In this video, we look at how reading widely across many genres and writing styles can enrich your own writing. I also share my favorite genres and some elements that might make me skip scenes in a story or stop reading a book altogether. I hope you find this useful!
Let me know what you like to read in the comments below. Do you feel reading is an essential element of writing? You can let me know your thoughts about in the comments that as well!
Jane Cleland here. Interesting question. Someone said, “I believe all great writers have to be great readers. Do you agree? And what do you read?”
Yes, I agree. I think when you read and admire work, you are admiring syntax, cadence, rhythm, this amorphous thing called voice, the author on the page. You’ll learn new words, you’ll see pacing when something can be summarized, when it has to be an explicit scene. You’ll learn writing through reading.
What do I read? Mysteries mostly. I like mysteries. I like thrillers. I like espionage. I like private eyes. I don’t like things that are too explicit. So if there’s graphic violence, I’m gonna either, if I can skip the violence, I might, but if I find that it’s just too dark for me, I will have to skip it and won’t probably read the book.
I also read romance—both contemporary and historical. Specifically Georgette Heyer’s regency romances. I’m a huge fan. And I read poetry. I have a friend, she and I exchange books on poetry, and I always enjoy that.
I occasionally read non-fiction, broadly about anything to do with communications. And sometimes just a non-fiction book that caught my interest. That’s what I read—sometimes literary fiction too! I read broadly. I try to read broadly because I want to expose myself to lots of new ideas and approaches and different authors’ voices.
I hope you feel the same. I think it’s really valuable. If this tip had value for you, I do hope that you’ll like it, you’ll share it. Would you subscribe to the channel? I’d be so appreciative. Thank you.
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