How to Read More (and then write more)
Writers should be readers.
Most writers, in fact, probably first fell in love with the idea of writing because they were avid readers. They fell in love with books; they became enamored with certain characters; they spent countless days inside the covers of a great story.
And those experiences made them want to tell their own great stories.
Whatever type of writer you are--novelist, but also nonfiction writer, poet, essayist, devotional writer, blogger, children's writer--you need to be reading. Reading keeps your creativity loose, while also keeping you informed about trends in publishing. It makes you a better writer in many, many ways.
I've always been an avid reader, and I've become even more of one in recent years. When the Covid pandemic hit and my family retreated into our homes more than ever before, I had to come up with some distractions. (I'm an extrovert who is used to being out-and-about and being around people, so I had to be especially creative.) While I already read 25 or so books a year, the pandemic kicked my reading into high gear. I put together TBR lists and "bucket" lists of books I needed to read; I went online and found reading suggestions; my daughter Scout and I even started an online book club (which now meets in person).
The result? In 2020, I read 40 books; in 2021, I read 52 books; in 2022, I read 76. My goal for 2023 is 80, so we'll see how that goes.
As I've made reading an even higher priority than before, I've learned some tips and tricks for integrating it more in my daily life.
I encourage you to read, in addition to writing. Books will enhance your life--and will make you a better writer!
Make reading a daily habit. Find some time in your daily schedule to read everyday, and make it fit what's comfortable to your personality. (Don't stay up late to read if you're not a night owl, for example.) When you make something a habit, you're giving it priority. By finding time to devote to reading everyday, you are making books a priority.
You may need to binge watch one less episode of your favorite show, or use your lunch break to read instead of scrolling Facebook, but once you change that habit it will become normal.
* A bonus to this tip? It will help your writing, as you keep up-to-date on trends among publishers and readers. *
Make a book bucket list. Once you've done some research, make a book bucket list of all the books you want to read. In addition to books that are popular, consider adding: Classics you've never read but want to; books recommended by friends and family members; books you loved when you were younger that you'd like to reread. You can also be more creative and read books with things like: colors in the title, books for different seasons, award-winning books, books with certain words in the titles, and so forth.
Use reading apps to track your progress. Goodreads has made my reading so much more efficient and fun; it's an app that allows you to set yearly reading goals, keep up with books you've read, review books you've read, and see what books your friends are reading. Other reading and tracking apps include Storygraph, Reading List, and Basmo.
You can also go "old school" and buy a notebook to use as your book tracking notebook. List your books read, decorate its pages, give your books star readings, and write small reviews. (My best friend has written down every book she's read since was 10 years old. The list is in the thousands upon thousands, and I'm jealous of what she's done!)
Start or join a book club. I mentioned earlier that my daughter and I started a book club during 2020; it's been a wonderful incentive to read more books and to also connect with fellow book lovers. Look online to join a group, ask around your community, and if all else fails--start your own book club!
The more you integrate reading into your life, the more you'll be reminded of how vital books are to a life well lived. Books offer innumerable benefits...including the fact that they inspire us as writers to expand our creativity and write our own stories.
Stephen King has said: "If you don't have the time to read, you don't have the time or tools to write."
Samuel Johnson said: "The greatest part of a writer's time is spent in reading in order to write."
Now...go read.
And then go write.
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Cheryl Wray is the coordinator of the Southern Christian Writers Conference, and a freelancer for magazines and newspapers. She's read thousands of books throughout her lifetime, and authored a few as well. Her latest are It's a (Coffee) Date authored with other SCWC members and Notes from a Quarantine: Essays, Stories, and Poems.
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