Improve Your Blogging… Binge on a Fiction Author
In Friday’s guest column, Geoff Hoff points out that using fiction techniques in your business blog posts makes your writing “more viscerally appealing to your reader.”
I couldn’t agree more. I write non-fiction, but I read fiction (55 novels in 2009). As I inhale novels, I mentally dissect each one to learn how the author creates rich characters, intriguing plot lines, and compelling dialogue.
I love to binge on a particular author. I’ll select an author who is new to me (usually someone recommended by another writer) and read every book written by that author, one after another. Author binges acquaint me with an author’s unique style, and as I immerse myself in every novel that author has published, I become familiar with specific techniques the author uses.
Often, I’ll hand-copy or type several paragraphs from an author’s novel. As I copy the author’s words, they come alive for me and I’m able to pick out specific turns-of-phrase that I can incorporate into my own writing.
I binged on several authors during 2009 (you’ll see from my choice of authors that I have an eclectic reading style – I’ll read almost anyone!).
Here are my author binges, in no particular order:
Orson Scott Card – I started with the Alvin Maker series (the covers alone are some of the cheesiest I’ve ever seen!) and worked my way through the Science Fiction classic, Ender’s Game
Ted Dekker – I read several of his recent suspense/thrillers (which have pseudo-Christian themes) and worked my way back to his earlier works. Just finished the Martyr’s Song series. I’m mad at Ted; I’ve spent many a sleepless night turning pages to find out what happens next.
Tamera Alexander – Who woulda thunk I’d like historical Christian western romances? Not me! But I do. At least, I like her books; she’s an excellent writer.
Seth Godin – I know; I know… Seth Godin writes non-fiction. But he writes about business blogging and other business-related topics. I like his style. It’s plain. Simple. Readable. Pointed.
Mary DeMuth – Mary and I met several years ago at a writers’ conference and of course, I must read everything my writer friends publish (Hi, Mary!). I recently read the first two books in her Defiance Texas Trilogy.
Alexander McCall Smith – I adore The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, am working my way through The Isabel Dalhousie series, and plan to start The Portuguese Irregular Verbs series and The 44 Scotland Street series sometime during my lifetime. Love his intriguing titles and quirky characters!
Elizabeth George – I’ve been binging on Inspector Lynley and his sidekick, Barbara Havers, for years. Next on my list: Careless in Red.
Classic Binges
I binge on these authors repeatedly – sometimes yearly.
Jane Austen – I never tire of Pride and Prejudice, Sense & Sensibility, Mansfield Park, and the others, no matter how many times I read them.
Jan Karon – The Mitford Years is my favorite series, bar none.
Maeve Binchy – One of my absolute favorite authors. I’ve read most of her books, and will probably re-read them all.
John Grisham – Who hasn’t binged on him?
Mary Higgins Clark – Ditto.
Richard Llewellyn – It took me 10 years to collect the entire How Green Was My Valley
Thomas Hardy – Dark, intriguing, tragic love stories. Tess of the D’Urbervilles is one of my all-time favorite novels.
Charlotte Bronte – Ditto. The first time I read Jane Eyre
I need some new authors to binge on in 2010. Recommendations, anyone?
Robert Jordan. He has a rich style and lots of characters to keep track of. Each has something to make them different and memorable. And there’s plenty of him to binge on. I haven’t read the latest, written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death, but Sanderson is a good author, and I’m confident he’s taking good care of the world and the characters.
.-= Juli Monroe´s last blog ..Don’t Do Anything You Really Don’t Like! =-.
Robert Jordan. He has a rich style and lots of characters to keep track of. Each has something to make them different and memorable. And there’s plenty of him to binge on. I haven’t read the latest, written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death, but Sanderson is a good author, and I’m confident he’s taking good care of the world and the characters.
.-= Juli Monroe´s last blog ..Don’t Do Anything You Really Don’t Like! =-.
Robert Jordan. He has a rich style and lots of characters to keep track of. Each has something to make them different and memorable. And there’s plenty of him to binge on. I haven’t read the latest, written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death, but Sanderson is a good author, and I’m confident he’s taking good care of the world and the characters.
.-= Juli Monroe´s last blog ..Don’t Do Anything You Really Don’t Like! =-.
Robert Jordan. He has a rich style and lots of characters to keep track of. Each has something to make them different and memorable. And there’s plenty of him to binge on. I haven’t read the latest, written by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan’s death, but Sanderson is a good author, and I’m confident he’s taking good care of the world and the characters.
.-= Juli Monroe´s last blog ..Don’t Do Anything You Really Don’t Like! =-.
