Reading books is one of life’s greatest pleasures. And for anyone out there who wants to become a writer, reading, as well as being enjoyable, is a practical thing you can do to help you get started on your writing journey.
One of my earliest memories is of my mother reading me bedtime stories. But as a youngster, what fascinated me most about the books she read wasn't the stories, but the pictures. During library visits at primary school, while my contemporaries were borrowing books by Enid Blyton and Noel Streatfield (yes, I’m that old!), I was drawn to encyclopaedias full of colour photographs of exotic sea creatures and volcanoes, among other things! Drawing, rather than reading, was my thing. I spent endless hours filling countless sketch books with fashion designs for Barbie, inspired by a 1950s book belonging to my mother, called How to Draw & Paint Fashions.
I eventually grew out of Barbie, and fashion design, but my love for drawing continued. I studied art at university and, more recently in my career, I developed illustrations as part of my job as an in-house graphic designer. In 2021 I finally took the plunge and illustrated my own children’s book called Nonnie, The Quiet Little Mouse.
At the age of 25, after a particularly turbulent episode in my life, I picked up a pen and notebook and began writing about the experience as a way of coming to terms with it. It was at that moment I decided that writing, rather than drawing, was going to be my ‘thing’.
It wasn’t until the age of 34 that I first discovered the true power of reading. Someone had left a copy of Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh on a bedside table where I was staying. I picked it up and was instantly hooked. It transported me to another world, and since then, I’ve never looked back, devouring everything I could get my hands on. Strangely enough, no other Irvine Welsh book has grabbed me in the way that Trainspotting did, but a door to another world had been opened, and there was no going back.
Since then I have leant towards the modern classics, with 1984 by George Orwell becoming one of my particular favourites, along with Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
I also like Ray Bradbury, Kurt Vonnegut, Daphne De Maurier, Charles Dickens, Henry James, H.G. Wells and the Brontës – quite an eclectic mix!
Some books, however, have defeated me. For example, I attempted Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice but found the language too difficult. I gave up halfway through The Lord of The Rings, and soon realised that Fantasy as a genre left me cold. I do like science fiction, however.
And let’s not forget non-fiction. Nothing is more fulfilling than reading about a difficult period in history, or a fascinating biography.
Apart from its many benefits and the sense of wellbeing it engenders, reading is essential for any would-be writer. It provides an insight into how the great authors structure their writing and can influence our own technique and rhythm. It’s bad form to copy famous authors of course!
So, when writer’s block hits, never fear – pick up a book and you’re still working, even if you’re not aware of it. And reading doesn’t always have to be a learning experience. It’s ok to read simply for the pleasure it gives. Let the words wash over you and transport you to another world. No matter what you read, you’re always winning something!
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