Don't Write, Read!

How building a reading habit makes you a better writer

Let’s be clear. To write well, there are two things you absolutely and relentlessly must do: read and write. Simply: those who do not read well, do not write well. Through reading, you acquire knowledge, sharpen your skills, and get inspiration.

A writer who does not read is like a filmmaker who does not watch films.

So, even before trying to become a writer, no matter how good, you must find ways to foster your reading ability and establish mechanisms to consistently study the written word.

Read better, read faster, read more

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that. “– Stephen King

No doubt, reading is fundamental. No matter your role or age, effective reading is of paramount importance and can be your competitive advantage. It is a cardinal building block to becoming a better writer.

Unfortunately, there is a high probability that your current reading skill has not advanced since grade six. This is because your formalized reading training, in how to take words from a printed page (or screen), starts in about kindergarten and ends just a few years later. You may have had reading class for a few years after that. However, most likely, it only gave you greater exposure to literature, without teaching you how to become a smart or habitual reader!

A smart reader is conscious of available reading techniques. They apply mechanisms such as adjusting their reading pace, avoiding mind wandering, reducing regression, and subvocalization. Nonetheless, before even getting there, you must ensure that you make time to exercise reading consistently and regularly.

Become a habitual Reader

“Read, Read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. ”– William Faulkner

Build your identity

By now I am sure you agree that the first step towards becoming a better writer is to become a better reader. But what makes you achieve this milestone? Well, first and foremost you need to embrace frequency. Engrave reading as part of your daily schedule, but keep in mind: that you will only master a skill through repetition. According to Kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement through iteration, you will reach results through recurrent exercise, not through scarce bursts. This means, that frequent and consistent repetition will achieve much greater outcomes than extensive, yet infrequent activity.

In conclusion, you need to fully absorb the importance of continuous work. The best advice for making this happen is to accept that you do not work backward from arbitrary outcomes such as I need to write 5 articles a week. No, much more, this milestone is only achievable by transforming the task of reading into a part of your very self; hence by adjusting your identity.

You do not only need to read, no, you need to become a reader! For this, you indisputably need to find ways to manifest lasting reading habits.

Build lasting habits

The key to building lasting habits is focusing on creating your new identity first. Your current behaviors are a reflection of your identity, and vice versa. Become serious and conscious about your decision; make reading an identity-based habit!

Inspired by James Clear’s fantastic research of human habitual behaviour, I’d like to introduce possible ways how to encourage habitual reading by applying the Habit Loop from James’ book: Atomic Habits, An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones. James’ Habit Loop is comprised of 4 stages: Cue, Craving, Reward, and Response. Let’s walk through each stage, and see how you can use them in your journey of establishing your reader identity.

Cue — Make it obvious: Time, environment, and location are crucial to driving habitual behavior. Choose to block out a certain time in your daily schedule. Any time works, as long as you can make it. While the time is important, so is the location. Pick a place with a low possibility of interruption or distraction. Optimally, your chosen time fits your daily routine and the place is easily accessible; maybe a reading corner in your living room.

Keep friction at a minimum. This is to say, do not aim for wild midnight-hour reading sessions or comfy TV chairs. Once done, it won’t take long until you realize a triggering effect of approaching the time slot or location. You will be reminded of what you’ve planned to do. The context becomes your cue.

Craving — Make it attractive: Find ways to make reading attractive. I am sure there’s a lot you’ve always wanted to learn. Jot down thoughts on topics you’d like to study. Keep a list of interesting books to read. I, for my part, love making use of book review apps such as GoodReads. In addition, I often find inspiration in various podcasts.

All in all, you must take responsibility for your decisions, and focus on what you can control to keep yourself involved in reading activity. Stay proactive and reframe your new habit to highlight your benefits. As you are becoming more exposed to a wider range of literature, you might want to join a culture where your desired behavior is considered normal. Think of joining a reading club.

Reward — Make it easy: The amount of time invested in performing your reading habit is not as important as the number of times you perform it. Focus on taking action: your goal is to practice. As you prime your environment and aim to reduce friction you want to start setting rather low expectations. During kick-off, prepare to read only one single page.

As you move ahead you will automatically become accustomed to your habit-rhythm. A habit must be established before it can be improved. When you start the habit it should take less than 2 minutes to do, this will allow to keep it easy and you are less likely to miss it. I like to surround myself with easy access to literature. I have books all over my house. Grabbing a book at any time of the day becomes routine. I don’t have to enter into reading mode to do it. The more accessible my books are, the more they compete with evidently the worst time burner of modern times: mobile phones.

Response — Make it satisfying: We tend to experience great satisfaction following immediate reward for our actions. When it comes to reading, reward is often obscured. You are unlikely to feel more satisfied after reading a page in a book. However, it is reasonable to state that you will be fairly satisfied once you get an answer to your question. This is why I recommend guiding your reading activity along a list of interests, something you’ve always been curious about (history, politics, etc.)

Conclusion

To become a better writer you must become a better reader. Build your reading habit and practice by reading as much and as often as possible. The more, the better. The purpose is not necessarily to build subject matter proficiency but to study the craft of writing. With greater exposure, your mind will absorb a variety of writing styles. This will not only help to widen your vocabulary, but also build a repository of useful phrases and structuring practices.

Find and dedicate a special place to reading, schedule, and reserve a daily time block. Be consistent, and stick to your plan. Once you become an established, frequent reader, concentrate on your genre. Move away from random literature and put your focus on artifacts you have a particular interest in. This will further sharpen your understanding of domain-specific writing style. Do not get discouraged; read multiple items simultaneously. Approach the craft of writing methodically, and consider reading about writing.