The topic of choice this week is “What Reading Teaches Me as a Writer/Reviewer”. This being a blog post, the value of brevity immediately comes to mind. Therefore, I present this week’s topic as a handy, dandy Top 5 List.
5. Friends with Layers. Supporting characters should be more than background. The best books have a memorable B-Team. Examples: Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban, Dead as a Doornail, Marked
4. Location! Location! Location! A good story can be epic with a bit of set dressing. Interesting locales described with skilled prose can make all the difference. Examples: Twilight, Every Last Kiss, The Hunger Games
3. Adoring the Oddities. Nothing is more endearing than a hero who isn’t debilitated by his/her defect, but instead uses it to save the day. Examples: Rippler, Grave Sight, Undead and Unwed
2. Joy of the Unknown. We talk about the books that shock us; the ones that give us something we didn’t see coming. A successful plot twist is one of the most valuable tools in the author’s shed. Examples: Of Sun & Moon, Mockingjay, Last Breath
1. The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth. Humility is the sign of a true hero. Readers identify more easily with the wallflower than the cheerleader captain. Examples: Glass Houses, 13 on Halloween, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
There’s the list. Add your own in the Comments section below or take a look at what these authors had to say on the topic…