Now more than ever, being able to write is something that everyone should strive to master. Nowadays, we constantly express ourselves through writing. We do it on social media, at work with the increasingly collaborative work environments that involve extensive email exchanges, report writing, memos, letters… Furthermore, most of us have a website, a blog, a Facebook group or page. All of these require good writing skills to be able to effectively communicate our ideas.
Practice makes perfect; so the best way to improve our writing (and all good writers know that) is to write. And the second best way? Nothing else than reading more. Yes, reading influences our writing. No good writing is possible without reading. Even though writing is a skill, it cannot be obtained by simple learning of grammar rules, punctuation marks, and different writing techniques. As Stephen King puts it: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
How can reading more help us become better writers?
Reading helps us find inspiration
My biggest fear when it comes to blogging is not knowing what to write about. It literally stresses me out. As a blogger, can you imagine clicking the New Post icon, staring at the blank page with the cursor blinking and sitting there trying to come up with a post idea that’s both fun and informative? Believe me, it is not an ideal situation. It is easy to run out of ideas/things to write about if you don’t keep recharging yourself with new ideas. The best way to do that is to read more. Reading exposes us to other styles, voices, forms, and genres of writing. And most importantly, it exposes us to writing that is better than ours and helps us improve.
Reading helps us gain knowledge
As we mentioned in one of our previous posts, there is no better way to learn about a subject than reading on it. One subject I have been learning a lot more about is Real Estate. I would love to get to a point where I can comfortably write about it and guide people in their Real Estate decisions; so I have been spending some time educating myself on the subject through formal classes and also reading. I follow Real Estate blogs and frequently read on the subject. This will get me to a place where I can share my knowledge about Real Estate through writing.
Reading provides us with wider vocabulary
Reading expands our vocabulary, as we are exposed to new words every time we read. The more often we read the more words we are exposed to; also, the more likely we are to understand them, and use them in our own writing and speaking. In fact, reading increases our vocabulary more than talking. It forces us to look at words that we might not have seen or heard recently. Increased vocabulary is especially crucial for bloggers or writers. When we read everyday, we’ll be surprised at the words we start incorporating into our writing. A robust vocabulary is not just for writers though. Using the perfect words to convey feelings is critical for everyone.
Reading helps us understand a language better
English is not my first language. I remember when I was taking English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, my instructors recommended that we read books in English; Even though at that time we did not necessarily understand every single word in the books we read, we learned new words every time. If you want to keep learning new vocabulary and improving your ability to express yourself in a foreign language – whether orally or in writing, read books in the foreign language. It does not take highly advanced language skills to be able to read a book; in fact, right from the very first weeks of learning a new language, you can start reading books in that language. Just choose books carefully to keep it interesting.
The more you read, the better of a writer you’ll become. Here is an interesting article on 5 Unconventional Ways To Become A Better Writer.
That’s all for today!
Until next time…