Episode 3: You Don't Need Craft Books to Be a Better Writer

This episode came about because of a response I gave to a writer on Threads. The writer had asked if they really needed to read craft books to be a better writer. I responded saying they did not because they could read in their genre.

So, in this episode I touch upon the following:

• You already know more than you think
• Books in your genre are craft books
• Learning from books you love keeps you writing

I offer one action step of reading a favorite book in your genre in reverse with a "writer's eye". This allows you to pay attention to the craft because you're not getting caught up in the flow of the story. I offer some suggested questions to get you started inside this episode. 

Happy Writing!

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Transcript

Stephanie: 0:01

Hello, fellow contemporary romance writers and welcome back to the Love Is Brewing Podcast, or welcome. If this is your first time listening, I'm so glad you're here today. I'm gonna focus on a response that I had to a post that was on thread where a writer was asking if they needed to read craft books in order to become a better writer, and I responded. With the comment that they did not need to read craft books, though I do recommend it, but it's not necessary. If that's not a book that interests you, you do not have to go down that road. But what I said was they could read within their genre. Reading within your genre is a great way to learn about the craft. So my first point to expand upon my basic response on threads is that, first of all, you already know more than you think. If you're a reader, especially of contemporary romance, you've already internalized. Instincts about the storytelling rhythms. You already know what the pacing is. You know what brings tension. You know what to expect as you make your way through the book. You know there are going to be cute love moments, but then you know, there's gonna be something that's going to get in the way and is going to be a barrier for the two people who are coming together. And then, you know, since it's contemporary romance and there's the expectation from the readers that. The ending will come around to happily ever after or happy for now. So as a contemporary romance reader, you know that there's that satisfying emotional payoff. Even if you are making your way through the book and you're agonizing that the two people are not getting together fast enough or that something gets in their way, and so it's. A message to you, or what I wanna say is trust your reader brain. Trust that you've already absorbed aspects of the structure and the emotional beats of a contemporary romance. So you already know more than you think, which is why reading in your genre is a huge advantage already. Then to piggyback on this idea is the idea that the genre books that you're reading as a contemporary romance writer are actually craft books in disguise, especially if you are reading the books by authors who are on any of the best seller lists that you find. So. Every book that you find on those lists especially are examples of the structure, the voice, the pacing, the emotional ups and downs that go into writing a contemporary romance. And you get a sense of. How the story moves along. So pick one book you love and reread it with a writer's eye. Ask yourself questions as you read. So how does the author build tension? What is the meet cute? How soon does it happen in the book? How does the author transition between chapters? What's the point of view? How does the character change or the characters change over the course of the novel? Because there's always gonna be a character arc of some kind. Um, for the, whoever the protagonists are, uh, male, female, or, you know, male, male, female, female, whatever. Uh, type of contemporary romance book you are writing. So one of the things that I would recommend trying is to try a reverse outline of the book, because sometimes if you go forward through the book, you're already anticipating what's coming. Whereas if you go backwards, it's kind of like the recommendation that you might have heard at some point that when you're editing something you've written to read it backwards because then you're more likely to catch. Especially spelling mistakes or awkward moments in the text. So I would suggest to try to reverse outline the book and see how the pacing comes out. And one of the things that I am going to be doing coming up on the podcast is I'm going to be sharing about how I'm going to use Catherine Center's newest, novel, the Love Haters as a book study for myself as I'm working through my current work in progress, because I feel it's a really clear example of a. Genre specific book in contemporary romance that is also very much a craft book in disguise. So. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes that are gonna walk through how I'm going to approach her book with a writer's eye. And finally, learning from what you love keeps you writing. So if reading craft books is not something that you love to do, I. And it's gonna stall your writing process. I would say put those aside and pick up books in your genre because you're gonna be far more engaged and far more willing to learn when it's from a book that you love, because it's gonna keep that creative fire in you lit, and you're gonna get excited about the possibilities. And one of the things that I would encourage you to do is, number one, don't compare yourself to a bestselling author who's out there If, especially if you're just beginning, allow that bestselling author to be your teacher, your mentor. That's how you should view that book. That book is your mentor for improving your own craft and getting you to the goal that you have for yourself. So I would say be careful about letting perfectionism sneak in and get in your head and stop you from moving forward. Reading in your genre should be fun and productive to help you with your writing. And if you're writing. Reading and reflecting. You're naturally learning, you're growing, you're getting better, and that's enough. Give yourself credit and celebrate even the smallest wins along the way. I think one of the things we often forget to do as writers is to celebrate even the small moments of triumph over. That feeling that you don't wanna get in the chair and write today or any of those sticky moments that you get past and get some writing done for the day. So please make sure to celebrate yourself. And remember, you don't need craft books to become a better writer. Trust yourself. Read in your genre. And just make sure you don't get in the comparison trap. Allow yourself to be a learner and make it fun because you're more likely to have success when you allow yourself to have fun with the process. So listener, I'm so glad that you are here to join me today if you're interested in connecting with me. You can click the link in the show notes to apply to work with me if you're interested in coaching. Or you can simply click that link and apply and note on it that you're curious and just wanna have a chat and that's how you can get on my calendar is by filling out that short application through the link so until next time, happy writing.