What Are You Reading?

Published March 5, 2025

by Deborah Brewer

Why are people like Stephen King so sure writers need to be readers too? He said, “If you want to be a
writer, you must do two things above all others: Read a lot and write a lot.” But life is busy, so busy that
for many there is hardly spare time to write and read the occasional best-seller, let alone the classics.
One person can’t read it all. There’s not enough time in one lifetime to read the libraries full of books
that have been written. And who would want to, anyway?

In response to impertinent queries about his knowledge of an unread literary masterpiece, Umberto
Eco, author of The Name of the Rose, famously quipped, “You know, I don’t read, I write.” He was
arguably well-read but didn’t let others dictate his reading list. And neither should we.

But read, writers should—however little or much they can. There are many reasons for a writer to read
full-length books. It increases the attention span. It helps keep critical thinking skills sharp as one follows
or debates an argument. It exercises the memory as one works their way through the details of a
convoluted plot. And one cannot underestimate the value of absorbing vocabulary, story techniques,
and grammar skills. Besides all that, it’s fun. If it’s not, put the book down and pick another. While one
of the best things about reading books is learning from other writers, sometimes, we learn what not to
do.

If you’d like to grow as a writer through reading but have scant time, you might be wondering which few
books to choose.

Consider:

• A new, perhaps award-winning book in your writing genre— check out the competition
• A writing craft book—learn story structure, techniques, and editing skills
• A classic in your writing genre—be part of a tradition
• A book you loved as a youngster and haven’t read in many years—revisit your first love
• A newer middle-grade novel—they tend to be hopeful
• An interesting book you glimpsed somewhere—take a chance
• A new non-fiction book on science or history—update your mind
• A memoir, autobiography, or poetry collection—get to know someone from the inside
• A pair of books on the same topic but different genres—learn exponentially
• A novel in translation—gain cross-cultural experience
• A comparative title you’d like to list on your query draft but haven’t read—know your comps
• A novel written by a fellow PPW member—show your support
• A novel or craft book by an author you’ll meet at an upcoming writer’s conference—cultivate mentors

I tend to find book recommendations in my online news feeds. Because the algorithms are better, I
search “book, topic” on Google or Amazon before searching for the specific titles I discover in my local
library’s catalog. Many new or obscure titles can be found in a library’s digital offerings or through
Interlibrary Loan. Of course, you still have the option of asking your local librarian for help (libraries are
much noisier and welcoming these days), and there’s Book Tok on Tik Tok and Bookstagram on
Instagram for those who prefer what’s trending. You can find out which authors will be speaking and
teaching at the upcoming Pikes Peak Writer’s Conference here:
https://conference.pikespeakwriters.org/

It’s only fair that I answer my own question—What have I been reading of late? Several books that have
exercised my mind this year are:

• The Universe in Verse: 15 Portals to Wonder Through Science (essays) and Poetry, by Maria Popova
• The Light Eaters by Zoe Schlanger, new scientific explorations in plant intelligence for a lay audience.
• Humankind by Rutger Bregman, which revisits ideas and experiments about the nature of mankind.
• Women in White Coats by Olivia Campbell, about the struggles of the first modern women doctors.
• Ordinary Devotion by Kristen Holt-Browning, a two-timeline story about a fictional, medieval anchoress.
• The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a “cozy” book lover’s tale by German author, Carsten Henn, which I recommend pairing with The Cat Who Saved Books, a coming-of-age story, by Japanese author Sosuke Natsukawa.

Whatever you read, I hope it’s awesome, mind-blowing stuff that makes you smile. Happy reading!

For Further Reading and Reference: https://janeyburton.com/do-i-have-to-read-to-be-a-good-writer/

Deborah L. Brewer joined Pikes Peak Writers a decade ago, seeking help with a cozy mystery. When the novel was completed, she stayed for the camaraderie. Now she’s writing short stories. An editor for the PPW 2022 anthology, Dream, Deborah contributes to Writing from the Peak to help fellow PPW members write better with more enjoyment, and ultimately, achieve their writing dreams.