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The Benefits of Reading

31 December 2012

We all know they are benefits of reading. No matter who you are. But I am speaking to writers particularly. The advantages of being well-read are essentially boundless; yet I have constructed three concrete points that will hopefully change the way you view these sometimes ominous objects called books, and/or reinforce the reasons you love them.

#1 Books are Your Best Teacher

Now what do I mean by that? It's simple really; if you examine the way any person becomes a master of their craft, the process for writer mastering the written word is no different. Suppose you are born with a natural musical incentive. You have never seen or played an instrument in your life, so you sit down at a piano for the first time. Will Mozart's melodies fly from your fingertips due to natural talent alone? Of course not. I realize that there probably do exist those prodigies who might be able to play a coherent song after a simple hearing, but I am assuming that you are an average human being. Those blessed geniuses belong to a class all their own. 
A normal person would require a few lessons at least before natural talent could be observed. Compare them to another person who has had the same lessons, but does not posses true ability; ask the two people to play one after the other and the location of talent would be indisputable.
In the same way even if you are good with words, reading and writing will shape that ability into something comprehensible and useful. Books are the result of writing, and writing is the art in action. Therefore, it is necessary that you observe the result of another author's thoughtful endeavors.
I did not consider the idea of writing until age nine. But when I did put pen to paper, before taking any classes, I showed great aptitude for the craft.
And it wasn't instinct.
It was gathered information that I sub-consciously picked up on from all those books I read. When you read a book, you aren't just experiencing a story; you are observing. Plot flaw, character development etc, are all being considered whether you realize it or not.

#2 Narrowing Down an Interest

I have a confession to make: almost all the books I read are classic British novels. You know the kind. Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, C.S. Lewis and Shakespeare brim my bookshelves. I am not saying you should read one type of book, in fact, that is a flaw, one which I am trying to mend. But can you guess my writing style? Yup. Old-fashioned, poetic, sometimes I spell things the British way.
If I wanted to write like Suzanne Collins, I'm sure I would if I read  The Hunger Games enough times. If you hang around a group of people for a long time, they will start to rub off on you. In the same way if you read enough books of a particular style and genre, you will start emulating that.
You don't necessarily choose what writing style you have. It kind of chooses you, so beware.

#3 It's All Around Good for You

Reading won't hurt you. No matter who you are. Unless you do so frequently by dim light; that could damage your eyes a bit. While I am a big fan of movies, paintings and music, none of those things involve you quite like books do. Only books invite you into the story, and allow you to imagine things on your own. I recently read Oliver Twist, and I didn't like imagining Jack the Dodger the way Dickens described him, so I invented my own Jack. Even though movies make me cry and laugh the same way books do, everything is dictated to me, and I can't change what is before my eyes.

In conclusion, the first step to becoming a writer, is becoming a reader.

Written by Karoline Kingley



New blog post every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe on the main page. 



The Benefits of Reading

We all know they are benefits of reading. No matter who you are. But I am speaking to writers particularly. The advantages of being well-read are essentially boundless; yet I have constructed three concrete points that will hopefully change the way you view these sometimes ominous objects called books, and/or reinforce the reasons you love them.

#1 Books are Your Best Teacher

Now what do I mean by that? It's simple really; if you examine the way any person becomes a master of their craft, the process for writer mastering the written word is no different. Suppose you are born with a natural musical incentive. You have never seen or played an instrument in your life, so you sit down at a piano for the first time. Will Mozart's melodies fly from your fingertips due to natural talent alone? Of course not. I realize that there probably do exist those prodigies who might be able to play a coherent song after a simple hearing, but I am assuming that you are an average human being. Those blessed geniuses belong to a class all their own. 
A normal person would require a few lessons at least before natural talent could be observed. Compare them to another person who has had the same lessons, but does not posses true ability; ask the two people to play one after the other and the location of talent would be indisputable.
In the same way even if you are good with words, reading and writing will shape that ability into something comprehensible and useful. Books are the result of writing, and writing is the art in action. Therefore, it is necessary that you observe the result of another author's thoughtful endeavors.
I did not consider the idea of writing until age nine. But when I did put pen to paper, before taking any classes, I showed great aptitude for the craft.
And it wasn't instinct.
It was gathered information that I sub-consciously picked up on from all those books I read. When you read a book, you aren't just experiencing a story; you are observing. Plot flaw, character development etc, are all being considered whether you realize it or not.

#2 Narrowing Down an Interest

I have a confession to make: almost all the books I read are classic British novels. You know the kind. Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, the Bronte sisters, C.S. Lewis and Shakespeare brim my bookshelves. I am not saying you should read one type of book, in fact, that is a flaw, one which I am trying to mend. But can you guess my writing style? Yup. Old-fashioned, poetic, sometimes I spell things the British way.
If I wanted to write like Suzanne Collins, I'm sure I would if I read  The Hunger Games enough times. If you hang around a group of people for a long time, they will start to rub off on you. In the same way if you read enough books of a particular style and genre, you will start emulating that.
You don't necessarily choose what writing style you have. It kind of chooses you, so beware.

#3 It's All Around Good for You

Reading won't hurt you. No matter who you are. Unless you do so frequently by dim light; that could damage your eyes a bit. While I am a big fan of movies, paintings and music, none of those things involve you quite like books do. Only books invite you into the story, and allow you to imagine things on your own. I recently read Oliver Twist, and I didn't like imagining Jack the Dodger the way Dickens described him, so I invented my own Jack. Even though movies make me cry and laugh the same way books do, everything is dictated to me, and I can't change what is before my eyes.

In conclusion, the first step to becoming a writer, is becoming a reader.

Written by Karoline Kingley



New blog post every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe on the main page. 



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