Why Reading is Vital to Great Writing

There is reason why the words reading and writing are usually stated together. The symbiotic relationship of the two go hand in hand with each other for a variety of reasons.

Reading can inspire great writing and visa versa. Many notable authors and writers remark in interviews how reading has helped them improve their language, phrasing and influenced other ideas in their own writing. Reading is useful for many people in common every day interactions and communications, including online communications such as emails and blogs.

Here are just a few of the main reasons why reading is vital to great writing:

Reading helps with ideas

Nothing helps more with writer’s block than reading about other people’s ideas. This doesn’t involve plagiarism or hijacking someone’s ideas, it’s more about experiencing someone else’s perspective on things.

Seeing something from another point of view is often inspiring and leads us to think and write in different ways. Reading and considering those alternative perspectives helps to spark your own waves of creativity, clarify your own ideas and even your word choices.

Reading lets you in on what a reader wants from good writing

As a reader, you know what you enjoy from a written story. As a writer, you are able to translate your experiences into your writing. Not everyone likes the same stories but being able to transfer what you enjoy from a story will definitely help with how you write a story and make it more engaging to your audience.

Fundamentals taken from reading can be put into your own writing

The more you experience, the better understanding of writing you gather through the stories of life. You can expand your writing horizons by a variety of means, such as narration, grammar, stylization, terminology, transition and voice.

Inspiration to write more and stronger material

Reading allows you the privilege to see what has already been done and how you could possibly expand on it. Ideas are wonderful, but the more ways you are able to take in a concept and develop it further, the more options and ability you have to release it back into the world in your own way.

Stronger bonds

Being a vivacious reader helps strengthen the bond you feel between a reader and a writer. This will transfer into your writing and will help you build a stronger connection between the reader and your words.

Read what you love

You need to make time to not only read, but to read stuff you love. No matter what types of books you like to read, dig into them with full force. Don’t get caught in a cycle of only reading research materials or things related to your work. Read frequently and things of a diverse nature.

Whether you’re writing emails, blogs or novels, reading a variety of different styles of work will naturally help you become a better writer. It’s something that has been scientifically proven but can only be truly seen in your own work. Keep the words flowing from what you read, through your mind and into the things you write. Never stop taking in words and ideas when you’re trying to come up with your own.

Have you experienced how reading has helped you become a better writer? Share your thoughts with us, we’d love to hear from you!