Developing a good reading habit is essential for a writer. Reading a lot can benefit writers in various ways. It is a sure fact that extensive reading can make better and more successful writers. Some of the best-selling authors claim that when they are not writing, they are reading.
If you are not already a regular reader of books, it might be time to start now. With such an amazing selection of books of every possible genre, type and style available at your fingertips these days, you are sure to find something that you will enjoy reading on a regular basis.
The following looks at how reading can help your writing:
1. Build your Vocabulary
Good writers need to develop a large and extensive vocabulary in order to express their thoughts coherently. A well-rounded vocabulary can help writers avoid using clichés and familiar phrases. Instead they will have the power to express various shades of meaning in a novel manner, with a vast selection of words at their disposal.
The best way to build a great vocabulary is to read various types of books by many different authors. Also, you do not have to restrict yourself to just books. Magazines, journals, and other printed materials will also help you learn new words in different contexts.
2. Make your Writing Flow Better
Having a good vocabulary is not always enough. It is also necessary to string your words in the best and most effective manner. By reading many types of books, you will get a great sense of framing sentences in the most engaging manner. Also, you can learn how to transition elegantly between paragraphs, sections and chapters, and generally make your writing flow more smoothly.
3. Help Develop your Own Writing Style
Every writer has a unique story inside him or her, and strives to tell it in a unique manner. By reading a large selection of books with varying writing styles, you will get a feel of which style suits you best. Do short, choppy and edgy sentences work better for you, or are you the long, wordy type? It will be easier for you to find your own writing technique and ‘voice’, when you are familiar with many others.
4. Expand your Knowledge
A well-read and well-informed author is better able to write in a knowledgeable and convincing manner. Intelligent readers prefer their authors to be likewise. Books give us a way to enter new worlds and learn new experiences, from the comfort of a favorite armchair. You can learn about new places to set your novel and learn other useful information to make your own book better.
Try to keep a ‘snippets’ diary where you jot down any bits of interesting details that you think you can use in your books. Keeping up with newspapers, periodicals, and journals can make your writing seem more current and relatable to readers.
5. Get Inspired
Reading a great book often makes you want to jump up and attempt to write your own. Some great authors have been a major source of inspiration for fledging writers. Learn what readers like, and what makes the best-selling books so successful.
Apart from the motivation factor, good books can also give you inspiration for your stories, plots and characters. Writers need a constant source of ideas. With the millions of books in your local library, you will have no shortage of things to write about.
Image credit: Vimages on flickr and reproduced under Creative Commons 2.0[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/CS_Rajan.jpg [/author_image] [author_info]CS Rajan is a freelance writer who loves to write on various topics, and is currently working on her first novel. [/author_info] [/author]
[…] must be a good reader to be a good writer. So try to read latest books, whether online or in print, and the classics. Also remember that any person with lots […]