Yes yes yes to all of this! My biggest advice for new writers is to dissect EVERYTHING, precisely for this reason. We learn a lot about ourselves and our storytelling by paying attention to what we don’t like.
This post reminded me of one of my favorite keynotes on writing, Jennifer Lynne Barnes “writing for your id”
I keep a running Id list ever since listening to it--all the small tropes or situations or character archetypes (etc etc) that I love. And often I end up adding to that list when I watch or read something I dislike. Because I’ll go “I don’t like x, but I love when x is flipped into y”
Having an actual list helps me so much. It really does break it all down like it's a math equation. And I like the concept of having all these creative visions, and overlaying them on this very tangible equation (x+y=books of my heart) to really write from my inner core.
I love the idea of using what we don't like as a way to clarify what we DO like. It reminds me of another idea: that when something is a problem, instead of trying to solve the problem, turn it around and ask "what do I want to create?" Credit to Robert Fritz and his book The Path of Least Resistance.
Oooo, I love that! Especially because I think there's such a thing these days of Being a Problem Solver, all the time. And what if we just...didn't solve the problems? Or at least not in the conventional ways. What if we solved problems by making something else? That's so good.
The energy is really different. For example, "my office is a disaster area!" and "I want to create a space I love working in." When you focus on what you want to create you open up a lot more possibilities you wouldn't otherwise consider.
A writer friend and I were just talking about the fact that there are elements of a story that can be objectively good or bad, and there are elements that are subjectively enjoyable or not, and it's important to figure out which of those two categories you're responding to when you don't like a book/movie/show.
It helps to figure out that I'm turned off my bad grammar or awkward prose, but it also helps to know that I tend to enjoy stories set on space ships even when other people can't stand them!
I keep a list of picture books I like, and don't, like (with notes only for myself) but I hadn't thought of broadening it to storytelling in general (to include movies, etc.)! 🤔 I do think about movies and TV an AWFUL lot, and maybe that would turn all that brain mush into something useful!
Related, you are definitely channeling Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club vibes (that's a compliment, I feel like I should explain). It's like the cover of an awesome indie label album titled "Photo of a Photo."
Also related, did I ever tell you that we all loved Derry Girls?? Thank you for that rec!!
And YES YES YES definitely add anything to your list. Especially anything that's telling a story, but I'd say if you are, like, obsessed with prairies, then figure out why, and figure out a way to add that feeling to a book.
You could tell me I'm anyone in The Breakfast Club and I'd take it as a compliment.
I also keep an annotated bibliography of all the kidlit books I read. Not so much the adult books. I am vocal in this private document about why I didn't like a book.
One of the reasons I use the public library so much is so I don't have to buy a book I potentially won't like.
I love the idea of being vocal in your own private document! And I use my public library so much because I don't have the space and money to buy all the books I want to read. Plus! Libraries are so awesome. I'm so happy to support mine.
Abandoning a book seems like such a brutal act - I just can't do it. What I do instead is to skim and skip through it to the end to try and absorb its essence. Somehow makes me feel like I've accomplished something. But I do love the idea of journaling about what I didn't lie.
I've skimmed too. There was one I abandoned recently where I skimmed a bit and then read the last three pages, and that confirmed that it was not a book for me. It feels more brutal to me to struggle through finishing a book that's not for me.
This is good advice. It’s taken me awhile to learn to abandon books that I don’t like! I always feel that I should finish every book I start-- not sure why, as there are plenty of other activities I start that I never finish, and don’t ever feel guilty about! But looking at why I don’t like the book, or how I would do it differently, certainly makes the activity have more relevance and not feel wasted. I think I’m going to try to incorporate that, as I have several books next to my bed that I have started and just can’t get into...
It's one of the reasons it's important to me not to talk publicly about the books I abandon. I know someone worked hard on them, AND I know other people love them (one of the books I read last year that I hated showed up on multiple best-of-the-year lists). But it's my brain and my reading time, and I don't have to finish a book if I don't want to! (And neither do you)
That's an interesting perspective on what to take away from books we didn't enjoy. I like that!
Terrific post!
Thank you, Carolyn!
Yes yes yes to all of this! My biggest advice for new writers is to dissect EVERYTHING, precisely for this reason. We learn a lot about ourselves and our storytelling by paying attention to what we don’t like.
