Okay, everyone knows that writers need to read. We learn. We grow. We re-energize. We learn markets. We internalize rhythms, techniques. But there are some authors I should just stay away from. And Elizabeth George is one of them. I asked for a banquet of consequences for Christmas. My sister bought it for me, but I was so swamped with manuscripts, I couldn’t get to it. My good writing friend, Paula, read it and loved it. We both appreciate Elizabeth George’s depth and language, her layers and nuances. This last week, I finally got to start the book. Poor me.
Elizabeth George makes me feel like I should sit in a corner and suck my thumb with a dunce hat on. She makes me feel juvenile and inadequate, and I love her for it! Every time I read her, she makes me want to strive harder, to show, not tell, to use small scenes to create big emotions. She has a way of developing fully realized characters with strokes of dialogue, small gestures, telling details. Sigh. It’s a good thing she takes a long time between books, or else my ego might not survive. She writes mysteries, but I consider her more of a literary writer. The story’s characters outweigh the clues. To be honest, I loved her early books, studied A Great Deliverance because I thought it was near-perfect, then had a rocky time for a few of her last books, but with this one, I’m back in reading Nirvana.
I feel the same way when I read a Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson novel. Briggs writes urban fantasy–and who knew a writer could make that almost literary? But for me, she pulls it off. Yes, there are battles, struggles, and plenty of mythology. But once again, Briggs’s use of language and her emphasis on characterization lift urban fantasy into literary status. Everyone has their own likes/dislikes. And I usually avoid literary with a vengeance, but when an author can combine the two–boy, am I impressed!
I hope your favorite authors never disappoint and always inspire you! Happy Reading! And as always, happy writing!
Judi Lynn 
Know just what you mean. Picked up a Nora Roberts this am, glanced through and got stuck on a scene of internal dialogue that illustrates why she’s the queen of contemorary. Am I going to use what I learned? Damn straight. Have to fiddle with it for the regency set but know just how to implant it into the contemporary stuff.
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I have three Nora Roberts’ books on my shelves because I can’t part with them. She’s GOOD. It’s great to have topnotch writers who challenge us. Glad she inspired you.
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I can totally relate, Judy. Whenever I commit myself to writing, I have to step away from reading anything written by my favorite authors. They leave me with equal parts inspiration and self-doubt, more self-doubt. I’m in awe of how they make the process seem effortless-and of course I know the struggle is universal but still…When I return to grabbing for a book by any of my favorites, I am reminded why I wanted to be a writer in the first place. Thanks for another thought-provoking post. 🙂
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I’ve started telling myself Different Strokes for Different Folks. I’ll never be Elizabeth George. I can’t write literary, but I can admire it. And E.George can make me want to make what I write better. Who knows? Someone, someday, might feel that way about us. Or at least, they’ll enjoy what we write. So go for it! I like your style!
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