Seeing Ender’s Game on the page when I opened this blog was exciting. I’ve read so much of Card, (Try the Homecoming series) but can’t say I’ve read everything because he puts out so darn much. Loved Alvin Maker, loved Ender and the Ender’s Shadow series.
I recommend picking up a book called Cryptonomicon by Neal Stehpenson. Great book, weird ending. I am currently binging on him. (I also binge on writers I like.) His earlier books are sort of punk science fiction, but good. Cryptonomican is sort of a spy novel, sort of a family history, sort of historical fiction. Sort of… You get the idea. I’m now almost exactly in the middle of his massive Baroque series. Three books, each almost 1,000 pages. Sprawling. Takes place during the age of enlightenment. Fascinating.
I also read on in the The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, believe it or not. Picked it up on the lobby of a hotel I was staying at. It was fun, but I didn’t binge on her.
.-= Geoff´s last blog ..Post 31 on Connie Green’s 30 Day Challenge – Having an Idea =-.
Seeing Ender’s Game on the page when I opened this blog was exciting. I’ve read so much of Card, (Try the Homecoming series) but can’t say I’ve read everything because he puts out so darn much. Loved Alvin Maker, loved Ender and the Ender’s Shadow series.
I recommend picking up a book called Cryptonomicon by Neal Stehpenson. Great book, weird ending. I am currently binging on him. (I also binge on writers I like.) His earlier books are sort of punk science fiction, but good. Cryptonomican is sort of a spy novel, sort of a family history, sort of historical fiction. Sort of… You get the idea. I’m now almost exactly in the middle of his massive Baroque series. Three books, each almost 1,000 pages. Sprawling. Takes place during the age of enlightenment. Fascinating.
I also read on in the The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, believe it or not. Picked it up on the lobby of a hotel I was staying at. It was fun, but I didn’t binge on her.
.-= Geoff´s last blog ..Post 31 on Connie Green’s 30 Day Challenge – Having an Idea =-.
Seeing Ender’s Game on the page when I opened this blog was exciting. I’ve read so much of Card, (Try the Homecoming series) but can’t say I’ve read everything because he puts out so darn much. Loved Alvin Maker, loved Ender and the Ender’s Shadow series.
I recommend picking up a book called Cryptonomicon by Neal Stehpenson. Great book, weird ending. I am currently binging on him. (I also binge on writers I like.) His earlier books are sort of punk science fiction, but good. Cryptonomican is sort of a spy novel, sort of a family history, sort of historical fiction. Sort of… You get the idea. I’m now almost exactly in the middle of his massive Baroque series. Three books, each almost 1,000 pages. Sprawling. Takes place during the age of enlightenment. Fascinating.
I also read on in the The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, believe it or not. Picked it up on the lobby of a hotel I was staying at. It was fun, but I didn’t binge on her.
.-= Geoff´s last blog ..Post 31 on Connie Green’s 30 Day Challenge – Having an Idea =-.
Seeing Ender’s Game on the page when I opened this blog was exciting. I’ve read so much of Card, (Try the Homecoming series) but can’t say I’ve read everything because he puts out so darn much. Loved Alvin Maker, loved Ender and the Ender’s Shadow series.
I recommend picking up a book called Cryptonomicon by Neal Stehpenson. Great book, weird ending. I am currently binging on him. (I also binge on writers I like.) His earlier books are sort of punk science fiction, but good. Cryptonomican is sort of a spy novel, sort of a family history, sort of historical fiction. Sort of… You get the idea. I’m now almost exactly in the middle of his massive Baroque series. Three books, each almost 1,000 pages. Sprawling. Takes place during the age of enlightenment. Fascinating.
I also read on in the The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series, believe it or not. Picked it up on the lobby of a hotel I was staying at. It was fun, but I didn’t binge on her.
.-= Geoff´s last blog ..Post 31 on Connie Green’s 30 Day Challenge – Having an Idea =-.
Jodi Picoult. She’s a prolific writer, tackling the “hot issues” of the day, while creating believable characters. I usually can’t put her books down – “The Tenth Circle” being my favourite!
.-= Maureen Lee´s last blog ..Will 2010 be ‘Business as Usual’ for You? =-.
Jodi Picoult. She’s a prolific writer, tackling the “hot issues” of the day, while creating believable characters. I usually can’t put her books down – “The Tenth Circle” being my favourite!
.-= Maureen Lee´s last blog ..Will 2010 be ‘Business as Usual’ for You? =-.
Jodi Picoult. She’s a prolific writer, tackling the “hot issues” of the day, while creating believable characters. I usually can’t put her books down – “The Tenth Circle” being my favourite!
