Just curious as to which 'two fiction novels' you have read

To Kill A Mocking Bird and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, both of which were read at school. At present I’m making good headway through Pride and Prejudice - in fact I’m finding it hard to pull myself away from it.

how did you go about compiling your reading list? Are these recommended or just ones you think you 'should' read?

I simply compiled a list of classic novels. I figured that these time tested books would be the ideal place to start as they have held the imagination of generations of readers.

If you want to write, try writing

I agree and to this end I've been setting aside time each day to write a journal, random thoughts, comments on what I've read the previous evening and any stray ideas I have which could be worked into a story.

I know it's not fiction but I thought I would start by disciplining myself to write each day. Beyond that I intend to focus on short story writing, only after mastering this will I move onto other forms of writing.

Emma you have managed to accurately put into words most of my feelings on the matter. I want to immerse myself in the greatest literary works of the past so I can understand where modern literature has come from before trying to predict where it will go and how my work can fit into it. Assuming I want my work to fit into it at all.

P&P is just possibly my favourite novel in the entire world...

I've been setting aside time each day to write a journal, random thoughts, comments on what I've read the previous evening and any stray ideas I have which could be worked into a story.

It's an excellent policy. Malcolm Bradbury, who as well as being a novelist started and ran the original MA in Writing, at UEA, used answer the question, "How do I become a writer?" by telling them to keep a journal for a year. It's training for both the discipline of seat-of-pants-to-seat-of-chair, and for using words.

Another good thing to use your journal for is to exercise the basic business of writing. When you see a scene or a place or just suddenly have that sense of something being extra-resonant, as soon as you can, spend ten minutes trying to find exactly the right words to describe the physical, sensory experience, whether it's the feel of a tree-trunk's bark, or the smell of the shop you went past, or the body-language of the two people arguing with each other across the café. It's great to be able to depict a sunset when it's in front of you, but it's also very good training for your imaginative memory to write later in the day: work at recalling the physical and verbal details. Eventually you learn to conjure up places you've never been...

Also write down eavesdroppings, to train your ear for different voices and lives.

Emma

I intend to focus on short story writing

At the outset, it might be enough just to focus on writing a story of whatever length you end up with. Isaac Asimov once wrote that stories come in their own length, and I've found that this is particularly true when you are starting out writing. It takes a certain amount of experience and practice to get a story to be the length you're aiming at, whether that's a short or a novel.

Alex

I know it's not fiction but I thought I would start by disciplining myself to write each day. Beyond that I intend to focus on short story writing, only after mastering this will I move onto other forms of writing.

I'm not sure it's realistic to think in terms of 'mastering' short story writing. I've been concentrating on short fiction for the last few years and if anything feel I'm only just scratching the surface of what's possible with it. If I ever let myself think about mastering it, I will immediately limit its potential to teach me how to be a better writer. Better, I think, to see it as a tool for the imagination and a self-discovery medium.

Similarly - and I'm not sure if you meant this - but I wouldn't say other forms of fiction are a case of moving on from short fiction. Every form has its set of skills to learn and challenges for our egos. If anything, it could be argued that short fiction requires a particular ability to do a lot with a little.

Terry

I just wanted to write a few words in the way of an update.

I am currently reading through my third novel in just over two weeks, a slow pace I'm sure for a seasoned reader but I'm quite content with my progress.

Pride and Prejudice - Done
Sense and Sensibility - Done
The Picture of Dorian Gray - In Progress

I found Pride and Prejudice to be an excellent read, Jane Austen certainly had a talent for creating colourful characters which could stir deep emotions in her readers. However, for me, where she really excelled is in penning witty and humorous dialog. I giggled out loud on several occasions only to look up and find someone starring at me.

The reading list I posted at the beginning of this thread has gone through several revisions and now includes; The Life of Pi, Madam Bovary, The Kite Runner, Anna Karenina to name but a few (I'll post the new list in a day or two).

I have also incorporated several writing exercises into my daily routine for various internet sites, hoping to flex my imagination. I was particularly pleased with the results of yesterday's exercise called 'I remember'.

The exercise was a simple one, begin a short story with the words 'I remember' and continue to write for fifteen minutes. I was surprised at the results because I actually managed to write for over an hour and completed the first draft of an entire story. I was amazed at how easily the story fell out of my head and onto the paper.

Thank you again for all your words of advice.

Go for it! Well done on your motivation, and hope you enjoy the rest of the books as much as P&P.

Well done.
If you run out of inspiration oyu might like to check out The Five-minute Writer: Exercise and Inspiration in Creative Writing in Five Minutes a Day by Margret Geraghty.

- NaomiM

Wow - I'm very late to this but can I just say I think you'll have a wonderful year reading all these books. Enjoy!

Off the top of my head, just a few possible additions to your author list - Graham Greene, Haruki Murikami and Ishiguro.

know it's not fiction but I thought I would start by disciplining myself to write each day.

I think this is so important - as important as reading is. It doesn't have to be every day, but the discipline part of it is really important. Sometimes you won't feel like writing, and if you do it anyway, you might be surprised with what you come up with.

Obviously, if you decide you hate writing there's no point carrying on with it, but for me, developing a discipline is just as important as reading and learning technique.

Good luck! And yes, add Ishiguro to your list.