Does fanny fatigue, a crick in your neck or cramped fingers make you wish writing was not such a chore?

Writers are avid readers. You knew that but do you still feel guilty reading "just" a novel?

Writers must be enthusiastic readers, no apologies are needed, to know what is going on in the world of publishing. The newest release was written at least one to two years ago. What trends or topics are today's best sellers? Could you have predicted and written what would fly off the shelves today? It's too late for an expose on Obama or Hillary. Chick-lit is still popular, but for how much longer? Did you see it coming? How about cozy mysteries? Are they gaining in popularity? Today, Christian Fiction is replacing sordid sex, extreme violence, and gruesome gore. Was the reading audience over saturated? Did you see the change coming?

Publishing prophesy is an excellent excuse for checking out best sellers in all genre. In addition, when you make a book proposal for your manuscript you will be required to do a market analysis. That's research on the readership of books similar to yours, why yours will be accepted and sell, and why your book is different, ie better, than what is currently on the market.

As a writer and critical reader you will often spot editing and author mistakes that you'd skim over before. Halfway through a new release I read CHAPTEN Twenty. Where was the proof reader? Spelling and grammar errors make you wonder how these books got published. Here's a secret; publishing houses expect you to do the editing.

Read non-fiction to verify details and facts, and for ideas to incorporate into fiction so your novel reads "for real". Read fiction to suggest character traits, strengthen plots or to inspire dialog.

Read appropriate topics whether writing fiction or non-fiction. don't worry about plagiarism or accidentally memorizing passages because the more you read, the more you will be less likely to remember specifics and will be less likely to copy style.

Your voice will come naturally and gradually from deep inside. Characters, themes, and dialog that you've read will be filtered through your brain an emerge as your own.

So avoid fanny fatigue and stretch out with a book.