How Do You Know You’ve Read a Truly Good Book

I read a lot — fiction, non-fiction, journalism, blogs, etc… My husband asked me how I decide if a book (blog or article) is truly good. I told him it was probably different for every person but how I know I’ve read a truly good book (article or blog) is the mind movies they bring to life.

Mind Movies

For me, if I can get into the story, if my mind starts playing movie scenes of what I am reading as I am reading it — it’s a truly good book. They say words can paint a picture — for me, that’s not enough. I need the movie. I can usually read the first couple of pages and know. If I start seeing the characters, their surroundings, their actions as they play out while I am reading, I’m thrilled. It’s hard to put the book down (and I don’t always).

I’ve been told I have a good imagination, I dream in detail and in color, I can remember most of my dreams and I like to write. I don’t write as well as I dream or imagine — but I’m working on it.

Feedback

The best comment I can get from someone is that they felt like they were with me as they read what I wrote. That tells me I am getting my thoughts, emotions and actions across to the reader — it’s no less than thrilling for me!

I have a long way to go before a book is complete. I have pages and pages and pages of writing but not discernible as a story yet. At times, I feel like I need to get it on paper before I forget a detail or memory and I can organize and edit later.  Other times, I go back to an outline and find I am much more productive working from it. I call it my multiple personality writers complex.

At Least Two Personalities in One

I am:

• organized and disorganized
• inspired and uninspired
• motivated and unmotivated
• have no time to write when ready and have a lot of time to write when not ready
• a goody-two shoe and a rebel
• can go from church to doing shots with friends

I feel like a true Libra — always trying to balance, mediate and be fair — I have inner wars with myself. LOL I’ll get it done, eventually and it will be good. That’s what I keep telling myself. I want my readers to see mind movies when they read what I write.

For now,  I will continue to learn by example, from those who know and learn by doing.

Good luck to us all!

Mandee