When writing for other people, it's not enough to simply write what you think is effective. Though many writers make it look easy enough, the truth is that most writers are readers and book lovers by nature. And in being so, they have been able to absorb the ideas and the tools of many famous authors who have come before them. If you're looking to become the next Hemingway or Sedaris, you can't simply write in a vacuum. You too need to become a book lover, one who devours books as though they were essential to life – and they are, for writers.



The Love of the Word

Most writers will tell you they began reading at an early age. While the actual age doesn't really matter, those who have be exposed to writing for a longer period of time tend to be more familiar and more adept with the written word. Each time you read a book, you will begin to understand more about how sentences are created and which sentences speak true to you. Every writer does have their own unique style, after all. Some use short sentences, while others like to use long and flowing sentences which never seem to stop. Each style is correct, but which one works for you is a matter of taste and voice. By becoming book lovers, writers can 'sample' each of the many writing styles available right now in order to begin to see what their voice might be.

Understanding Character Development

While there are a number of writing books that can teach a writer about character development, the truth is that character development is a much more natural process. In reading many books, a writer can begin to see how characters emerge in their favorite books and make mental notes as to how to bring their own characters to life. Book lovers will begin to see how certain authors bring their characters from one point to the next and how characters develop in natural ways – and how some emerge in unique and unexpected ways. But these are lessons which are primarily taught through experience. Only in seeing many characters unfold during books can one truly understand how to do the same in one's own writing.

Learning about Trends

And since many writers forget that writing is a business, just like any other business, they tend to shy away from reading other books for fear they will be too similar to someone else's bestseller. While the idea behind this aversion makes sense, book lovers know that there are certain trends in fiction and non-fiction that publishers follow. For example, since "Twilight", publishers have been interested in similar stories. But had writers not been book lovers using library software, they would not have realized this.

Writers have an obligation to be book lovers as a part of their craft. Not only will they be able to garner inspiration, but they will also be able to learn about writing style, structure, and voice. Hands on training for writing begins with reading – and reading a lot.