How to Make Your Reading List Work for You

There's no time like the new year to try something different, so if you haven't been reading with purpose, now is your chance to start.

Why does it matter what you read?

As writers, we may not need to attend every conference or have an MFA in writing, but we still should be honing our craft. Nearly everything we read should be considered research. I believe a writer's to-read list should include three essential categories:

1. Classics - The classics teach us what is timeless and what great writing looks like. They're not classics for no reason.
2. Informational - Informational books on the writing, marketing, social media, etc. are also pivotal to a writer's success.
3. Genre - Reading books in your genre are helpful in spotting trends and knowing how your novel fits in or (hopefully) stands out amongst the crowd. 

Every writer should be reading these on rotation. If you can read more than one book at a time, even better! 

We can still read books that don't fit these categories too, of course. I'm simply suggesting that these be your top priorities. The goal is to become better writers, and the only way to do that is to become focused readers. 

The greatest part of a writer’s time is spent in reading, in order to write; a man will turn over half a library to make one book.
—Samuel Johnson

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