Homework: What?

Hey crew, I'm still working on Mike's Book.

This latest section talked about knowing what you like, and what you want to write. Then also how important it is to read other successful books in the genre that you want to play with and be a part of. In business it would be "knowing your market."

The analytical process of understanding, why we like the books we like, the methods employed by the authors to draw us in and invest us in a character or situation, methods where we are shown and not told. The tool that an author makes the best use of comes from reading what is already in circulation, and no that isn't pithy.

My number one complaint is the decisive lack of new authors in my favorite genre, oh I'm sure that they are out there, but I like thick books and sagas, I'm particularly fond of well researched historical fiction, alternate universe fiction, high fantasy, mysteries/suspense/thrillers, and romance stories that fall into a series historical or modern as long as they follow a family or group of friends, and yes I even love YA Fiction, I'm an escapist.

Being an escapist means that I am always reading something. Mike says that I should take the queues and analyze why and how the author succeeded in wrapping me in knots so that I can apply them to my own writing.

Funny, when I was in school I never thought of Book Reports as a way to improve my writing, but it is a thing. So get a composition notebook ready for when you do your reading.

Title:
Author:
Pages:
Main Character:
What I Liked:
Why:
What I didn't like:
Why:

Its funny how blank your mind goes when you are forced to answer questions. Then after a few books are recorded, review your notes and try to incorporate your likes into a story, try building suspense using these techniques.