Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Marketing

Writers as Readers

November 19, 2009 at 5:52 pm katemorgan1 Leave a comment

Stop for a moment and think about your favorite book as a child. What made it your favorite? Did it transport you to other lands, make you want to be a princess or satisfy your desire for adventure? Whatever the reason, chances are the books of your childhood and young adult years left a mark on you as a writer.

Eventually children grow up and reading can be replaced by work and family demands. However, good writers can never have the excuse that they are to busy to read; they must read constantly to keep improving their own writing and learn how other authors write.

Here are some specific ways reading helps you become a better writer.

• Grow your vocabulary. While you’re reading it’s a great idea to keep a notebook handy and write down words you don’t know the meaning of. Later, take your notebook and a dictionary (or use a handy online version) and actually look up the meaning of those words. If you’re really ambitious about learning new words you can keep a spreadsheet of the alphabetized words and their meanings for reference when you’re writing and need a new word. Make your new words stick even more by attempting to use them in normal conversation.
• Learn sentence structure and smooth dialogue. I know it’s hard when you’re really into a book, but try to pay careful attention to how dialogue and sentences are structured. You’ll notice that strong authors use varying sentence lengths, different leads and natural dialogue to move the story along. Notice how dialogue is structured so that it sounds like two people having a real conversation, but doesn’t drag on and on with every “um” or sigh or flick of an eyebrow. Good authors know how to use those expressions to make the dialogue interesting, but they are well placed and not overdone. Practice writing like this in your own work.
• Reading IS research. How many other people can say they are working hard when they curl up with the newest Barbara Kingsolver or John Grisham book? You can. It is completely legitimate to say you’re researching while reading because you actually are. Don’t be picky about what you read; read everything. Read bestsellers and classics. Read children’s books and cookbooks and magazines. Read non-fiction and the instructional manual for your DVD player if you have nothing else to read (or if you want to know how to fix it so it hates Barney DVDs). Absorb good writing into every part of you by reading good writers so when it’s your turn to sit down and write all that reading comes oozing back out in your own voice.

Every writer hits a writer’s block now and then. It happens. Get over it by reading. The next time you hit a writer’s block, walk away from your writing and pick up something to read instead. Even if it’s Anne of Green Gables or Robinson Crusoe from your childhood, don’t feel bad about reading for a while. You never know what you might find that will inspire you in your own writing.  

Happy reading (and writing once you put down that novel…). 

Kate

Entry filed under: Reading & Writing. Tags: Reading, writing tips.