138: 5 Ways Reading Novels Will Make You A Better Writer.

I find there are usually two types of people, those who read fiction and those who read only non-fiction. But what if I told you that reading fiction will not only make you a better writer, but it will expand your mind to new ideas.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about the art of reading and why we should be reading every day. Whether you enjoy a good beach book, like a James Patterson novel, or a thought-provoking true to life story, there is plenty to learn from those fiction books you might be ignoring.

I love to read, in fact, I’ve read over 11 books since January 1. By December 31, my goal is to have read 10 more books for a total of 21 books in 2018. The more I read the more I find beauty in life and fresh ideas to infuse into my daily life. Out of all the books, I’ve read this year, three-quarters of them have been fiction.

If you’re a writer, reading fiction will keep you energized to finish your work in progress. But whether you’re reading fiction or non-fiction, I want to give you 5 important reasons reading novels will make you a better writer.

1. Novels fire a dormant imagination.

Have you sat down to write only to find your mind is blank and all ideas have vanished into thin air? I know I have and that’s when I sit down and grab a novel to reignite my missing imagination.

In Monday’s blog post, I talked about finding a muse to get you thinking again. Nothing is worse than having nothing to write about, or maybe you’ve been trying to figure out a scene and your favorite author has already written something similar, pick up that book, find the scene and re-read it. You’ll be amazed at how simple it might be to figure out that one missing piece you’ve needed.

2. Novels can reveal our own character flaws.

We all know that fiction is well, fiction. But how many times have you been watching a movie or reading a book that seems too legit to be considered fiction? In the writing world we call those stories, true to life fiction or even based on a true story.

Sometimes in reading a novel, you can begin to look at your own life and see parallels. Best-selling author, Ted Dekker said this, “every story we write has to be about transformation. Your main character cannot be the same when the book ends, likewise, write your own story and bleed onto the page.”

In other words, when we read fiction, where the author has left nothing back, our lives can be radically changed. I know several fiction books have altered my perception of God, helped me draw closer to my family, and allowed me to see my own flaws. Why? Because the author left nothing behind and bled out with their words.

3. Daily reading helps you learn and grow.

This point echoes the previous. When we decide to take up the daily habit of reading, we not only expand our horizon, we can actually influence our daily lives. Authors write to entertain, educate, and inspire the reader to take action. That action can come out in numerous ways.

Since we’re writers, that action should be to take what we’ve learned from all our reading and apply it to the page we’re actively writing. Let me say this, you cannot be a writer if you are not first a reader. Writers must read before they are allowed to write effectively to change the lives of their readers.

Your life must be changed first. When we take the time to read daily, we are altering our minds to accept things that can radically influence our writing. Remember that if you read garbage books, you’ll produce garbage books. But if you read something that is transformative and something that will stretch not only your imagination but stretch your thought life, you’ll be on the road to learning and growth.

4. Novels can teach you about society.

This point rings true in today’s society. Most authors write what is happening now. If there’s civil unrest, a novelist may write something that shows that same unrest and how to be a better person in its midst.

Society offers a plethora of ideas to write about. Novels bring those ideas to light. When you read something that’s current and relevant to the times in which we live, we may affect change in generations to come. Think, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

5. Reading books causes your desire to write to expand.

Face it, as a writer, if I read a really good book, it’s going to inspire me to pull out my legal pad and start writing something. This is why I’ve started journaling, I want to be able to tap into how I’m feeling on a particular day because that could influence my story when I sit down to write.

Reading allows you to not only be entertained, but it gives you the tools you need to fulfill your dream and perfect your craft. Any writer will tell you that writing is hard work, but taking the time to learn, grow, and expand the mind is worth its weight in gold.

[reminder]What are you currently reading and how is it affecting your writing journey?[/reminder]