I just finished reading the manuscript of a novel from a new writer. I enjoyed the characters, but otherwise, it wasn’t very good. But then again, it wasn’t terrible either. It was simply… not ready. And you know what? I enjoyed it thoroughly.
Reading is essential for writers. Reading good fiction is nice, but reading bad fiction and figuring out exactly how it went wrong is a fantastic learning experience. Even well-known writing principles come alive when seen through the mis-steps of someone else’s manuscript. Perhaps that sounds harsh, but I don’t mean it that way. I learned a tremendous amount when other writers slogged through my initial bad manuscripts, and I feel good about paying that back to newer writers by sharing what I’ve learned so far – and honing my skills in the process. I hope this writer will feel the same when all is said and done.
Bad fiction is good – it helps me learn.