Read Widely, Read Deeply, Read Writerly

Reading is an essential part of writing. It always floors me when a writing student says, I really want to write, but I don't like to read. That's aspiring to be a doctor and having a phobia of blood. Reading informs our writing so thoroughly; it's quite tough to do one without the other.

Here are a few things I've learned about reading...it's essential to read as widely as possible, read as deeply as you can, and to teach yourself how to read as a writer.

Many people who write in a given genre only read within that genre or a few books in a broader category. Young Adult fantasy writers tend to ready in that genre, adult fantasy, and a little outside the fantasy genre. On the other hand, you learn so much about world building from historical fiction. Your line by line style will sing when you discover the secrets of poetry. And picture book fantasies are often a tour de force of the imagination. Reading cross-culturally is also a great way for writers to gain insight into writing about/inventing (in speculative fiction) cultures. Reading non-fiction for readers of all ages is also a great way to expand your knowledge. You may not be able to change a windshield wiper, but you might want to create a convincing auto mechanic one day, so read up on car repair or listen to Click and Clack reruns on NPR.

After all, reading doesn't have to be only in print. You can read the news online, in print, on the TV, or on the radio. You can also read films, TV shows, webcasts, and podcasts.

When you do, think about what it says about the topic it portrays. What can you learn about it? What questions does it raise? Where can you find the answers? The more reading inspires you, the more you can inspire your readers.

Speaking of inspiration, it's also helpful to learn to read as a writer, not just to enjoy the text, but to take it apart, see how it ticks and try your hand at the same tricks of the trade. Reading as a writer teaches you how to critique the work of established writers and learns a few new ways to approach elements of craft. It also makes you an excellent critic in a workshop or even in your own office while you’re revising your work.

So read widely, read deeply, and read like a writer. With the new found knowledge and inspiration that brings, you never know what you might right next.