6 Reasons You Should Read More If You Are a Writer
Do you feel guilty when you get swept away in a good book instead of working on your own?
Does it feel self-indulgent to step away from revisions or editing to read a new release or take comfort in an old favorite?
We are here to tell you that reading books is an overlooked way to build good writing craft. Here are six reasons you shouldn’t feel guilty about reading instead of writing.
Reading enhances your writing skills
Reading exposes you to different writing styles, narrative techniques, and vocabulary. Studying how professional authors plot, develop characters, and build sentences, teaches you how to strengthen your own writing. And reading books with clunky writing, plot holes, and cardboard characters, can help you pinpoint where your own weaknesses might be and how to fix them.
2. Reading expands your creativity
If you want the chance to visit places, meet people, and experience events that you could never dream of yourself, read a book. Reading gives you the opportunity to step into lives that are outside of your experience, and think about scenarios that you have never thought about. When faced with unique ideas and challenges, your creative juices start flowing as you start experimenting with new concepts in your own writing.
3. Reading improves your language proficiency
The more you read, the more you hone a gut level instinct for writing that is more technically proficient; improving grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. While this doesn’t negate the need for an editor, it does mean that the nuance and complexity you can bring to your writing will set your published work head and shoulders above the work of other writers in your genre. Especially in romance, there are many decently written books available, so being able to manipulate language better than other authors will make your work shine in a saturated market.
4. Reading builds empathy
Most literature tells the story of what it means to be human through examining character motivations, emotions, and behaviors. Reading richly drawn, dynamic characters helps you understand why people act the way that they do, which only enhances your own ability to write compelling characters that keep readers coming back for more. Getting a chance to inhabit the richness of another person’s mind through literature is a profound experience that is impossible to capture through any other media.
5. Reading inspires and motivates
Most writers start because they love to read. Getting back to the joy of the craft can refill the well of inspiration that all writers need to return to to rejuvenate. So read some old favorites, branch out into a new subgenre, and follow your heart when deciding what to read next. Storytelling is powerful, and you never know what will spark your next creative journey.
6. Reading in your genre builds your expertise
Especially in genre fiction like romance, it’s important to stay on top of current trends in POV, tropes, and word choices. Even if you choose to ignore them in your own work, it’s good to be aware of the discourse around your genre right now and where it’s going. Writing is a lifelong learning adventure, and expanding your knowledge and skills through reading is a crucial part.
Treat reading as seriously as you do the other parts of the craft of writing, and your skill and creativity will improve.
It’s not an indulgence, it’s not wasting time, it’s a critical piece of being a serious writer.
So go forth and read!
