Writers are like glasses of water. When we write, we pour out what is in our glass. When we read, we fill that glass back up. If we neglect reading, then we will not have anything to share. I’m reminded of this quote by Anne Lamott when it comes to reading for writers:
“What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean; they show us how to live and die.”
Suppose we are filling ourselves up with the magic of books, whether fiction or non-fiction, it will give us the things we need to write great articles and books. So, we need to be reading. On top of filling ourselves up with content, there are other great benefits to reading and writing.
5 Benefits of Reading for Writers
If you want to be a great writer, one of the best ways to improve your craft is to read a lot. Aspiring authors who cultivate good reading habits can benefit much from their books.
- Reading aids in the development of critical thinking abilities. You’ll be able to bring a similar consideration to your work if you can critically evaluate a piece of literature and discern what makes good writing suitable.
- Reading can help you come up with new ideas. Making reading a regular part of your routine allows you to stay exposed to new ideas and strategies while recharging your creative juices for your next writing project.
- Reading gives you exposure to different writing styles. When you read a variety of book styles can help you concentrate on the mechanical and stylistic decisions that allow different writing genres to work.
- Reading allows you to study grammar in context. The best publications communicate their themes, and to do so, and you must have a basic understanding of English grammar. If you pay attention to how they utilize punctuation and grammar standards, you might be able to avoid reading a formal grammar book.
- Reading aids in the expansion of one’s vocabulary. Make a list of any new words that you don’t recognize. Learn them, memorize them, and include them in your next writing project’s prose.
The key for you is to focus on learning from the best authors, look for new words and ideas, and be sure to read with purpose. The more you read, the better you will become at writing.
Final Thoughts
Reading will help you become a better writer. What I have found to help with reading is being sure to highlight, underline, and make notes in the books as I go. Anymore, you can do this with print and digital books.
Be sure to look for books and articles in your genre. This will help you see how to connect with readers more. Then, look for content outside your genre that is doing very well.
What do you read to get better at writing? Share in the responses below.
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J.R. Heimbigner is a #1 Bestselling Author on Amazon who loves helping people grow in their faith, find productivity success, learn about investing, and help writers become authors. You can connect with him on Medium, his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Ko-fi!
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