Why should writers read?

Why Writers Must Read: How Reading Strengthens Craft and Community

For a long time, I thought that the time I spent reading and enjoying books, something that’s been a huge part of my life since my early teens, was time I was stealing from writing.

It took me a while to realise that I actually wanted to be a writer. I was in my late twenties by the time it clicked, and once it did, I wanted to immerse myself in writing every spare minute of the day.

Before I became a mother, that was easy. I had notebooks galore filled with story concepts and ideas. It was as though someone had turned on a tap and everywhere I looked there were stories screaming for me to write them. I devoured books on the craft of writing, characterisation, dialogue, plotting, you name it.

Thankfully, right from the start, my hubby was a huge supporter. He didn’t care that I’d lock myself away for hours at a time scribbling. His attitude then, and still is, simple: if it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.

Then the kids came along, and finding time to write became harder and harder. I’d try to squeeze in a few minutes here and there, but my routine was well and truly thrown out the window. Not that I would have changed a thing. I went back to work, we moved from Sydney to Brisbane, and everything felt like it was in complete turmoil. The tap of stories dried up, and I found I could no longer write some of the really dark stories I’d written before the children were born.

What never disappeared, though, was my love of reading. I figured that even if I only had time for a few pages, I could always pick up where I’d left off. Like everyone, I have my favourite authors, but I also discovered that I didn’t read the way I used to.

That probably sounds strange. The best way I can describe it is by thinking about my son when he was considering studying game design. He was warned that if he loved games, learning how they were made might take some of the magic away. Once you know the magician’s tricks, it’s not quite the same.

That’s what reading became for me. I could see the craft behind the words, the foreshadowing, the clues. I could predict the twist long before it happened. For a while, it dulled my love of reading. Add to that my stalled writing, and kids who were now at the age where they pushed back when I tried to encourage them to follow their dreams, and things felt… complicated.

I need to step back a bit here. My kids grew up with a mother who writes. When I did get my writing mojo and retreated to my writing space, hubby always made sure I had that time. I’d sometimes hear the padding of little feet and hear him call out, “Where you going?” One of them would say they were coming to see me, and he’d respond, “Mum’s writing, what do you need?” and then take care of it.

He showed them that my writing time was mine, and it always made me smile.

What didn’t make me smile was when they hit their mid-teens and, every time I encouraged them to pursue their dreams, they chorused back, “You first.” Just one more reason why kids shouldn’t be allowed to grow up. (Kidding. Mostly. I love watching them live their best lives.)

So, to counter that you first response, I decided to stop treating my writing like a hobby and start treating it like something more. I stopped telling people I was “just writing for myself” and that I wasn’t interested in publishing. I started attending writing events. I signed up for the Faber Writing Your Novel course, which I completed in 2023. I met some amazing people, and it gave me the confidence to do what I’m doing now.

That same year was the first time I attended the Queensland Writers Centre’s annual event, Genrecon. That’s where I heard something that has stayed with me ever since: writers are readers.

The speaker went on to say that reading is as much a part of writing as writing itself. He encouraged us not to feel guilty about time spent reading instead of writing. It was liberating, and, according to my hubby, expensive. My book addiction grew. Because I can’t bear to give a book back once I’ve read it, I now have many bookcases full of books. Some, okay, more than some, are on my TBR pile, because if someone recommends a book, especially in my genre, I have to have it.

As usual, it may seem like I’ve wandered off point, but I promise I haven’t.

My point is this: writers shouldn’t just read, they should read almost as much as they write.

They should read outside their genre to develop a diversity of write-craft. They should read short stories, poetry, novellas, because each format uses language differently. They should read both published and unpublished work.

I want to spend a moment on unpublished work. Writers should read it as beta readers or ARC readers. Personally, I prefer beta reading, and I especially enjoy reading for competitions. I’ve volunteered a couple of times for the Queensland Writers Centre Publishable and Adaptable program.

The biggest thing I’ve learned from beta reading and competition judging is that you get to see the mistakes other writers make, and, more importantly, you recognise the same mistakes in your own work. I don’t always see them when I’m writing, but when I spot them in someone else’s manuscript, it helps me identify the flaws in mine. It also highlights just how much talent is already out there.

It’s a crowded marketplace, and it’s only getting more crowded. It’s easier than ever to self-publish, and honestly, a lot of people are doing it. The only way to stand out is to arm yourself with every tool available to you.

For me, the best part of reading for competitions or beta reads is that it costs nothing but time. So here’s my call to action: reach out to your local writers centres, independent bookstores, competitions, and authors, and volunteer to read for them, whether that’s competitions, reviews of new releases, or beta and ARC reading for writers just like yourself.

What I’m learning is this: the more I engage with the writing community, both locally and online, the more support I seem to find.