The Importance of Being a Writer Who Reads

There are writers I have come across who believe that in order to be the best writer possible, you can't read any books. *raises eyebrows* 

Obviously we all agree that's ridiculous. Or at least, that's what I think. 

Let's put up a hypothetical situation (I love making hypothetical situations...). There is a girl named Jane. She loves to write, or at least, that's what she tells herself. Once she sits down to begin, she wonders why the heck she ever wanted to do this in the first place. The page sits in front of her. Her pen stares up at her in defiance. "I dare you to pick me up!" it yells. And she just sits there. For hours. 

When asked about writing tips, Jane was quoted as saying, "Don't read books. When you read, it fills your head up with all those other authors' ideas and phrases. When you go to write, then, all you will be able to do is copy them."

Now look at this fellow over here - his name is Joe. Joe also loves to write. When he sits down, it can be very hard to wake up the Muse, to urge her on, and to put pen to paper. But he makes progress, little by little. When he's not writing, he's usually reading. His favorites are classics like Tolkien, Tolstoy, Dickens, and other greats like them. 

His advice to other writers? "Read, people. When you read, the imagery and use of language goes deep inside of you, where it all mixes and blends together - the great stirring pot of imagination. When you sit down to write, you must awaken the Muse from her slumber - but once she's up, she will draw from the pot and the words will flow."

It's so true though. Obviously don't plagerize other people's writings. But when you read, you can write. 

There have been so many times where I was deep in Writer's Block. My Muse had not awoken in months. Guess what I hadn't been doing? Reading. So I picked up a book. I read. I let the words flow over and around me. And then - then I wrote. 

Read a thousand books, and your words will flow like a river.