Luckily it’s not mandatory, but that just gives me an easy-out I refuse to take right now. 🙂 Good luck with your writing and reading!
Very, very interesting post, Calisa. You know, I never thought about it but I guess reading does interfere with my writing. I do read a great deal and usually have a novel and some kind of writing craft book going–right now it’s William Bernhardt’s great little books. As far as reading is concerned right now I’m rereading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series.
When I do get caught up in a book it draws me into it and I tend to live it with the characters. Our own Sharon Sala always does that for me as does J. D. Robb.
Sometimes I do let the words and excellent story telling of others make me feel insecure about my own talent. Or, lack of talent at those times. I guess we all have our own voices either fully developed or developing.
Jess is right. Wouldn’t it be great to have the time to retreat somewhere and read all of our Scrimshaw books?
I’ve been away from home for a month and haven’t had a chance to read or write or edit as much as I would like. However, I read somewhere that an author (I can’t recall her name) divides her writing time in thirds. A certain number of hours for each aspect in the day. One of the authors I met at the Writing Academy gets up early, very early, and writes before waking her young sons. Well, I got off topic didn’t I?
I’ll be in the car for the next two and a half days so I have plenty of time to think and take notes.
Off topic is acceptable Nona. 🙂 Thanks for commenting! I enjoyed reading your thoughts.
I’m with Ann. If I read a book that is not well-written, I have to find one of my keepers and re-read it to have my own voice re-aligned. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. But I’m definitely picky. If I couldn’t read while writing, I would be in serious trouble because I review books too. There’s just not enough time in the the days… good post.
My writing usually suffers when I read unless I read late at night once writing for the day is done. Then sometimes it won’t bother me to do both. I just have to learn to manage my time better like Nona said.
Funny… I can’t read at the same time I’m writing a book, either! It mentally drags me out of my own story. Unless I’m taking a couple of days away from the story I’m writing, completely “shutting down” the laptop on it, then I can read a book at the same time, but never in the same genre of the story that I’m writing is in.
I can’t read more than one book at once. Absolutely not 🙂
I think we’re sisters in another life, Niecey! 😀 Thanks for coming by.
I can’t read when I’m in the planning stages of a book. Once I get to the writing and editing, I can’t read a book in the genre in which I’m writing. I don’t want to be influenced by someone else’s voice…or, love the other author so much that I feel my own work is crap, in which case, I stop writing. Oops. That happened recently. lol! Now, I have to get back into writing mode.
Since I don’t plan per se, so I just stay away from reading my own genre while writing mostly, esp stories of similar tastes–for the reasons you named. 🙂 Thanks for dropping in, Lilly!
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You and I are a lot alike, Calisa 🙂 I’m a ‘one book at a timer’ when it comes to reading AND writing. I don’t normally read or write more than one book at once. I like to fully focus on one plot, not divide my attention between several. However, on one occasion I did lay a half-finished manuscript aside to write another book, and then picked the manuscript back up and finished. I guess it turned out okay, because both manuscripts were accepted for publication 🙂 It doesn’t bother me to read another author while I’m writing, though. In fact, reading an exciting, fast-paced book energizes my writing and challenges me to do my best.
Oh, almost forgot! I’ve read Home, The Pirate’s Proposal, Thicker Than Water, The Bone Bride, The Color of Betrayal, The Last Daughter, Tessa’s Treasures, Fading Rose, and…ahem…Skinbound. I’ve also read Winona’s wonderful, soon-to-be released Scrimshaw Tale. They all rock, and I plan to read the other fabulous stories in this series soon!
You tickle me, Anna. I actually put Home aside to write AND submit Risk Factors in a marathon three months. Then I went back to polishing Home to submit a short time after RF, and sold both in a year. 🙂
You’ve read more of the stories than I have, though I have them all waiting to be read. 🙂 Thanks for coming by!
I’ve read all but two of the Scrimshaw stories, and I plan to get to those soon.
I try to limit my writing to one story at a time, although I often have more than one that I’m busy working on notes for. When it comes to reading… I’m afraid I have several going at one time. Until two days ago I had two novels and a novella going, a writing book, one on werewolves and one on catechists, oh, and one on the training of navy SEALS. Maybe I have a short attention span. As long as I’m not reading two similar books, I’m fine.
LOL Go you, Tamrie! I can actually read a craft book while writing. It slows the writing progress though because I start trying to implement everything new I learn as I write! 🙂 Happy you came by to share!
I can do both – read and write at the same time. My problem? Putting the book down so I can write my own stories. Before writing Trail of Hope, I submerged myself in Louis L’Amour books to get that ‘western’ feel. Of course, with my paranormals several Christine Feehan, Heather Graham, and Sherrilyn Kenyon are my go-to authors. Great post, Calisa!