Posted by on Apr 25, 2011 in Ramblings | 4 comments

In today’s digital world, good writing is becoming more important–not less. Don’t believe me? Think of how many blogs you read in any given day. Sure, video blogs and podcasts are important parts of the digital landscape, but the blog is still king. Some people blog for fun, others to establish themselves as experts or to boost their SEO. Whatever your reason for writing, there are only two things that will make you a better writer. The first is a given: write. Write often, even if you don’t think it’s very good. Just get your fingers on the keys. But the second path to great writing is often overlooked: reading.

If you ever hope to be even an adequate writer, you must be a voracious reader. Not just blogs, either, though they’re a great resource. But books, whether they’re on an e-reader or on good old-fashioned paper, are critical. Read business books, but don’t limit yourself: read classics, read silly books. Just read.

Why is reading so critical to your writing success? When you read, you come to understand what good (and bad) writing looks like. You see how words have a life all their own, a flow and rhythm as your eye moves across the page. You can expand your vocabulary by seeing words in context.

But perhaps most importantly, reading opens your eyes to new ideas, new ways of thinking, new sources of inspiration. Reading can pry you out of your rut, and change your writing from a chore into a pleasure. Yes, you’re busy. It’s hard to find time to read. Just take a few minutes a day to flip a few pages. It’ll do you a world of good.

What are you reading?

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  • http://redbitbluebit.com/ John Uhri

    I love to read, but often run out of time during the day to do so. As a solution to that, I’ve started to block out a half hour of time first thing in the morning to read a business or technical book. Making time is the only way to ensure I do it.

    I just finished “Branding Yourself”, so I’m starting a new book tomorrow.

  • http://www.twitter.com/coleifornia Cole Farrell

    Great post, Allison! I agree wholeheartedly. I wish more people would cling to this lesson.

    I’ll never forget my first day in a grad-level creative nonfiction class, when we were supposed to give a list of the books that have mattered the most to us. One woman in my class said that she “didn’t really care for reading.” As a life-long book lover, I can’t imagine not wanting to read, but someone who wants to WRITE for a living? It seems crazy to me!

    I’ve been on a nonfiction rampage lately, reading lots of work-related books. But this weekend I finished Jennifer Egan’s “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” which is really beautiful fiction.

    Thanks for the smart ideas.

  • http://www.tkographix.com Randy Clark

    Couldn’t agree more…except sometimes I’m so caught up in a story I don’t notice the examples good writing being presented to me. i What am I reading? John Irving, “Night in twisted River” – Jay Baer, “The Now Revolution” – Phillip K Dick short stories.

  • http://www.roundpeg.biz Lorraine

    This was well timed, because I was looking for a few suggestions of what to pick up on my way to the airport.. Looks like a few good titles here.