July WIP Challenge: Day 4 Check-In

[lexicalcrow]

Well, we're four days in. Happy Independence Day to our Americans. I hope you've all had time to write today.

Today, I have done:
- Writing
- Editing
- Sent fic to beta
- Post
- Planning and/or research
- Procrastinate
- Something else I will describe in comments.
Today's question: Aside from fanfic, do you do a lot of reading? What kind of books do you like reading, if any? What about e-books? Does reading other types of fiction, apart from fanfic, influence your writing in any way?

Comments

[lexicalcrow]

Today was the sort of day to curl up in front of the heater with a good book, I'll be honest with you, so I didn't get a lot of writing done. But hopefully I'll feel like writing tomorrow. Sometimes it's just not working and staring at a blank page is not productive. Especially if you're cold and just want to do something else.

I actually don't read as much as I'd like? I often have to remind myself to stop writing and read someething else for a while. I did realise today I'm running rather short of fiction so maybe a trip to the library is in order.

I read non-fiction and fiction. Fiction-wise, I mostly read fantasy and sci-fi? And maybe anything else that catches my eye. I do have a few e-books, but I read them on the computer, not on an e-reader. Mostly because I am poor and can't afford one. Boo. I do notice I pick up ideas here and there from reading other things though. Not all the time, but every now and then, I'll read somthing and it'll trigger an idea that might eventually get written.

[jagnikjen]

Haven't had a chance to write yet as I've gotten a late start on my day. But I'm hoping to spend a bit of time on my challenge fic and then switch over to my HP fic. (YUM)

I can be a voracious reader actually, when I get in reading mode. And I'm a fast reader so I can tear through a book rather quickly when nothing else requires my attention. :)

I like romances: young adult, historical (any time period really), contemporary, inspirational; I enjoy political thrillers, the occasional biography, Harry Potter, history books, books on websites, html, and css, women's fiction, ummm...there's probably something I've forgotten, but those are the biggies.

I'll just as easily choose an e-book over a physical book. I'm not choosy--if it's a good story, I'll buy it either way.

I'm sure everyone's writing is influenced to a certain degree by what they read, just as we're all influenced by our life experience. To what degree will of course vary from person to person.

Now...break brunch and then writing.

Happy Fourth everyone!

[jagnikjen]

Quick update:

There has been and will be no fic writing today. :(

On the other hand it's a national holiday, for crying out loud. I'm taking the day off!! :)

[terajk]

I revised and posted my kink_bingo fill today! And am working on another, which is slow-going. Part of the problem is that the pairing is unusual, and I've never written them together before. While I love them dearly, I'm sort of embarrassed for putting them together. And then I remind myself that other people have written this pairing and I love their stories, but then I go, "What if mine is awful, because theirs are awesome?" I...need to get over all of this, because KB is about fun. And I should have fun writing the pairing of my heart. Really, why should a little thing like being TOTAL ENEMIES who interact with each other twice in canon get in the way of their love?

The weather is nice now; the library is within walking distance and has lots of manga. And I...haven't read much manga? Even the really influential and important ones? (Please get the Sailor Moon re-release, library!) Right now I'm ten volumes into Fruits Basket, and I just started Prince of Tennis. (I also checked out some Fullmetal Alchemist, but haven't cracked it yet).

[pensnest]

I still haven't written anything of the new Chronicles story, but I have gone over what preceded it - the last two that I posted were intended as part of this episode - to remind myself of where I am and who these particular versions of my boys actually are.

I hope I have dropped in enough useful stuff that I will be able to pick it up at need. It's funny how often that happens.

As for reading... I have not been reading a lot of published fiction for quite some time now, the exceptions being re-reads of stories I love already and which were written by people who also do fanfic. I've re-read all Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan books, and also Manna Francis' Administration series, except for book 7, which awaits me. Much more likely to read science books, these days—mostly on evolution, which I find fascinating. And I have a couple of probably depressing books which I bought for research and haven't had the time to crack open yet.

[snowynight]

This day I write 2500 words in total.It contains a lot of description of food. I'm thinking of turning it to a motif.

I used to do much more reading than now. I like nearly every kind of books, fiction or not. My love of mystery does influence my plot.

[rubyfruit]

I have done a bit of writing, some planning, some research, and a bunch of procrastination that is tangentially related to writing, and some procrastinating that has nothing to do with writing.


I read a lot of romance novels when I don't read fanfic. I also read some YA novels and shoujo manga, too. I...don't read e-books since I can't afford an e-book reader at this time. There are some things I've picked up from other sources...I've picked up a few favorite plots and plot devices, and have been reminded of why I dislike some others. Example, I love when someone who is generally distrusting is suddenly thrust into a new situation where everything they've known is wrong, and slowly begins to trust people again thanks to a slew of quirky secondary characters and a Boy/Girl Next Door Type with some secrets of their own.

However, I'm consistently reminded of why I dislike Secret Baby plots. So much.

[bay_alexison]

Today was going to be my day off writing as I was suppose to go to a beach and see fireworks with family, but plans got canceled last minute as my dad got sick. D: So instead today I took a nap (didn't get much sleep, oi), watched a movie, clean my bathroom, and catch up on some fanfic reading. XD I won't be able to do writing anyways because of distractions from my family and people at my neighborhood playing with fireworks (like right now), haha. I MIGHT do editing or some outlining/map-minding later tonight, but I doubt it (again, distractions).

Speaking of reading, I had been reading a couple published fiction works, although I should probably read more of those. Reading other types of fiction does influence my writing a lot. A few of my works are actually fandom spins of published works I had read. XD

[glitteryv]

I've been editing like crazy. Finally (finally!) got a couple of people to beta Big Bang #1. Though I have til the end of this month to turn the final draft in, due to the ultra-rare pairing AND the wacky crossover (not to mention the insane level of AUness), I've felt it necessary to focus on getting BB#1 betaed while I work on BB#2 (like I intend to do starting this weekend.)

I do read a lot of M/M ebooks as well as YA books (though most of the latter are in ebook mode rather than paper copy.) There are a few mysteries I also enjoy, though in lesser quantity because I rarely get them in digital format. The rest of the books I read are non-fiction LGTB books I borrow from the local library.

Strangely enough, I don't feel like reading non-fic stuff has affected my writing in any way. But the reverse it totally true: I will totally admit that I have less patience with books that don't 'hook me' a few chapters in. I've read several novel-length fics that have been a zillion times better than some published books.