Victoria KimbleI am 100% on board with the writing tip I am about to give you. It’s a surefire, never-miss, works-every-time kind of tip. And I know this, because for the past year, I haven’t followed it, and because of that, I haven’t written.
Read.
That’s it. Read and read often. Read as many things as you can find. Read in the genre you like to write in, and read outside of your genre just for fun.
2020 was a weird year. (Hello, understatement of the century.) I’ll admit to you that I didn’t read much. Not even the books that I’ve read over and over, the ones I go to when I don’t know what else to read. I just didn’t. As a result, my writing dried up. So one of my goals for 2021 has been to simply start reading again. And I’m proud to say that I have already read eight books so far this year. My writing juices are already starting to flow.
Reading is the water to the soil of our writing. We have these seed of ideas that we plant into the soil of a document. But no seed grows without water. Stories and works by other authors are the water that we need to nourish our own projects.
Reading will bring you inspiration, not only for your story, but also as you inadvertently study the craft of writing. You’ll see how someone else structured their story, and it might spark a new direction for yours. You’ll see how they craft dialogue, and it might give you an idea on how to make the dialogue between your own characters stronger. You’ll take in their balance of narrative and action, and you’ll see what works and doesn’t for your own.
Writers are readers. You’ll hear it over and over again, because it’s true. If you want to be a great writer, then read.
Isn’t it fun to have an excuse to do something you already love?
Need help picking your next book? Check out our Book Reviews! The Storyteller Squad has some great recommendations for you!
What are you reading today? Let us know so we can check it out!
Tracy Popolizio
Candice Yamnitz
Kristen Gwen
I totally agree with all you said. I’m on a reading binge, too, after a dry 2020. Are you on Goodreads? I’d love to check out what you’ve read. You can find me there at https://www.goodreads.com/jill_willis.
Yes, I am! I just added you as a friend! And I think I’ll start updating Goodreads. 🙂
“Reading is the water to the soil of our writing.” I love that and believe it’s so true! I felt like I read more than usual last year, especially in the first few months before digging out my own stories that had languished for way too long. Maybe all that reading is part of what sent me back to writing.
I just finished The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin and The Memory House by Rachel Hauck. Not sure yet what my next adventure will be. 🙂
That’s fantastic!
YES!!! So true. And I laughed out loud while reading your post. So miss your fun writing, Tori!
Elleson is one of the books I’ve read this year! I just love that story!
No kidding! Books fuel my writing!
This is right on the money! I love to read, but for some reason in 2020 I just couldn’t focus. I firmly believe that’s the reason why my writing output dropped way off. Anything stressful shuts me down anyway when it comes to writing. This year is off to a better start. I’m reading books in multiple genres, magazines, newspapers, and online news sites. When I read, I keep a pen and paper handy for ideas. This year so far I feel as if I’m doing so much better at turning out work on a regular basis, all because I’m reading more.
Excellent!