The greatest ways to grow as a writer is by reading. I spent a summer reading selections from the NY Times Best Seller List.
Now, not all of them were stellar reads, well written or even slightly engaging. But there was some aspect of the book that intrigued readers. What was it? Even if you’re reading a book that makes you scratch your head and ask, “And they’re published and I’m not?” dig deep to find what does work about the authors story.
Story can trump craft many, and most times.
That being said, the Book Therapist pick this week is author Marian Keyes. Now, I can’t say I’ve read all of her books, but the ones I have read leave me salivating as a writer.
Keyes has a great sense of character. She weaves drama with comedy, and deftly crafts a story with multiple points of view, even if the story is only told in first person from a single POV. Now, figure that one out. Read “Anybody Out There.”
On top of her craft, Keyes’s writing is fluid and laugh out loud funny. Her Irish wit gets me every time. At the ACFW conference, I asked Englishwoman Liz Babbs if American’s were funny to them. “Hilarious,” she said. “You make verbs out of nouns.”
It’s true, we do. Take any noun and add an “ed.”
Back to Keyes. She does write with sexual content and occassionally about her fascination with psychics, but her literary skill is phenomenal.
Her essays “Under the Duvet” are a great place to start.
Happy Reading.
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