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Jaye Wells | Authors are Readers Too
April 12, 2010
Even with the dividing lines between authors and readers blurring in this age
of social media, there is still a misconception that authors aren't normal
people. Granted, some of our behavior--especially when alcohol is involved--
makes this assumption somewhat fair. But the truth is most authors started out
a lot like you. By this I mean, before we ever put pen to page, we were avid
readers. For me, it started very young. My mother managed a bookstore and my grandmother
owned a used book store, so I spent a great portion of my young surrounded by
thousands of glorious books. To this day, the mysterious scent of old paper
makes me smile. I won't mince words: I
was a nerdy kid. I was awkward and found it difficult to make friends at
school. Instead, my friends were the kids from Narnia, Nancy Drew, the girls
from the Babysitters' Club, the subjects of Shell Silverstein's poems. Even as I grew older and the social awkwardness gave way to finding my own
tribes, I continued to read for pleasure. My favorite Sunday activity was to
stay in bed all day and consume books by Anne Rice, Judith McNaught, Johanna Lindsey and Jude Deveraux. Given my love of story, it might surprise some that it took me until I turned
30 to finally admit to myself that I had my own stories to tell. I'd always one
well on papers, but it never occurred to me to take a writing class in college.
But, despite my formal training in fiction, my informal training--reading like
a madwoman--gave me a natural understanding of the rhythm of story, the essence
of interest characters, the ebb and flow of word useage. I'm not saying I didn't
have a lot to learn, but without that early exposure it would have taken me
much longer to get published. The only regret I have about being published now is that it's difficult to turn
off my writer brain when I'm reading. Now that I'm so conscious of craft, there
are very few books I read that don't fall under the same scrutiny I give my own
books when I'm writing them. But just like before I was a writer, every now and
then I pick up a book and get totally swept away in the story. It's more
elusive now, but also more satisfying when it happens because now I know how
difficult
it is to provide that experience for readers. Even though I spend so much time analyzing, writing, reading and talking about
books, I still love them just as much as I did sitting in those dusty alcoves
of my grandmother's bookstore. Even better? It gives me a little thrill to know
that somewhere out there another avid reader is experiencing that same thrill
from my own words.
Comments
14 comments posted.
Re: Jaye Wells | Authors are Readers Too
I found many "friends" in books. I was an unhealthy child and books were my way of seeing the world. To this day I prefer to read than watch tv. My grandchildren have come to love books as much as I do although they were allowed to be much more active. So when they come over I get to read the books that started me out like The Velvetine Rabbit and when they leave I can emjoy my romances.
(Cindy Olp 1:39am April 12, 2010)
Books have always been my constant companion...growing up in a very abusive home..books were my escape to worlds where troubles didn't exist...I also spent my childhood being moved from city to city...country to country and books were my one constant...the library was my sanctuary...as an adult books remain my one source of calm in a world that even at best of times is still chaotic.
(Anna Hoque 9:48am April 12, 2010)
I have been a reader all my life. My books are a part of me and I can't let them go. Today my house is filled with my old friends. I would be lost without them.
(Rosemary Krejsa 1:04pm April 12, 2010)
Growing up, I read whole sections of the library and knew when a new book was on the shelf. As a teen I became fascinated by authors who talked about the books they wrote and research for writing their stories.
(Alyson Widen 1:18pm April 12, 2010)
I love to read. I can't imagine life without books. I take one everywhere I go.I started reading detectives stories is the late 50's, shows my age, but I still here reading everything. I belong to a book club & try to get my favorite Authors when the new books come out. I look at my Book Store for the rest of them.
(Pat Wilson 5:14pm April 12, 2010)
I've been reading books for as long as I can remember, first in German, then in English, then in French and other languages. Most of these books, 1000s of them, are still in my library and I can't bear to part with them. I had a school year during which I missed 4 full months and a month each half days before I was able to go back full time. Just lying in bed and reading drove me crazy eventually so that I added to my woes by getting my right arm caught in one of the old wringer washing machines and a hammer dropped on my nose from the railing above as I was going up the stairs. My doctor was not pleased by these antics. Even now I try to ease my backaches by lying down and reading--though that's probably not the most recommended remedies. grin
(Sigrun Schulz 5:33pm April 12, 2010)
Oops, I also meant to say that I loved reading books that had history in them, and still do. Then I'd go to check which places, characters and events were actually historic and read up on those in our encyclopedia. And thus was born my love of history and geography.
(Sigrun Schulz 5:36pm April 12, 2010)
My mother said that when I was much yoounger she heard the vacuum sweeper running in the same spot for such a long time that she had to check and see what was going on. I was standing there pushing it back and forth and reading a book!
If you think being an author makes you critical of writing, try second generation teacher. I am always critiquing the grammar! I don't let that bother me though. I still have a book with me at all times!
(Karin Tillotson 6:41pm April 12, 2010)
I have loved reading since very young. I recall how we kept the Nancy Drew books passing from student to student without them ever getting back to the shelves in the Junior High School's library. We promised them from student to student. In elementary school Dr. Suess' books take the crown as students' favorites. Reading certainly helps youngsters to make better grades in school. I keep a book going all the time now.
(Gladys Paradowski 9:05pm April 12, 2010)
Of course authors are always readers too... if they didn't start off as readers they'd probably hav never become authors in the first place.
(Donna Holmberg 10:19pm April 12, 2010)
I lived in the library when I was a kid
all the way though college. I've always
either had access to a library, or had
my own at home. I am the oldest of 6
and the library was my way to get
some peace and quiet. I lived for
Nancy Drew (my aunt had the
complete collection from when she
was younger) and other mysteries. My
other love was science and archeology.
My daughter and her son are both
dyslexic, so it has been frustrating
trying to get them to love books.
Audio books have been a godsend for
him in particular. I've gotten him the
Hardy Boy sets that have the book on
CD and the book so he can follow
along.
(Patricia Barraclough 11:22pm April 12, 2010)
As a "bookworm" from old,
thank you for providing yet
more stories to lose myself
in. It was once Nancy Drew and
now the paranormal urban
fantasy romance that sucks
away hours of my life.
(Lisa Richards 3:55am April 13, 2010)
My father always laughed at me for wanting to drop out of the first grade because they had not taught me to read in the first two weeks! I was convinced they were keeping secrets from me and I could NOT wait for everyone else in the first grade to learn to practice the magic of reading.
(Susan Driskill 4:15pm April 13, 2010)
I love to read & admire greatly those who write my beloved books.
(Mary Preston 10:05pm April 15, 2010)
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