So You Want to Write? Read.

Whether you’re a budding novelist looking to reach full bloom or a creative copywriter waiting to hit the big time with juicy accounts, the chances are you’re always searching for new ways to improve your writing. And, if you’re like most writers, you’ll be convinced that the best way to write is to, er, write. Right?

No, actually.  Of course, the ability to write is kind of crucial to your endeavor. But consider this; you didn’t learn to talk by speaking alone into a mirror. And so, you won’t learn to write by tapping the keys of your trusty laptop until your fingers bleed. Practice does indeed make perfect, but it also requires a little help from inspiration and example.

Spell out your story in sparks

To quote someone who knew a thing or two about writing, “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” Victor Hugo knew that reading is an essential component of the writer’s creative process. Reading constantly will, without a doubt, help you hone your craft. This was brought home to me recently when reading Richard Yates’ Revolutionary Road – an extraordinarily well-drawn novel that could set any writer on the path to enlightenment.

Of course, there are no rules for what you should read. So read classics, read best-sellers, read great advertising copy. In short, read the good, the bad and the ugly. But whatever you do, understand that reading is about more than processing the words on a page; it’s about full comprehension of the writer’s intention.

Nourish yourself with material that will provide a foundation for your own stories or copy. Ask yourself questions about what you’re reading. For example: ‘Why am I blubbering like a baby when I know it’s not real?’, or ‘What is it about this writing that makes me bitterly regret wasting these precious hours of my life on it?’

If you want to take this applied reading a step further, stop and make notes of your observations and opinions as you read. Whether a sentence makes you smile or groan, re-write it for a different effect. Write alternative endings and notice the power of words you’ve never thought to use. This is all food for thought and ultimately, fuel for your writing.

Remember, all good art is derivative; it’s the nature of the beast. Shakespeare borrowed bare-bone scenarios from other works, but he fleshed them out to create some of the finest examples of writing we have today. Likewise, the music of today could not exist without the structures, compositions and performers of the past. Oasis without the Beatles? It just wouldn’t be quite the same kettle of fish.

Good writing is certainly not about copy and paste; it’s about absorb and create. There’s no keyboard shortcut for that. But inspiring reading could well be your fast track to inspired writing.