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Writing has changed
the way I read. I don’t know if it’s true for all writers, but I read
differently now. And I don’t mean that it makes me a more critical reader. In
some ways, it does. In other ways, it makes me a more compassionate reader.
But the big
difference is that I notice things now that I wouldn’t have noticed before. Currently,
I’m reading a NYT bestselling thriller. As the author spins her story, little
details about the characters stand out. And I know that those details aren’t
random filler—they are subtly preparing the reader for a twist at the end. In
other words, the details lead me to suspect that the “guilty” party really
isn’t guilty. He’s the victim.
And I wonder
if it’s less “fun” for me as a reader. If I weren’t seeing these hints for what
they are—preparations for the reversal at the end, would the novel be more
exciting? Does seeing the hand of the author behind the scenes spoil its
effect? After all, one of the things writers try to do is disappear. We work to
leave no trace of ourselves in the text. So, does being a writer and knowing
the “tricks of the trade” spoil the experience? Perhaps.
But there is
another facet to the experience. As a writer, I appreciate the text more. I see
the nuances and skill. I suspect it’s a “forest and trees” issue. I can’t have
the same kind of “forest” experience anymore, because I see so many individual
trees. But those trees can sure be gorgeous—the texture of the bark, the shade
of leaves, the strength of the branches. Maybe it’s just exchanging one experience
of beauty for another.
On the other
hand, if I’m completely wrong about the thriller, it would be very cool. And
you’ll hear me squeal because I’ll have seen the forest and the trees.
What are your
thoughts? If you’re a writer, does it change your experience of reading? And if
you don’t write, would you as a reader want to notice the machinations of the
writer in the text?
