Why do YOU like to read? My answer...

And to turn the question around: Why do I like to read?

I like to escape from the real world every now and then. Reading takes my mind off of other chaotic or stressful things going on in my life. It's entertainment for me.  I love reading about things, people and places that are fantasy or scifi or supernatural - what is considered "not real". It's relaxing. And it's exciting! To feel like you really know the characters you read about - to care for them or even hate some of them - but to have an emotional attachment to the story is invigorating. And when you can't wait to get back to reading more in the book or it's 2 A.M. and you should've gone to bed 4 hours earlier - then you know you've fallen in love with the story and it's a wonderful feeling!

I don't consider myself to be a romance book reader but many of the books I read do have a heavy romantic element worked into them. I'm suckered in by supernatural storylines and most do have romance in them yet I wouldn't label them a strict romance novel. Make sense? As mentioned already, I also enjoy fantasy and scifi plus urban fantasy and young-adult stuff. Of course, these are also the type of novels I write!

Getting back to WHY I like reading...it's like a hobby for me. I don't really have any other hobbies and am not involved in groups or organizations, so instead of gardening or painting or card playing or video games or crafts - I read!

Every story idea has been told...

And because of this, writers must add their own twists and turns as best they can which still usually means several different story ideas are mixed together. Nothing is new. Really...how can it be with thousands and thousands of books published over the years?! What hopefully distinguishes similar stories from one another is the author's own "voice". I believe the emotions and any dialogue the writer gives the characters is especially important in helping that book stand out a little more from others of the same genre.

It's still tough, though. I find myself thinking, "Isn't my manuscript like blah-blah that I just read?" Or, "Is this too similar to what I just published?" Then I'll realize something different about it...some new turn of events, romantic relationships which are not the same, character flaws or strengths unlike a previous character I've read/written about, the good vs. evil elements shoot off in a different direction even if some portions might be familiar, the threat to the main character could be a group of baddies in one story but an individual meanie in another, and so on.

I'm sure every single writer has been influenced in some way by some thing they've read or watched in a movie. Which is a compliment to the influencing factor. We just need to warp that idea into our own and give it new life. And it never hurts to toss in a new creature or two ;) (coming from the mind of a paranormal thriller, urban fantasy writer, of course!)