A book is a device to ignite the imagination.
–Alan Bennett
I love to read.
I love to read just as much as I love to write.
And let’s be honest the two really go hand in hand. If you want to be a better writer, then you need to read. You need to read A LOT.
Great books help you understand, and they help you feel understood.
–John Green
Here’s the thing about reading, it teaches you so much about the craft of writing. Firstly, it shows what good writing looks like ( or rather reads like) and it teaches you what bad writing looks like. Reading helps you build your writing tools, like vocabulary and good grammar. It also teaches you about the plot, pacing, characters, the point of view, voice, tense….frankly all the stuff that makes a good book, article or even blog post. You learn about the mechanics of good writing.
It also does something else……..
It stokes your passion for writing, creating and imagining other worlds to write about.
A great book should inspire.
A great magazine article should spark new, fresh ideas for your own articles or blog posts.
A fun children’s book or young adult book should help you reconnect to your inner child and ignite your imagination.
If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.
–Toni Morrison
The key to better writing is to READ
It doesn’t really matter what you read. The more you read the better. Shake things up. Read as much different stuff as you can. Read novels. Read Self Help books. Read magazines. Read blogs. Read newspapers. Read children’s books. Read anything and everything you can get your hands on.
This shouldn’t be a chore, but you do want to make reading a good habit. Make reading a little part of every day.
Create a READING PRACTICE…. just like you should create a WRITING PRACTICE.
In the past few weeks, I have read two great books on writing. Stephen King’s On Writing was fantastic. It was as good as I heard it was. Anne Lamont’s book Bird by Bird was also great. Both books were almost equal parts life and writing know how. In fact, Lamont’s book was titled Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Life and Writing. I am now working on a book about writing books. I am learning a lot about my craft!
I want to say that if you have a love for the written word no one should have to tell you to read to be a better writer. You read because you love the written word and enjoy reading. Keep that love for words. Keep that love for reading. Never make reading or writing a chore.
I get that not everyone has a passion for writing. Some of you are writing for business. And to those of you I still say READ. Read what you enjoy and you will find with it comes to a great ease and appreciation for writing.
Reading will help you be a better writer. Reading will add tools to your writing tool box so you don’t have to go searching for the right tool when you need it.
What books are on your must-read list?
I would love to hear your recommendations. Share them in the comments section,
