Attached Link: http://www.writersdigest.com/articles/parker_reading.asp

"Read Like A Writer" *Secrets of the writing world are everywhereespecially in the pages of books you read every day. Learn how to be a keen reader and pick up tricks of the trade from the writers you love best.* by Linda Busby Parker What you can learn from reading about plots, transitions, and character development.

Attached Link: http://www.baen.com/library/

You can learn a lot about writing by reading, if you note where a particular book / author does something that strikes you as wrong while reading it, then examine that passage to see why.[ as major as the plot is to obvious would be something that would stick out ]

also, examine which author(s) you enjoy reading and look for the similarities between them, then the differences. one author that I really enjoy reading, for both the humour in her work and the skill she has in hiding the answers in unique twists in the plots is Lois McMaster Bujold. I cannot read one of her novels without laughing so hard tears re pouring from my eyes. She has an entire series, [ science fiction space opera / comedy ] that is based on an insane set of circumstances. one of her novels is available from Baen's Free library, electronic versions of some books. the link is the free library

Message edited on: 12/27/2005 13:13

When I was trying to learn to write, oh . . . I'm still trying lol, anyway, I read anything I could by famous authors about writing. One, and now I can't remember his name, said, "If you want to write, first read a million words." I think it is THE way to learn.