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One of the essential perks of being a writer is the necessity of being a reader, too. Most of us come to writing through reading: we want to create that same magic we experienced in someone else's pages for others. Reading--and reading closely--shows us how it's done.

Yes, reading widely is my biggest tip for making your writing the best it can be. This will be controversial but the practice of reading widely may be even more important than writing regularly. (Happy to discuss!)

Over these last few years I've made a real effort to read beyond my usual genres. Left to my own devices, I tend towards literary novels--ones with rich characterization and quiet plots. But to better support my writing clients and to enrich my own understanding of story and the publishing marketplace, I've been reaching for books on the bestseller list in addition to the more obscure gems I enjoy so much.

I've found that reading widely is like visiting a museum packed with different art forms. Yes, I may be drawn to a particular style of work, but considering other works--ones that evoke a reaction, positive or negative (if we want to label a reaction)--gives me such valuable data. Why do I react the way I do? Why are others drawn to these works? What is working (or not working) in these books--and what are the underpinnings that make them work or not? Perhaps most crucially for books I don't like, what was the author trying to achieve and is my reaction simply me wishing they had written a different book altogether? (And is that fair?)

Reading widely turns me into a treasure hunter. The work of fantasy or romance that has a particularly compelling storyline--how did the author do that? The mystery with the vivid characters--how did the author give them so much life on the page?

If you find yourself picking up the same kinds of books over and over again, I encourage you to try something new. Shaking things up can do wonders for your writing. It will give round out your writing tool kit, challenge your artistic perspective, and spark new ideas for what's possible on the page.

As you embark on this adventure, I recommend you check out Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them by Francine Prose.

Listen.

In a bonus episode of TED Radio Hour memoirist Kelly Corrigan talks about the best place to get started writing. [Apple Podcasts / Spotify]
Watch author Orhan Pamuk discuss his fascinating Museum of Innocence--both the novel and the actual museum he created with the objects he collected, his writing process, and the power and importance of museums. (Thank you to the subscriber who recommended this!)

Read.

Jane Friedman has released her comprehensive, free roundup of new publishers and agents in 2024.
If you're looking for something new to read (perhaps to meet your goal of reading widely in 2025), look over LitHub's list of The Best (Old) Books We Read in 2024.
Did the Big Five publishers kill off literary fiction? Small presses to the rescue! (This take is controversial yet interesting to read nonetheless. As a reader of literary fiction, I actively seek out small press titles.)

If we choose which writers we want to read, we can also choose which publishers we want to buy from—and can recognize that, at this moment in time, the Big Five and the small presses are driven by entirely different incentives.

Write.

Visit a local antiques shop and look for an object that sparks your curiosity. Either take a photo or purchase it (if you are so inclined!) and use the object to inspire a story, a la Orhan Pamuk. Who owned or made the item? Why was it significant to them? Follow the story that grows out of your imagination.

Wishing you a happy start to 2025!