Do you read your own books?

[nigel p bird]

I'd say that by the time something is ready for pubication, I'm pretty fed up with reading the same thing over and over, so it's rare for me to go back and read after the work's published.

I have 3 general reactions.

1) Wow, this is amazing and I can't imagine things like that coming from my brain.

2) How the hell did that sentence/mistake/section manage to escape my eagle-eyes

3) I have no recollection of putting that piece down ever, not even a spark about the subject of it.

For me, there are so many great things out there to read and so little time, that I tend to avoid my stuff.

Anyway, good question.

Thanks,

nigel

[morriss003]

Originally Posted by nigel p bird

I'd say that by the time something is ready for pubication, I'm pretty fed up with reading the same thing over and over, so it's rare for me to go back and read after the work's published.

I have 3 general reactions.

1) Wow, this is amazing and I can't imagine things like that coming from my brain.

2) How the hell did that sentence/mistake/section manage to escape my eagle-eyes

3) I have no recollection of putting that piece down ever, not even a spark about the subject of it.

For me, there are so many great things out there to read and so little time, that I tend to avoid my stuff.

Anyway, good question.

Thanks,

nigel

These are really good points, Nigel. I'm usually sick of reading a book that I have been working on for a long time. But a year or two later, I get a lot of pleasure out of it.

[Mayzshon]

I noticed that the first time I re-read Have Broom Will Travel, I hated it. But then after about five years I re-read it again. Oddly, it almost seemed to have been written by a different author, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by Mayzshon

I noticed that the first time I re-read Have Broom Will Travel, I hated it. But then after about five years I re-read it again. Oddly, it almost seemed to have been written by a different author, and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I would suggest that it was written by a different author... or rather in five years you changed/matured/etc enough to be a little bit of a different person.

[Native]

I love rereading my stories and yeah, time makes old things new. I would think almost anyone who cares enough should be their own favorite author, or cook, or stylist etc. At least speaking for myself though, popularity is a whole nother matter.

[Mayzshon]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

I would suggest that it was written by a different author... or rather in five years you changed/matured/etc enough to be a little bit of a different person.

Yeah that's part of it. It's interesting to see how my interests and influences have changed in the intervening years.

Another part of it is thatI'd forgotton most of the jokes, so they were new and funny again.

[HistoryWes]

I reread my writing all the time. When I write a sequel or series, I have reread the first book a dozen times or more before I start the second. I write the stories I would like to read, so I don't think it's any surprise that I enjoy reading them.

[brianj6]

I find it a strange experieince to re-read what I've written after some time has passed--it's almost as though someone else has written it. Almost always, though, I want to edit and change the wording.

Brian January

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

I enjoy rereading my books as much as I enjoy rereading other books in my collection. The difference is, if I come across something that doesn't sound as good upon rereading, I can fix it!

[Todd Young]

Generally speaking, I like reading my own books once I have forgotten them. I really enjoy it and sometimes even laugh or cry. At the moment I'm working on a new novel and I read through the draft a couple of weeks ago. That was not a good experience. It's a mess, and I don't know how I'm going to fix it.

[Just4kix]

I was going through my files and found a short story that I'd begun. I had forgotten all about it and eagerly read the first two pages - but then discovered I hadn't finished it I've no idea how I intended it to end

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by Just4kix

I was going through my files and found a short story that I'd begun. I had forgotten all about it and eagerly read the first two pages - but then discovered I hadn't finished it I've no idea how I intended it to end

Could always fix that now, give it a fresh ending!