I’m going to make a statement that may or may not be true: most well-renowned authors were/are very well-read people. Of course, this is true for most, not all. However, I have noticed a pattern that most of the authors that I love to read (including some of the ones on my top ten list) also loved to read. In fact, I should be so bold as to say that if you don’t like reading, your writing is probably not going to be as strong as you’d like it to be. Why do I believe that? Let me give you the top five reasons that I believe that it is important for a writer to also be a reader…

Reason #1: Reading Improves Language and Vocabulary

You don’t have to be a college professor with a PhD to know how to form sentences. However, if every genre used the same language and writing style, you wouldn’t be able to tell the Twilight Saga from The Lord of the Rings (except for a few of the obvious plot points, but we’ll get to that later). This is why studying the language and vocabulary is one of the foundational benefits of being a well-read writer. Not only does it help you sound like you actually know what you’re talking about, it helps you understand and expand your mind’s dictionary and linguistic toolkit, ranging from situations like overall storytelling, a character’s dialect in conversation, or even just finding the right verb or adjective to change the mood of a situation (which is something that I’m still learning how to do).

Reason #2: Reading Helps To Develop Storytelling Skills

Whether you’re writing a fantasy epic or a period romance, every story follows a pattern. Reading is simply a masterclass in character development, plot structure, and world-building. It’s about learning from the best and understanding what resonates with readers the most. But wait, there’s more! Reading teaches authors how to show versus tell, how to create diverse and believable characters, and it gives examples of aspects like pacing, tension, and conflict in order to create a satisfying story.

Reason #3: Reading Allows Writers To Gain Knowledge About Their Chosen Genre

While some might say that using tropes and stereotypes is outdated and unrealistic, I would argue that having these tropes separates one genre from another. Twilight gives you the classic love triangle, The Lord of the Rings is the struggle between good and evil forces, and Pride and Prejudice shows what happens when someone is willing to become a better person. All of these genre conventions are vitally important for writers to understand the expectations of their readers. Reading in your chosen genre helps you stay up to date with trends and avoid common pitfalls in writing.

Reason #4: Reading Helps Writers Find Inspiration and Generate Ideas

This is something that I’ve used to my advantage pretty regularly, both in reading and even watching movies. Reading sparks creativity and imagination in writers. Exposing yourself to different characters, stories, and worlds can trigger new ideas and inspire new perspectives on the subject that you’re writing, whether that be fiction or nonfiction. Of course, I’m not promoting plagiarism here; that’s absolutely unfair to the author you’re plagiarizing, and on top of that, you’re not challenging yourself to write your own interpretation with your own ideas (and you’ll end up feeling really guilty about it in the end, anyway). Find inspiration in the works of others and use them as a springboard for your own ideas.

Reason #5: Reading Develops Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills

If you’ve ever had a school assignment where you’ve had to analyze another author’s work, an oral presentation, or a passage in a newspaper, this is simply that. Reading allows you to recognize the effectiveness of different writing techniques, the strengths and weaknesses of an author’s style, and even recognize the author’s intent of a piece. This is where the reader asks questions about the storytelling, learning what works and what doesn’t, exploring realistic character development, and even figuring out how to use symbolism, metaphor, and irony contained in a story. This is about gaining a deeper understanding of the relationship between a reader and a writer, and learning how you can develop that for yourself.

I want you to understand that I am by no means a professional when it comes to subjects like this: I’m still learning and growing alongside all of you who read this blog. If you know of any benefits to reading for writers or any tips for how to improve writing through reading, feel free to share in the comments or email me with your ideas! Happy reading/writing!