| The best way to read terrible fiction is to join a critique group and read other amateurs. This is good because you can run across different levels of writers: * People who have no business writing and have no idea what they're doing. These are not going to give you much, which is why you want to keep to groups that have some gatekeeping. * Beginners who are not that talented but can develop skill. These people are good because you can see what it looks like to go from nothing to something, even if that something isn't great * Untalented people who are workhorses and can do the job: these people are probably the most valuable "bad writers" * Talented people who suck. These people are also amazing because you can see the power of skill as it develops * Talented people who are very good. (These won't be in your group) But really all this about "analyze why the book sucks" is a red herring. What is far more instructive is understanding why something that you don't like is appealing. If you can find what works in something you don't like, it's a lot more likely that you'll be able to understand that technique. Best selling thrillers with bad dialog and paper characters? Great. That means you can focus on the pacing and plot and understand why the book works despite its obvious flaws. That's harder though because it isn't just stroking your own ego by saying "aw I could do that" |