My Other Job: Reading
I’m a writer, not an author, yet. I have four jobs. Husband/Father, Day job, writer, and reader. Today, I’m gonna focus on the reader job.
I realized that reading is an important part of my writing life. Essential. So I have made it a job. A fun job. I set aside time for reading just like I set aside time for writing. I have reading goals. I read books I wouldn’t normally read because I’m trying to learn something.
I focused on reading just three years ago. I identified it as one of my jobs last fall. It’s a great job! I like the discovery of reading just like I like discovering the details of a story when I write.
I’m not saying anything new. The majority of writers I know are readers first. Their love for writing came from their love of reading.
That’s all. I need to go clock in. 🙂
Ty
Time to Write 
I actually only got properly into reading AFTER I started trying to write stuff, which I doubt applies to many people. I fully agree with what rmariowright said earlier: you absolutely HAVE to be a good reader if you’re to write well.
Yeah. I read way more now than I did before I was writing with a purpose.
You are quite right, it is one of my jobs. I love reading, but I still feel it is a luxury, something to be tucked into small spaces such as on waking, just after lunch, on going to sleep. I allow myself a little more space for research reading, but not much. I will try and reduce the guilt now, reminding myself that it is one of my jobs.
Great post today. I completely agree. Just as I have made myself a disciplined writer, it’s important that I be a disciplined reader.
I met a woman a few weeks ago who said, “The trouble with people today is they want to be published but they don’t want to read.” I don’t think that’s true at all. It’s impossible to be a great writer if you’re not a great reader.
I firmly believe to be a good writer you should be a good reader.
Good point about a love of writing stemming from a love of reading first.
Reblogged this on The Writing Catalog and commented:
I haven’t talked about the importance of reading to improving your writing here in awhile, but it’s one of the three most important things for a writer to be doing. (The other two are writing and getting people to read your work.) Happy Friday!
Thanks!
You’re very welcome. I’m a big fan of reading.