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I’ve heard some writers say recently that they prefer not to read while they’re actively working on a writing project, just so they’re never tempted to accidentally borrow anything another book. While I do understand this idea, I also think it’s unnecessary, and perhaps even detrimental. Stories are all around us, and I doubt the authors who refuse to read are blocking out tales from their friends and family, television and movies, or social media. We’re consuming so much all the time, and it’s beyond important these days to be intentional with our consumption. So how do you know what to read while writing? Here are some considerations:
Read to stay engaged in the community.
Readers love to talk about books and stories, that’s for sure! There is incredible value in being able to participate in this conversation, not just as an author, but as a reader too. Consider BookTok, Goodreads, Bookstagram, and more. Readers love to know what others have been reading, and there’s something incredible about authors lifting up other authors. I love to see my favorites talk about their favorites. This can serve as engaging with your own readers, and it can also serve as engaging with friends. There’s a lot of overlap here, and it’s so worth it.
Read to figure out what you like and dislike in a novel.
If you’re reading critically, looking at the structure of the sentences, at the multi-faceted characters, at the beats of the plot, there is always something to learn. Every single book I pick up teaches me something. Perhaps I realize that I really love a certain element—great banter, lots of dialogue, realistic characters, a sassy heroine—but I might also note that there are a few elements that just aren’t for me—the insta-love trope, long paragraphs of exposition, characters that are immature. None of these things are necessarily good or bad for each reader, but knowing what I like will certainly inform what I write. I probably won’t write any books with the insta-love trope any time soon, and I’ll likely be crafting characters who are sassy, realistic, and like to banter. Knowing what I love doesn’t mean I’ll include it every single time, but it’s definitely helpful in identifying elements that I can add to a novel in the future.
Read to keep up to date in the industry.
This one might seem a bit boring, but to me, it’s one of my favorite things about working in the publishing industry: an excuse to read all the new books! It’s smart to keep an eye on what books are coming out, what authors are successful or newly published, what topics or tropes are trending, what genres are super hot, and more. There’s power that comes with this knowledge, in that you can shape your own writing career differently if you want. Perhaps the topic surrounding an idea that you’ve had incubating for a while is trending, so now might be a great time to get it written and published as soon as you can. Perhaps a book you wrote years ago with little success would be perfect for the new hot topic, so maybe you’ll want to rerelease it. Keep an eye out for changes and shifts in the industry, because you can definitely use them to your advantage.
Read to try new things.
We’ve probably all picked up a new, unexpected book before, only to find that we love this new author, or we’re shocked that we’ve never tried this genre before. There’s very little risk in reading new and different books, so it’s a great opportunity to share what you haven’t tried before. Try a new genre, or a book written in a time period you don’t generally gravitate toward. How about a new author, a debut author, or one you’ve been meaning to try forever? Look for a different series, a different topic, or characters who haven’t lived a similar life as you. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find something different to write for yourself next time.
Read to distract you from your own world for a little while.
One thing that I see happening with nearly every author I work with is the burnout that comes with focusing on one project for months or years. It’s easy to get into your own world a little too much. There are some pitfalls that come with that, including not being able to see the forest from the trees, so when you have the opportunity to break away from the world you’ve created and jump into someone else’s world, perhaps you should take it. It’s good to let your brain rest for a while, allowing it to recharge and get reinvigorated for your next writing sesh. You might find that your writing is much better after reading other books, or that your creativity is refreshed in a surprising way.
Read to stay in love with reading.
Perhaps the most obvious of the reasons to keep reading while you’re writing is this: because you love it. You probably wouldn’t be a writer if you didn’t love reading. I’m sure there’s an author or two out there who don’t identify as book lovers, but the vast majority of us do. So just keep reading because you love it. Read whatever you want whenever you want, and your heart will thank you.
