The Value of Reading (as a Writer)
I am and have always been an avid reader. I’ll read almost anything from science fiction/fantasy to horror to contemporary fiction, and even some romance or non-fiction on occasion. I never considered how my reading habits bolstered my writing until recently—but I think they do.
Sometimes, I’ll be in the middle of reading and a phrase or even a single word will trigger an idea for my current writing project. Often enough, the book isn’t even remotely related to what I’m writing, but it somehow manages to spark my imagination.
Other times, I’ll be reading and think, “Wow, this author has an amazing way with words.” I’m always trying to better myself as a writer, and seeing how another weaves their narrative can be an inspiration. It’s often more than just the words on the page—it’s the rhythm of each sentence, the flow of the dialogue, the artistry some authors employ.
The books I tend to enjoy the most have a level of prose that I can only hope to match with practice. And reading them has helped me to develop my writing into something I can finally say I’m proud of. It took many years and a lot of experimenting, rewriting, reading, and editing before I came to this point, but I’m finally there.
That’s not to say my writing won’t continue to evolve—it will. And I’ll continue to read as often as I can.
On the flip side, reading as many and varied books as I do has also helped me to understand when certain aspects of a book aren’t working for me. Whether it’s something in the plot, the predictability of the story, something to do with the character development, or even the writing itself, there have been times when I’ll read something and think, “Okay, this is something I think I want to avoid in my own works.”
I’ve become more cognizant of cliches, what sorts of plot twists work (or don’t!), and common grammatical issues through reading.
I’ve never been one to read because I feel I should, I read for the enjoyment. The vast majority of the books I read are ones I liked—even some of those with issues. It’s very rare that I don’t finish a book once I’ve started it, but it happens on occasion. Even the books I fail to finish have given me inspiration in some manner.
Without reading, without physically seeing the words on the page or listening to them spoken (in the case of an audiobook), there’s definitely something missing from a story. Yes, I enjoy movies and TV shows as much as the next person, but there’s just something magical about the process of reading that other forms of storytelling seem to lack for me. There’s a sort of beauty in a well-crafted sentence that I’ll never experience while watching a movie.
So to all the authors out there who have inadvertently inspired my writing in some way, thank you. There are far too many to list here, but if your book has been reviewed on my blog, or has found a home on my bookshelf, my nook, or kindle, know that you are one of them.