As an Author, Are You a Good Audience Member?

When I studied music, many of my classes centered around analyzing music that has already been written and deconstructing and critiquing it. I blame these classes for my inability to listen to music solely for enjoyment. I have to either be participating in it or critiquing it.

Do you do this with your storytelling? Can you read a book or enjoy a movie without looking for aspects of the story that could have been improved?

I’ll speak for myself. I still enjoy movies and books. Since I began writing, however, I do view them differently. I look for things that I can improve in my own work. I look for techniques and trends. Mostly, I try to take off the writer hat and enjoy the experience.

It’s interesting to look to notable authors to see what they enjoy reading. It is well known that Stephen King is a fan of…