.-= Maureen Lee´s last blog ..Will 2010 be ‘Business as Usual’ for You? =-.
Jodi Picoult. She’s a prolific writer, tackling the “hot issues” of the day, while creating believable characters. I usually can’t put her books down – “The Tenth Circle” being my favourite!
.-= Maureen Lee´s last blog ..Will 2010 be ‘Business as Usual’ for You? =-.
Charles Martin. I read four of his books this past year. He has a talent for weaving backstory with the “present” without being intrusive or jarring. And his themes both nuanced and textured.
.-= Johnnie´s last blog ..Reading Challenge: 10-10-10 =-.
Charles Martin. I read four of his books this past year. He has a talent for weaving backstory with the “present” without being intrusive or jarring. And his themes both nuanced and textured.
.-= Johnnie´s last blog ..Reading Challenge: 10-10-10 =-.
Charles Martin. I read four of his books this past year. He has a talent for weaving backstory with the “present” without being intrusive or jarring. And his themes both nuanced and textured.
.-= Johnnie´s last blog ..Reading Challenge: 10-10-10 =-.
Charles Martin. I read four of his books this past year. He has a talent for weaving backstory with the “present” without being intrusive or jarring. And his themes both nuanced and textured.
.-= Johnnie´s last blog ..Reading Challenge: 10-10-10 =-.
If you like Card, you will probably enjoy Piers Anthony .
I particularly enjoy the Xanth series, but he has plenty of others.
When I first found his books, years ago, I read five in a row. Now I grab the new ones as soon as they show up in the library (I am there at least once a week, and read two or three fiction books a week most times).
.-= sefcug´s last blog ..PART 1: THE "BIT" =-.
If you like Card, you will probably enjoy Piers Anthony .
I particularly enjoy the Xanth series, but he has plenty of others.
When I first found his books, years ago, I read five in a row. Now I grab the new ones as soon as they show up in the library (I am there at least once a week, and read two or three fiction books a week most times).
.-= sefcug´s last blog ..PART 1: THE "BIT" =-.
If you like Card, you will probably enjoy Piers Anthony .
I particularly enjoy the Xanth series, but he has plenty of others.
When I first found his books, years ago, I read five in a row. Now I grab the new ones as soon as they show up in the library (I am there at least once a week, and read two or three fiction books a week most times).
.-= sefcug´s last blog ..PART 1: THE "BIT" =-.
If you like Card, you will probably enjoy Piers Anthony .
I particularly enjoy the Xanth series, but he has plenty of others.
When I first found his books, years ago, I read five in a row. Now I grab the new ones as soon as they show up in the library (I am there at least once a week, and read two or three fiction books a week most times).
.-= sefcug´s last blog ..PART 1: THE "BIT" =-.
Thanks for the author binge suggestions, folks. I’m adding them all to my reading list!
Thanks for the author binge suggestions, folks. I’m adding them all to my reading list!
Thanks for the author binge suggestions, folks. I’m adding them all to my reading list!
Thanks for the author binge suggestions, folks. I’m adding them all to my reading list!
First . . . I am, thanks in part to your input, re-embarking on blogging. I appreciate your good guidance.
Since deciding to get into social networking as a marketing medium I read something to the effect “If you don’t blow your own horn, no one will hear your music.” So . . .
Try my books. You can read the first 60 pages of ABIDING DARKNESS and know if you like my style. Lemme know what you think.
Warm regards,
John A
First . . . I am, thanks in part to your input, re-embarking on blogging. I appreciate your good guidance.
Since deciding to get into social networking as a marketing medium I read something to the effect “If you don’t blow your own horn, no one will hear your music.” So . . .
Try my books. You can read the first 60 pages of ABIDING DARKNESS and know if you like my style. Lemme know what you think.
Warm regards,
John A
First . . . I am, thanks in part to your input, re-embarking on blogging. I appreciate your good guidance.
Since deciding to get into social networking as a marketing medium I read something to the effect “If you don’t blow your own horn, no one will hear your music.” So . . .
Try my books. You can read the first 60 pages of ABIDING DARKNESS and know if you like my style. Lemme know what you think.
Warm regards,
John A
First . . . I am, thanks in part to your input, re-embarking on blogging. I appreciate your good guidance.
Since deciding to get into social networking as a marketing medium I read something to the effect “If you don’t blow your own horn, no one will hear your music.” So . . .
Try my books. You can read the first 60 pages of ABIDING DARKNESS and know if you like my style. Lemme know what you think.
Warm regards,
John A