If you’re looking to improve your writing, there’s only one thing you need to do.
Read constantly.
Seriously, that’s it.
Read constantly.
Science-fiction. Fantasy. Mystery. Biography. Memoir. History. Technical. Children’s books. Old books. New books. Magazines. Newspapers. Web articles.
Read constantly.
I’m in a few author groups on Facebook and I see a recurring theme that is troubling to me. Authors posting that they don’t have time to read. If you don’t love stories, love reading, Ray Bradbury would probably say you’re only half a writer.
You can learn everything you need to know about writing from reading constantly; story structure, dialog, characterization, pacing, etc. When you read constantly, you’ll find out what works and what doesn’t.
The best way I’ve found to make sure I’m reading constantly is to sign up for a Goodreads account, add some friends, and make a reading challenge. In 2018 I set a goal to read 30 books, and I ended up reading 32! That wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t make the challenge for myself.
If you sign up for a Goodreads account, add me on there. I’d love to see what you’re reading.
Here’s to a year of reading constantly!
Jump. Build, Fly.
F.C. Shultz