Hey all! Now that Camp NaNo is over and I can breathe, I wanted to take the time to address something that fell a little by the wayside for me last month: reading.

As writers, one of the very best things we can do for our craft is read. In fact, I would venture so far as to say that you can’t be a writer if you do not read often. The point of writing is that eventually, you want it to be read, so without exposing yourself to reading, you’ll never improve as a writer!

Some ways a good reading routine can boost your writing:

– Exposure to new ideas. One of the things that happens to me often while reading is that I get excited about a plot or scene, and think—oh, that was cool, but what if this happened instead? This can be one of the best ways you can generate ideas for your own work, as long as you aren’t plagiarizing!

– Explore different genres. There are countless books out there, and each one is different. By reading far and wide, you can expose yourself to new genres that you might not be comfortable writing in just yet—this is a good thing! You might find a genre you never heard of before that really hits home for you.

– Writing techniques exemplified. Ever wanted to write in second person? Read a book written in second person and you’ll have a better idea of how to do it. (No, this doesn’t happen often, but there are indeed books written like this out there!)

– To see what works and what doesn’t. The more you read, the more you will define your own voice, specifically by reading authors whose books you like, and whose works just don’t work for you. If you find that you don’t necessarily like reading first person, chances are, you won’t like writing it either. 

Do you have a reading routine, or have an opinion on why reading is important for all writers? Share in the comments below!

This month, the theme will be books, so look for more blogs on books, reading, and how you as a writer can benefit.

Happy reading!

– Ember