The Variety of What You Read Impacts Your Writing

If you want to write well, you need to read voraciously. Let’s not overcomplicate this. Writing is thinking. Reading is fuel. The better the fuel, the better the engine runs. Yet, most aspiring writers treat reading like a side dish when, in reality, it’s the main course. Want to write better? First, read more.

Let’s unpack why.

The Osmosis Effect

When you read regularly, and I mean a lot, you subconsciously absorb the structure, rhythm, and tone of great writing. It’s like an athlete watching game footage or a musician learning songs by ear. You may not immediately see the direct connection, but over time, you’ll internalize how great writers build tension, balance narrative arcs, and land ideas with precision.

You start to see patterns: “Ah, Joan Didion creates impact through understatement and precision—every word earns its place.” Or: “Colson Whitehead weaves themes so seamlessly into the story you don’t realize he’s making a profound point until you’ve been hit between the eyes.” The point isn’t to mimic but to build a repertoire of techniques you can apply to your own voice.

Expanding Your Palette

Reading widens your creative aperture. If you’re only consuming content that mirrors your existing taste, you’re shortchanging yourself. You don’t know what you don’t know, and reading is the fastest way to find out.

Sure, devour novels in your favorite genre, but also grab a memoir, some poetry, a biography of an eccentric inventor, or a deep dive into behavioral economics. Read beyond your comfort zone. Good writers borrow from everywhere. A mystery writer inspired by Mary Oliver’s poetry will write differently—and probably more compellingly—than one who’s read nothing but Agatha Christie.

When you read widely, you arm yourself with ideas. New metaphors. Fresh insights. The kind of cross-pollination that leads to unique, high-impact writing.

It’s Not Just Input; It’s Feedback

Reading also sharpens your critical eye. When you read, you’re not just consuming—you’re editing in your head. “This scene feels bloated.” “That twist fell flat.” “Why does this dialogue sparkle while that other one dragged?”

As a writer, this feedback loop is invaluable. It teaches you what works and what doesn’t, and more importantly, why. You’ll start catching the same missteps in your own drafts, saving yourself and your readers from yawning through another predictable conclusion or overwrought description.

The Confidence Flywheel

The more you read, the more confidence you’ll have in your own writing. Why? Because you’ll stop treating the blank page like an abstract art form that only a tortured genius can decipher. Writing becomes a craft. And like any craft, the more examples you see of how it’s done, the more confident you are in your ability to do it.

When you read a novel, article, or essay that deeply moves you, you realize what’s possible. Conversely, when you read a poorly written piece, you gain perspective on how far you’ve come—and how much further you can go.

Start Now

Here’s the kicker: If you aren’t reading regularly, don’t call yourself a writer. Writing without reading is like trying to build a fire without ever watching one burn.

So start now. Read with curiosity. Read with discipline. Be the builder who collects tools with intention, gaining the knowledge to craft something exceptional. Because the better you read, the better you write.

And in the end, great writing is not a gift—it’s the byproduct of great reading.