Do Writers Need to Read? (Rants & Rambles)

First of all, do writers need to read to be "good" writers? Short answer, in case you're not much of a reader and don't want to read on: NO!!!

I stumbled across some people shooting others down for loving writing but not loving reading, telling them that was "bad" or that they "should change that" if they want to be a "good writer". I don't know who originally came up with the idea that only good readers can be good writers, but I'm here to counter this evil attack on literary society.

So, I do not believe there are good or bad writers, or really good or bad anything in the creative department (good or bad art, good or bad movies, good or bad music, etc.). When you watch a movie and love it, that is a completely valid opinion. When someone else watches the same movie and hates it, that is also a completely valid opinion. This is what it means for something to be subjective, and creative works are subjectively judged by those who experience it. Therefore, there is no "good" or "bad"; it's just a matter of whether you like it or not for you personally.

Now, when you take on a new skill or hobby, you start at Level 0, and you work your way up as you practice and expose yourself to an activity. You may develop your writing skill so that, perhaps, your readers are able to see your characters more clearly than they used to or read your sentences more smoothly than the previous sentences you wrote at Level 0. Perhaps you could say this means you're a "better" writer than you were before, at least in the technical area of writing, such as grammar and sentence structure.

But something I want to clarify: you don't have to be above a Level-0 writer to write stories worth reading. The thing that makes a story worth reading is not the grammatical and structural quality. You'll hear a lot of people tell you differently. Some people believe there is such a thing as bad writing, but listen to me instead because I'm nicer, I believe in you, and I'm here to tell you:

YOU CAN BE A WRITER!!!! WHETHER YOU LIKE READING OR NOT!!!!

Actually, believe what you want to believe, even if you don't listen to me and no matter what everyone else tries to tell you, because no one has it all figured out. We are all just trying to find the truth in our lives, find what we believe and what matters to us, and find happiness. Ultimately, rules and messages such as: "Good writers read" are just something someone else came up with based on their observations and opinions. You're a someone just as much as they are, so why should their opinion matter more than yours?

SO WHAT DOES MATTER IN WRITING???

When you think about writing a story, and you get that shiver of excitement to create something, that is already plenty to be a writer. I don't care if you spell every word wrong or if you've never read another book in your life. If you feel that desire to create, then that is reason enough to create. Follow your passion. You like writing, so do writing. :3

WHERE DID THIS "ONLY READERS ARE WRITERS" IDEA COME FROM???

Again, I'm not sure who first suggested the idea; I've heard different answers to that question but don't intend to delve into the origin of it. What I am focused on is why this message became prevalent.

SO WHY???

Honestly, writers build stories off ideas. Ideas and inspiration come from a person's observation of things. The idea that reading is the only place where we get our ideas is like saying every meal a professional chef cooks has to include broccoli as an ingredient. That just doesn't make sense. Reading books is only one way to grow your writing skill and to get new ideas for writing. There are COUNTLESS others!!!

ALTERNATIVES TO READING???

Essentially, anything that gives you ideas or helps you develop your writing is accomplishing what reading does for you!

1. Watching a movie or television show

2. Playing a video game

3. Sitting in a coffee shop

4. Looking at pictures

5. Partying with friends and family

6. Going on a date

7. Driving your car

8. Listening to music

9. Caring for your pet

10. Dancing like no one's watching

This is just a handful of the countless possibilities for finding inspiration and developing your writing skills! From each of these activities, you are observing the world around you or the world of your own mind, and you are learning from what you observe and gaining ideas for what interests you and what you might want to write about. Reading is just doing the same thing: looking at someone else's creations and seeing what they have observed about life and how their passion manifested as a written work!

It truly is as simple as that. Reading and writing are just two activities that can benefit you, inspire you, and add happiness to your world.

Write if you want to.

Read if you want to.

But don't ever let someone tell you that you have to be a good reader to be a good writer.

That's just someone else's opinion.

Thank you so much for reading!!! I hope you do whatever you want to do, regardless of someone else's opinion, whether it's reading, writing, or something else entirely!!!