Pride & Publishing Chrissy Brown

PRIDE & PUBLISHING

C.A.A.B PUBLISHING CAAB Publishing Ltd is a traditional, small, indie company helping unknown authors have a voice and inspiring new writers to take that first step into the world of publishing.

WWW.CAABPUBLISHING.CO.UK

Why writers need to read more.

by Chrissy Brown | C.A.A.B Publishing

Whether you are a new writer, you want to be a writer, or you are a seasoned pro, one thing that will help you to stand out from the crowd is being a reader.

Those that read are on the path to publishing, they already have in their hands a book that has made it, a book that holds the secrets of how and why. All they have to do is work out the code. Look at the cover, what catches your eye? why? Look at the back cover piece, the first few lines. What makes this book good? What makes it sell?

Reading a good novel is like reading a manual on how to do it right, it is a dictionary and a thesaurus, with the beating heart of a narrative keeping it all together. It is a guide to good grammar and to gripping story construction.

Look the book up online, how was it marketed? Who has reviewed it? Contact the author, or their agent, and ask them some questions about the book, did they do a launch event? Did they do signings? or send a message to those that reviewed it, why did they buy it? What made them try it?

This is all research for you, a way to find out what to do, and what not to do.

As a writer, you must be willing to read others' work, if you are not then why should they read yours? Writers need readers. Be a willing and active part of the team. Be a cheerleader for other writers, you never know what might come about from reading another author’s work.

Also never forget to leave feedback for the book. This is the golden rule. If you read it and enjoyed it, then let the world know. You will want reviews for your work, so be courteous and leave reviews for others. A few kind words can sometimes lead to a conversation with other readers or even with the author themselves.

Reading can help to overcome writers’ block. You may find that sometimes, taking a break from your work and letting your brain wander as you read can help you to blast through any blank-spots or freeze-ups.

What you read can influence what you write. The more you read the more you learn about your genre, and the art and craft of writing. What works and what does not. What you want your writing to be like, to maybe imitate slightly or lean towards, and what you enjoy as a reader. With that in mind, you can put it all into your writing and use all you have learnt from others. We are all standing on the shoulders of giants. No great writer can deny their influences and the authors that they revere.

Some writers feel that they do not want to read other author’s work in case they find themselves emulating that writer too much. But, as long as you are still writing your own words and in the way you want to write them, then you can never be overinfluenced. And by not reading you do not abstain from outside impact on your writing; it could happen when you watch a movie or a TV show. You could be influenced by an article, a song, or even a conversation. To be a great cook you must sample the food of others, so the same can be said for a writer.

Reading can help you to develop critical thinking. As you read you will start to analyse the writing of the author. ‘Is it a good story?’ if so, why? What are you enjoying? What does the author do to make their characters come alive? How can you make your writing more like this?

Reading will help in other ways, you will get to know more about people, and other readers by seeing what is selling, you will also find that reading makes your imagination expand. Not a bad thing for a writer.

Reading can also help to keep your brain sharp and keep it in tip-top condition. As a writer you need to be thick skinned and have a quick mind, so if reading can help with at least one of those then that is a pretty marvellous thing. Happy book buying! 

FEATURED BOOK FROM C.A.A.B

WAITING FOR THE WINDS TO CHANGE

Her life is pampered, quiet…suffocating.

Home is both sanctuary and prison to loyal Emeline, as she tries to fill the void her mother left when she walked out fifteen years before. And her dad might be a bit overbearing at times, but she feels sorry for him. So, she stays. But, he has secrets.

When Emeline finds a box of letters from her Aunt Juliana to her mother, she cannot deny anymore that her family is fractured and broken. As she uncovers the truth, she discovers she’s been sheltered from a lifetime of pain and betrayal. And that she doesn’t really know her family at all.

As her world caves in, she longs for the winds to change, to bring her a fresh new start. But will she realise that the only person who can change the course of her life, is her?