On Reading

If you’re a writer, you almost definitely like reading. But that doesn’t mean you like reading everything – in fact, you might only like reading fantasy or sci-fi or romance. Which is fair enough. To be a writer, though, you can’t just read the stuff you like, even if that’s that sort of stuff you want to write about. You have to read everything – classics, YA, romance, crime, fantasy, sci-fi. And you have to ask yourself, why don’t I like this? Because then you can figure out how to make your writing better.

Take for example two of the most popular book series’ around: Harry Potter and Twilight. You may like one of them or both; you may hate them both with a passion. Read them anyway. Ask yourself, why do I hate this book with every fibre of my being? Alternately, if you like it, ask yourself why does this book make me want to read it fifty thousand times in a row? That’s how you grow as a writer; by analysing and critiquing and thinking.

Reading is our only apprenticeship into writing. If you can’t read well, meaning critically, you can’t really write. So pick up your least favourite book, whether it be Pride and Prejudice or Fifty Shades of Grey, and read it. All of it. Why don’t you like it? Is it the characters, the unrealistic dialogue, the setting, the plot? Then think of ways that you would improve that book. It will help you in your writing. Trust me.