Can You Be A Writer If You Don't Read?

The short answer is yes and no. 

Writing is the only job on the whole that requires no real qualifications. You don't have to have a degree, shake the hands of any managers or complete some lengthy interviewing process to hold the position of writer.

You write.

 Then you're a writer.

But there's a catch.

To be a good writer you need to study and practice the art of stories and the easiest way to do this?

 Reading.

Of course, it's possible to be a writer without reading, but it's near impossible to be a good writer without picking up a book every once in a while.

Wanting to write without reading is about the same thing as…

Talking without listening.

You want your voice to be heard, but you haven't taken the time to listen to what those around you are saying. 

Reading Teaches You How to Write 

While reading can teach many valuable things about life it also teaches you everything that you'll need to know about writing.

You learn how to use first-person vs third-person narrative, how to appropriately write dialogue, setting, pacing, story structure, and a whole score of other things you won't be able to learn without the guidance of someone who has already done it. 

You learned to walk, eat, and talk by watching someone else do it, and reading offers this same experience for writing. 

But so does life

Being able to tell a story isn't mutually exclusive to writers. Remember stories have been around for longer than there have even been pen and paper, they even outdate the time when things were being chiseled into rocks to preserve them. 

Storytelling is a natural ability that resides deep within some that they are able to share verbally such as by telling stories around the campfire.

There are many life experiences that help writers become better writers and other forms of media that aid as well such as films, music, plays, and life's adventures can give writers the inspiration to write. 

Things such as personal experiences, work, family, and relationships all give different experiences that writers can use to aid them in their storytelling. 

You can read about someone experiencing fear, but if you capture your own emotions from a time you really felt afraid you'd be able to convey that feeling to your readers. 

How Much Should You Read 

Although it's possible to be a writer without reading you're denying yourself the education you need to become a better writer that's valuable right at your fingertips in a flash.

Whether you're reading short stories, e-books, or any novel you can get your hand on, it will teach you the art of writing without you having to take up a notebook and pen to study. 

As for how much you should be reading as a writer, most readers don't read as much as they want to, there just isn't enough time in the day to sit down and enjoy reading the endless amount of fantastic novels that there are in the world. So they settle for what they can. 

I recommend at least one novel a month, but if you don't have time try to read at least a chapter or two of a novel or short story of your choosing each week to keep the education of writing flowing in your mind.

An important thing to remember when reading is...

Quality of Quantity. 

There are some readers who are able to read a new book every week sometimes twice a week… I am envious of the time they must have or the speed at which they can read, but this doesn't mean they are going to be the ultimate novel writer. 

Think back to school when you forgot to complete the reading the night before so you quickly skim it before class so you don't fail the test.

And you do anyway.

Reading fast doesn't mean you're reading well and taking in all of what you're reading. Read at a pace that works best for you without rushing to the end just to say you've read a book.

Didn't work for most of us in school and won't help you become a better writer now.

Best of luck and keep reading and writing.

With love, 

B.K. xo

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