You cannot write well if you do not also read.
There is something to be said about a well-read writer. They have a greater sense of the world around them, a vast vocabulary, as well as an innate knowledge of the universality and the power of words. A well-read writer understands the connection between the reader and those words, the emotional connections that must be met and made, in order for the reader to be transported into the story. After all, the story is everything.
A writer who abandons himself to the world of books is a necessity. Books are sacred. They are the culmination of all Man’s efforts, his beliefs, his truths, and his dreams. These dreams have forged the framework of our lives, whether we realize it or not. We think and feel and move within them, and as writers, we can also build on those dreams, those tantalizing what-ifs, to create new ideas. Our work is truly built on the words of those who came before us. The adventures that filled our childhood, the bonds we’ve formed with every page throughout our lives, have helped us to understand two things: ourselves and humanity.
As a writer, there is much to be learned from extensive reading, especially when one is just beginning the writer’s journey. Reading books in the genre in which we create can help us to understand the intricate, formulaic design of such stories, as well as what readers expect. Let’s be truthful, no matter how innovative or creative our story might be, we are not exactly reinventing the wheel. What we are doing is building on its construction to create a stronger, more tangible, and accessible story for today. This is why reading the classics along with more contemporary works is so important. We can see where story began and where it is headed now.
Branching out into different genres and styles as we read also helps writers to discover their own voice. It can take years to truly discover your particular nuanced style but tasting a variety of known voices and how they affect your vision of story allows us the opportunity to explore.
Since my first book was published in 2022, I have become a voracious reader. My library now extends to two rooms in my house, and even that cannot accommodate the overflow of books which I have enjoyed and poured over to better understand story and my place in its telling. I have learned so much from those sacred pages; every book was an adventure and an eye-opening experience. Though I am far from an experienced writer, I feel that I can better understand my craft through the books I have read, and it has helped me immensely with my own writing skills. I would greatly encourage all writers to do the same. If not for entertainment, let it be for wisdom. Allow those who came before us to teach us the power of words, the wonder of story.
Keshia C. Willi

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