This post reminded me of one of my favorite keynotes on writing, Jennifer Lynne Barnes “writing for your id”
I keep a running Id list ever since listening to it--all the small tropes or situations or character archetypes (etc etc) that I love. And often I end up adding to that list when I watch or read something I dislike. Because I’ll go “I don’t like x, but I love when x is flipped into y”
Anyway, here’s the link if you’re interested. https://www.rwa.org/Online/Online/Store/StoreLayouts/Item_Detail.aspx?iProductCode=AUDIO18WTYI&Category=RECORDINGS
Having an actual list helps me so much. It really does break it all down like it's a math equation. And I like the concept of having all these creative visions, and overlaying them on this very tangible equation (x+y=books of my heart) to really write from my inner core.
Thanks for the link to that keynote! I'll listen!
I love the idea of using what we don't like as a way to clarify what we DO like. It reminds me of another idea: that when something is a problem, instead of trying to solve the problem, turn it around and ask "what do I want to create?" Credit to Robert Fritz and his book The Path of Least Resistance.
Oooo, I love that! Especially because I think there's such a thing these days of Being a Problem Solver, all the time. And what if we just...didn't solve the problems? Or at least not in the conventional ways. What if we solved problems by making something else? That's so good.
The energy is really different. For example, "my office is a disaster area!" and "I want to create a space I love working in." When you focus on what you want to create you open up a lot more possibilities you wouldn't otherwise consider.
A writer friend and I were just talking about the fact that there are elements of a story that can be objectively good or bad, and there are elements that are subjectively enjoyable or not, and it's important to figure out which of those two categories you're responding to when you don't like a book/movie/show.
It helps to figure out that I'm turned off my bad grammar or awkward prose, but it also helps to know that I tend to enjoy stories set on space ships even when other people can't stand them!
And it's so, so interesting to me how many of the potentially "objectively bad" elements might actually be subjective elements.
Also, thank you for mentioning my newsletter!
Ooooh yes I love this idea!! I'm going to start an actual list!
I recommend it! A lot shifted for me when I went from a mental list to an actual list. Let me know how it goes!
Yes to Random Capitals for emphasis!
I keep a list of picture books I like, and don't, like (with notes only for myself) but I hadn't thought of broadening it to storytelling in general (to include movies, etc.)! 🤔 I do think about movies and TV an AWFUL lot, and maybe that would turn all that brain mush into something useful!
Related, you are definitely channeling Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club vibes (that's a compliment, I feel like I should explain). It's like the cover of an awesome indie label album titled "Photo of a Photo."
Also related, did I ever tell you that we all loved Derry Girls?? Thank you for that rec!!
DERRY GIRLS. I think I need to rewatch it.
And YES YES YES definitely add anything to your list. Especially anything that's telling a story, but I'd say if you are, like, obsessed with prairies, then figure out why, and figure out a way to add that feeling to a book.
You could tell me I'm anyone in The Breakfast Club and I'd take it as a compliment.
I also keep an annotated bibliography of all the kidlit books I read. Not so much the adult books. I am vocal in this private document about why I didn't like a book.
One of the reasons I use the public library so much is so I don't have to buy a book I potentially won't like.
I love the idea of being vocal in your own private document! And I use my public library so much because I don't have the space and money to buy all the books I want to read. Plus! Libraries are so awesome. I'm so happy to support mine.
I have been away from this site for way too long.
Abandoning a book seems like such a brutal act - I just can't do it. What I do instead is to skim and skip through it to the end to try and absorb its essence. Somehow makes me feel like I've accomplished something. But I do love the idea of journaling about what I didn't lie.
I've skimmed too. There was one I abandoned recently where I skimmed a bit and then read the last three pages, and that confirmed that it was not a book for me. It feels more brutal to me to struggle through finishing a book that's not for me.
This is good advice. It’s taken me awhile to learn to abandon books that I don’t like! I always feel that I should finish every book I start-- not sure why, as there are plenty of other activities I start that I never finish, and don’t ever feel guilty about! But looking at why I don’t like the book, or how I would do it differently, certainly makes the activity have more relevance and not feel wasted. I think I’m going to try to incorporate that, as I have several books next to my bed that I have started and just can’t get into...
It's one of the reasons it's important to me not to talk publicly about the books I abandon. I know someone worked hard on them, AND I know other people love them (one of the books I read last year that I hated showed up on multiple best-of-the-year lists). But it's my brain and my reading time, and I don't have to finish a book if I don't want to! (And neither do you)
Brilliant idea! Now I just need to come up with a better documentation system. Do you just like...make a spreadsheet and write notes?
I have a list in Notion, but it started as a hand-drawn spreadsheet.
I use Evernote for this! It's just one long note there, broken down by the reading year, but I can search it super easily.
Ooh great suggestions! Thank you