Books

Yesterday I wrote about reading. I have four ways of obtaining books to read: borrow from the library, borrow from a friend, buy used, or buy new. All but the last provide no money to the author.

There are various factors involved in buying new books. I would like to support local independent bookstores, but I don’t have one near me. I used to live in a neighborhood with a wonderful independent bookstore and a chain bookstore both within walking distance of my apartment. I always went to the indie first, but sometimes I had to go to the chain to find a specific book.

Now I buy online unless I absolutely need the book right away, usually because it’s a sequel that I can’t wait to read, but occasionally because I’m buying a book as a last minute gift. When I buy a new book online it is almost always from Amazon. When I need to go to a brick and mortar store, if it’s a popular book I will buy it from a big-box like Target or Walmart. If I’m buying a less popular new book I will go to a chain bookstore.

I decide what books to read based on recommendations and personal interest. I decide whether and how to buy books based on price and convenience. Although I often choose to read books in a way that doesn't directly support the author, if I get hooked I might buy their next book as a hardcover pre-order.

Reading

I've always loved to read, but I read differently since deciding to write a novel. Instead of losing myself in the story I start to analyze how and why it works. Doing this might dispel some of the magic, but I more fully appreciate the work and talent behind the words.

Although I want to learn from authors I admire, I don’t want to be too strongly influenced. I hope to avoid this by reading a variety of authors and genres. I try not to feel too intimidated, especially when reading literary fiction. It would be easy to give up writing and bow down to the masters.

As an aspiring writer I also think more about where I get my books. I’ll write about this tomorrow.

Wannabe

Many people feel that they have a novel in them, but relatively few actually write one. There is a gap between the desire to do something and the doing of it. I have the desire to do many extraordinary things—too many to ever expect to accomplish. Writing a novel is one of the few dreams I consider important enough to put time and effort into accomplishing. Choosing to invest time in writing a novel (and a blog) means passing up on other possibilities. It’s a decision that I must remake daily--not a casual undertaking.

Why do I want to write a novel? In my second post I mentioned two reasons: my love of books and the lure of the writing lifestyle as I have imagined it.

I fell in love with books as a child and reading has always been one of my favorite past-times. When I read a good book, I become completely engaged in the story. I feel like I know the characters; like I am living in the world created by the author. I have felt acute sadness finishing favorite books, realizing I could not continue to live in that world. These are the books I reread because I can never quite leave them behind. They stay with me.

I don’t mean to imply that I live in a fantasy world—I do have a firm grasp on reality despite wanting to be an author! I’m not writing a novel as a way to escape my real life. But the ability to create and share a fictional world is a wonderful gift. I want to have that ability, and I believe I have the potential to develop that ability. I have to try.

Tomorrow I will write about the myth of the writing lifestyle.