When just a good read isn't.

Lately I've noticed many lamenting the absence of good writing and good stories within the horror genre. Many of those who complain about this lack of quality material are themselves writers.

to hear Mort Castle's lament go to

http://Storytellersunplugged.com/

In my mind the question that begs to be asked is:

Are we reading as readers?

Or are we reading as writers?

Personally I've read several thousand novels in my lifetime. Horror ignited my imagination when I was a child laid up for several weeks with a bad infection. From those early beginnings I branched out into other genres westerns, mysteries, thrillers, historical fiction, literary fiction to name a few. I viewed each book I read as a good read because it entertained me. When I grew older and dared to think I could actually write, the way I read changed. I was no longer reading to be entertained but to learn. As my writing matured reading became less of a pleasure and more of a chore. My competitive side took over as I read and I noted every problem with the plot, the dialog, and the story itself.

Mort's problem is the same as many other mature writers out there, myself included, there's good reads everywhere but our tastes have
changed significantly.