Reading is More Than Fundamental

One of my fondest memories growing up besides eating mudpies was reading. I always had a book in my hand. Even in school when the teacher would call on someone to read, I would be the first to raise my hand.

My parents, specifically my father were also advent readers and I remember how we would sit in the living room reading our books. I remember loving to read way before I realized I wanted to be a writer.

Recently, I came across a bio about one of my favorite authors Mary Higgins Clark and the moment when she decided to become a writer. Someone told her to write what she loved to read. She discovered she loved reading mysteries, which is why she is one of the number one mystery writers in the country today.

You cannot be a good writer unless you have a passion for reading. Forget about the excitement that comes from reading a great novel (I know it’s good when I’m sad that it’s ending), but also what you can learn from reading a good book.

Whether you’re a fiction or non-fiction writer, reading your genre can help you in a few ways. It can motivate you to write, it can help you be more creative with dialog and character building and in the end, help you to become a better storyteller. You can also identify and target agents and publishers who you know are interested in your specific genre.

It was easier to pick up a book when I lived in New York because I was constantly riding either the metro or subway. In California, it’s a little more challenging because I drive more and though I’m often busy working on my various writings, I still try to make time for reading. I have what I call my summer reads; where I will read a certain amount of books before the season is over or read more when my schedule slows down.

Reading a good book always gets my creative juices flowing whether I’m reading a how-to book from Joel Olsteen or reading a simmering southern cuisine from J. California Cooper. It keeps me apprised of what is out there while also giving me the motivation to get out there myself. So make sure you take out the time to read not just for the joy of it, but because of the lift it can give you. You never know when someone will want to read one of your books for the same reason.