G is for Genre Hopping

One of the best ways to learn how to write is to read...a lot. This something I've been told over and over again, both by writing teachers and other writers. I'm in luck on this one. "G" is for Genre Hopping and I love to read all genres; the hard-boiled detective drama, historical romance, weepy chick-lit. I like to read books multiple times and take them apart, figuratively, to find out why I like them so much. Is it the pacing? Are the characters memorable, if so, why? What compels me to keep reading? I underline and dog-ear my books like they are my college texts.

One of my favorite Genres is cop dramas. I got hooked one day on a flight to a funeral. My dad had one and I read it, despite the fact that it was not what I usually read, and loved it. The one I read in particular had these incredible frenetic chase scenes. They were like running with the cops while looking through a video recorder. The author gave tight shots of people through quick, fragmented descriptions of their actions during the chase.

The rest of the sentences in the scene were long, not quick and staccato like I’d thought. I decided that I had to try to learn from this guy…so I practiced in my own writing, the technique he used. It was awkward and forced at first, but eventually, I put my own twist on it.

Hemingway is great to study for dialogue. He uses gestures to punctuate the words and it’s powerful. Hemingway often contrasts mundane tasks, like nail hygiene, with menacing dialogue. To see the everyday human behavior on a killer makes what they are saying that much more threatening. To get an idea of what I’m talking about, try reading his book, The Killers, it’s amazing.

If you’re interested, The Poetry Resource Page has a great writing exercise on creating a character with gestures alone. And if you're into blogfests, there is a Body Language Blogfest going on at the Labotomy of a Writer Blog on April 24th.

My challenge to you today is to read books you felt were most potent, most riveting, to you as a reader and find out why. I’ll bet you’ll learn some great new techniques without the fee and travel of a writing class. What can you learn from your favorite writer?  Is it pacing, do they have great character quirks, or is it something less definable?  I'd love to know what you found out.

Until next time, Go Write!

Photograph by Hamed Saber, Uploaded on August 24, 2006. Photograph by austinevan, Uploaded on August 24, 2007.

Book Sneeze Review

Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God by Sheila Walsh is part biography, part bible study that explores the importance of trusting in God’s character despite what things look like at the moment. A follow-up to her book, Honestly, Sheila Walsh revisits in stark detail the crushing reality of her battle with depression and the lessons about trust she learned along the path to wholeness. Candid and unflinching, Sheila pulls no punches as she describes her journey of utter despair to unbelievable elation at God’s work in her life. Each chapter is filled with powerful illustrations, stories from her personal struggles, and bible insights taken from the lives of people like Tabitha, Mary and Martha, and Joseph.

Chapter Five, for example, begins with her mother-in-law’s last days in her battle with cancer. With bittersweet humor she recounts the bed-side vigil. Then Sheila moves on to the story of Lazarus in the bible and how his sisters, Mary and Martha, must have watched the horizon expectantly for their friend Jesus to come and heal their beloved brother. Delving into the Greek meaning of some scripture, local customs, and historical fact Sheila makes clear the amazing power of trusting God in spite of obvious defeat.

Surprisingly meaty and full of in-depth teaching, this book delves into the many reasons we don’t trust God and how we can overcome those obstacles. Sheila’s honest and straightforward message hits home on many levels. Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God comes with notes and bible study guide in the back of the book. Short and to the point, Sheila uses a Find, Feel, Follow format that is easy to stick to and very powerful. I would recommend this book for individual or small group study.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255