Do you read award-winning authors, who are acclaimed for writing excellent prose?
I believe a would-be author should read widely, but more importantly read as much as possible about the genre in which they're writing.
I read self-interestedly, mainly books by authors who have won the Newbery Medal, Carnegie Medal and the finalists of both. I also read the winners and finalists of other prestigious book awards. 'Learn from the best', is my motto.
Yet, there are many authors who have enjoyed much financial success writing trashy novels which have sold millions of copies. I fear that many would-be authors are too easily influenced by the hype surrounding poorly-written, best-selling novels.
Do you read self-interestedly to learn and improve your writing style. If so, who are your favourite authors and what have you learned from them?
I've read many books where I've thought... how did this get published? When it's so hard for some great writier's to be published?
But in terms of 'trashy' - that depends what genre you actually like, I could find some 'great' historical novels 'trash-worthy' if they're so bloody boring. Whereas some could describe easy-reads as 'trashy' because of the opposite reason in them being too simple. The point is, I guess, all art is subjective.
For improving my own writing, I am trying to read constantly, for even the books I don't enjoy- I'll always learn a million lessons.
And art and money is always a difficult relationship. I always think in creating any form of art you should never chase money, perhaps that would be my version of 'trashy'.
My favourite Author currently is Kate Morton and currently delving into Terry Pratchett.
It comes down to whether you are a fan of stories or a fan of writing. The two aren't (or shouldn't be) mutually exclusive, but for some reason so many literary writers think they are. There is nothing wrong with aspiring to great writing, but if you also aspiring to creating amazing stories, you dabble in the low-brow... because you have to.
Interesting point. I guess it all comes down to why do we read?
Personally, I read NF as (mostly) research and novels for enjoyment. I don't have lots of time for reading, it's snatched when I'm not doing a lot else which usually means before I go to sleep. So I pick stuff I think I'll enjoy; well-known writers or newbies I come across who write around subjects I'm familiar with. It might be a lazy way to read but it's leisure, after all. Life's too short to get halfway through a book only to discard it and there have been quite a few of those in the past. Let the literati read award-winners if they want - I've tried a few and found an awful lot of pretentious overwriting. I'm sure there are any number which are truly 'good', but as ever the few have spoiled it for the majority. On my bookshelves, anyway.
And what have I learned from my favourite authors? Character, character, character. Plus the story, of course.