You're not reading?

I've been reading a fair amount of author interviews lately, and I'm surprised by the number of writers saying they don't have time to read because they're too busy writing. 

Reading, to me, is a necessity for anyone, but especially for authors. Why? Well, I really can't say it any better than Roz Morris. In her interview at The Write Practice four years ago, she said "Reading—the good and the bad—inspires you. It develops your palate for all the tricks that writers have invented over the years. You can learn from textbooks about the writing craft, but there’s no substitute for discovering for yourself how a writer pulls off a trick. Then that becomes part of your experience."

I will add that you need to know the market, what is selling and what isn't. And by reading, you can quickly discover what would draw a reader to that story line. On top of that, our brains need time to recharge, and reading is one of the best ways to do that. 

And finally, supporting your fellow authors by reading their books is a great way to give back to the writing community. 

So I would encourage you to read for enjoyment, read to learn, and read to give your brain a boost!

And in case you're wondering what I'm reading right now, it's The Dragon Who Loved Me by G.A. Aiken.