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Reading To Write

06 May

Posted by nick as Letters Add to del.icio.us

What makes great writers so great? I can’t speak for everyone, but I can tell you from my own experience, that in order to write well, you must be a voracious reader. To gain better vocabulary, you must read. To gain knowledge, you must read. Reading should be an act just like breathing, because if we do not feed our mind, it dies.

Most, if not all, of the greatest writers of our time, and of history, were students of literature. And if you want to take their lead, then it simply must follow that reading is the key to some of the best writing that you still have in you. That potential is there, and reading is the tool to unlock that potential.

Choose Books You Like

First of all, I can read with such tenacity because I choose books that are of interest for me. If I pick up a book on biology, I wouldn’t get past the first page, it’s just not the subject that I’m interested in. But hand me a Dickens classic, and I will quickly open it up like a child. You need to choose books that are within the subjects that you are interested in. But it’s not to say, that you shouldn’t read books that you are unsure of either. Books should also engage you and challenge you to think and open up your mind.

With books on your side, be ready to be the writer that you were meant to be. I believe that we can all be great writers, but the preparation must be great, and it must be rooted in passion for gaining knowledge.

Let us not forget, that you need not to be a great mind in order to write, but you need to be an inquisitive mind, a creative mind, and a lover of the written word.

Set Your Mind Free

Most of us will never be able to write that great American novel, but to those who wish to try — Godspeed! Some of us will be authors some day, and the reason I know you will succeed is because each one of us has at least one story inside of us. And that story will be the background from which you will write your book.

But to all, authors and non-authors, you write because you feel the need. As I’ve written before, on the reasons why we blog, I think it is this same reason why we write. Because it is our love of the written word that keeps us writing, and it is our thoughts that plead those words to be set free.

So by all means read, because it opens the doors to infinite possibilities, one of which is the art of writing.

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6 Responses

Kristofer

May 6th, 2007 at 11:13 am
1

I used to read all the time, ususally 1-2 books per week, sometimes more as time permited, but now with family, kids and working on my own, time is something I just don’t have. The internet is a wonderful thing, but I believe it has hurt the printed word quite a deal, and it’s a shame, I think people should read much more, many things can be learned…
nick

May 6th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
2

Kristofer,

Excellent point. That’s why I always make it a point to set at least 2-3 hours for some great reading. I’m a big fan of Oprah and her push for the nation and even the rest of the world to read more…

Thanks for the great perspective, I appreciate very much your comment!
Joanne

May 6th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
3

I dunno if I actually agree so much with Kristofer. I don’t think that the internet is the culprit for lack of not reading more. I think with all things, we should balance our life and make something as important as reading a priority in our lives. But I also understand the dilemma of Kristofer, sometimes family life does get hectic.
nick

May 6th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
4

Joanne, once again I appreciate your perspective on the issues. I guess, what Kristofer was eluding to was the fact that just like television, the internet has the same tendency of grabbing your attention and focusing it on the unimportant.

but, you’re right, balance is always the key. And I think you and Kristofer will agree, reading should definitely be part of that balance.
blindeh

May 7th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
5

While I think your post describes some good things that precede good writing, I don’t necessarily believe that people must read a lot to be a good writer. I may even go so far as to argue that reading and writing are mutually exclusive, to a point.

I love writing. I don’t particularly like reading. I think to be a great writer, you must do two things. One, you must write a lot. If you want to write and write well, you have simply write. Also, you must do your absolute best to use words to describe images in your head. Revise as much as necessary, but get people to see what you see.

I think the internet has really helped in the way of reading. People that wouldn’t pick up a newspaper are now reading every little thing they see on websites. It may not be the most inspired writing that they’re reading, but it’s something, and that is always a plus if you’re trying to find new styles, techniques, and ideas.

Writing is about freedom. Don’t follow any rules you don’t want to. Show the world what your mind sees.
nick

May 7th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
6

Blindeh,

That is a really well thought out point. Great perspective. But is it a chicken and the egg problem or maybe not? Where does one get the words to describe such images if not from reading, or maybe draw upon the vast knowledge of philosophers, thinkers, and even other writers?

Although it may not be necessary, but even the best writers draw upon their reservoir of reading from high school and other english compositions to hone and develop their copyrighting and sentence structures.

Maybe in the end, it can be both. To read so as to give you that necessary basic structure, and writing to develop your skills.

I think we may be both right