I talk to authors all the time. Some of them are friends, some are acquaintances, and some are simply folks I meet at book events.

For the most part, authors are easy to talk to. Primarily because, at the very least, we have two things in common: the publishing journey and books. So long as we have books, authors will never run out of conversation topics.

Or so I thought.

I had a weird encounter a while back, and it’s thoroughly bothered me. I was with a gaggle of authors and we were talking books, comparing our recent reads, and gushing about our favorites–all very standard. But when a question was posed to one multi-published author in the group, she said,

“I don’t really read. I don’t have time.”

Multi-published author, friends! I was gobsmacked. I’m still gobsmacked.

I’d love to tell you all, adamantly, that if you don’t read, and read widely, you’ll never become a published author. I really would like to say that to you because it feels honest and true, and because in my idealistic heart of hearts all published authors are book lovers. All published authors are invested in the book community.

But clearly there are exceptions to this rule, and while I can’t say absolutely that you MUST read widely, I can tell you, with the greatest conviction, that reading will make you a better writer.

And here’s why:

Reading introduces you to new voices: And what wonderful voices our world has to offer! With a book cracked open, we have the great privilege of stepping outside of ourselves for a time. Out of ourselves and into the point of view of another storyteller. We get to see the world through their eyes, and that not only makes you a better writer, but it can make you a better person. Suddenly, we’re opening ourselves up to empathy, and I think we can all agree this world needs more of that. While we may not agree with every voice we read, it is quite the discipline to sit and simply read. Arguing with a book is futile, and there’s such freedom in knowing a book invites you to simply listen.

Reading teaches you about language: How many times have you come across an unfamiliar word in a novel? Oodles, right? Sometimes we take the time to search out the definition, but oftentimes the context of the word makes that unnecessary. And suddenly we’re expanding our vocabulary and falling in love with words we never knew existed.

Books introduce us to more than just words though. An hour in a book teaches us how language is, and can, be used. We may not even realize we’re tucking away grammar and punctuation rules, but constant exposure to well-written stories will show up in your writing in ways both subtle and surprising.

Reading exposes you to new ideas: I went through a Jodi Picoult phase a while back. She’s a writer of adult fiction and all her books center around some sort of controversial issue. In her early works, especially, she does a fantastic job looking at problems from multiple points of view, often from opposite sides of the issue. Lost in a fictional experience, I began to consider different perspectives as I’d never done before, and that led me to studying just how the author was able to generate empathy in me. I learned a lot, all while being thoroughly captivated by a talented storyteller.

Reading transports you to new places: I knew absolutely nothing about the Spanish Civil War that preceded Generalissimo Franco’s rule. And then I picked up Ruta Sepetys’ newest book, THE FOUNTAINS OF SILENCE, and I was astonished. Her story led me to the internet, and as I dug in online, I learned so much about a world conflict I had never stopped to consider.

Reading can take you to completely fictional places as well. It’s there that we watch as a storyteller sculpts a world from nothing. As the pieces come together, we begin to see how much thought and creativity it takes to write the unknown, and to turn readers into believers. Learning to create is like anything else–it is often best done by studying the work of others.

Reading familiarizes you with story structure: I remember when I first realized that every story has a major problem that must be solved. It was like lightning to my brain. I was reading along, waiting, just waiting, for the moment everything changed for the main character, and it became crystal clear to me that every book had some such moment. A point of no return. I know now that we call that the “inciting incident,” but I was just a reader then and still, I began to understand that a novel must have some sort of structure.

Reading reminds you that there is no one way to tell a story: There is nothing quite so delightful as coming across a book that bends a rule or flat out breaks it, and does so in a way that dazzles you.

And then there are the non-linear books and epistolary books; there are books with unreliable narrators and wicked twists; books narrated in the almost jarring second person perspective, and novels written solely in verse.

We are living in an era of overwhelming creativity, and if reading teaches you anything, it’s that, so long as you do it well, there is no wrong way to tell a story.

I’m sure I’ve only scratched the surface, friends, but can you see why reading is the ultimate tool in the writer’s tool box? While we all go through seasons where we’re unable to read as much as we’d like, I cannot imagine abandoning the discipline altogether. And I hope you feel the same.

Tell me, how has reading helped you in your writing endeavors?

Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.

Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.

It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.

To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.

For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.