First, I fell in love with reading, and then I fell in love with writing.
At an early age, I developed the desire to read anything I could put my hands on. It provided education, entertainment, and most importantly, an escape. My imagination craved the adventure, foraging through different worlds inhabited by quirky, dynamic characters, and the suspense that would send my heart racing. It was common for me to have an ongoing stack of books by my bedside, often reading through more than one a day.
Inspired by all that I had read, it wasn’t long before I felt the powerful urge to create my own worlds and characters. Compelled to bring my own imagined stories to life, I started with short stories and poetry in middle school, and then only as an adult found the courage to do what I had always wanted… to write a novel. This led to the creation of my Father of Contention series and spin-off to the series, Code of Reanimation.
Even with five novels under my belt, I feel that my skills and writing style are continuing to develop and improve, and my ongoing reading repertoire has a huge hand in that. I can see the positive influence my reading history has had in honing my abilities as an author.
I believe Stephen King said it best in his book On Writing:
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
This statement might seem obvious and acceptable to most people, but I’ve come across a few authors who boldly declare they don’t read. At all. The excuse is that they don’t have time because they are too busy writing, but I feel like they are doing themselves a disservice. And here’s why.
Why Reading Leads to Better Writing
Inspiration
Reading books, especially in the genre you want to write in, can provide you with inspiration and fuel your imagination in new ways you never expected. It illuminates your mind to different possibilities and gives you a taste of what already exists or what might be missing in the literary world. You’ll also learn what writing styles you enjoy, whether it be eloquent descriptions of scenery and characters, short and choppy sentences and paragraphs, or lots of dialogue. Seeing what styles of writing are out there will give you clearer direction in how you want your novel to unfold.
Research
Reading non-fiction books is a great way to fill your novel with facts and background knowledge, giving your story much needed depth and believability. It is also an unlimited source of inspiration. It was my educational background and excessive reading from my biology, genetics, and psychology texts that fuelled the creation of my book series, Father of Contention.
Skill Building
Reading exposes people to new and greater vocabulary, different styles of writing, various examples of plot and character development, how to connect emotionally with your readers, and how to find perfect pacing, all of which positively influences your creative writing skills. We absorb what we read and learn what thrills us and what bores our socks off by reading, reading, and more reading.
For Enjoyment and Health
Studies show that avid readers have several health benefits from indulging in their favourite pastime. Reading improves brain and memory function, concentration, brain connectivity, it lowers stress levels, and helps people relax and experience improved sleep. There are even studies that suggest it may decrease the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. Twenty to thirty minutes a day is enough to notice these health benefits. Reading is exercise for the brain. And a healthy, happy brain naturally translates into better writing.
Learn From the Greats
There are many quotes by seasoned authors that promote reading in general and as a method to enhance writing skills. With their proven success, they must know what they’re talking about. I’ve already mentioned Stephen King here, but I’ll add a few more to drive my point home, spoken by the greats themselves.
“When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young.”
-Maya Angelou
“Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it is good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out the window.”
-William Faulkner
“Reading is not optional.”
-Walter Dean Myers
“Read, because that’s the way you learn how the language works. That’s the way you learn about emotion, on paper. That’s how you find out how stories are fastened, by reading and reading and reading.”
-Katherine Paterson
Hopefully, I’ve put the bug in your ear to read more to write better. Read everything; novels, short stories, poems, biographies, fiction and non-fiction. If you write in a particular genre, it is especially helpful to read books in your genre so that you can really get a feel for what’s out there, what works, and what you want your completed novel to be like. You aren’t stealing ideas here, plagiarizing, or copying other writer’s content, but getting a general feel for the type of writing style you appreciate and would like to emulate.
There are stacks of books that have inspired me over the years, too many to mention them all, but I’d like to share a few that have impressed me on a technical and emotional level. My writing genres are science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but I’ve included books from multiple categories since they all served to positively influence my writing.
Recommended Reads for Writing Inspiration
The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh
(Murder Mystery)
Fierce Kingdom: A Novel by Gin Phillips
(Thriller)
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
(Science fiction)
The MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood
(Science Fiction)
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
(Historical Fiction)
The German Girl: A Novel by Armando Lucas Correa
(Historical Fiction)
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
(Adult Fiction)
Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King
(Thriller)
The Girl in the Spider’s Web by David Lagercrantz
(Mystery, Thriller)
Drood: A Novel by Dan Simmons
(Thriller Historical Fiction)
Longbourn by Jo Baker
(Historical fiction)
The Body Lies by Jo Baker
(Thriller)
Just a few suggestions to top up your TBR pile! Enjoy these books while simultaneously honing your craft by reading, reading, and more reading!
💋 Lanie Mores
