Do you have to do a lot of reading if you want to be a writer?

Question

I would like to become a writer but I don't do a lot of reading. I am doing an English degree so I have to read a lot of books so I can do the coursework, but outside of university I probablly read just two or three books a year of my own choice. So, what do you think? Might I still be able to become a great writer if I don't do a lot of reading? I get plenty of inspiration from the real world around me.

Answer 1

Depends on your type of writing.  I am a screenwriter.  I watch a lot of movies.  If you are a historian, reading Nancy Drew it won't do anything for you.  Basically, you have to be able to write in the outcome you need (newspaper, magazines, film, speeches etc...) and you have draw inspiration from that from somewhere.  I find my English gets better when I read more.

Answer 2

You might become a great writer without reading a lot of books, but it seems more likely that your own communication skills will improve with the more examples you can compare and draw inspiration from.

Answer 3

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote "The American Scholar" regarding your situation... in it he wrote that in order for our writings to grow and flow in creativity we should stay away from reading other people's works... he only recommended reading when your creativity has "dried up" or to seek reference for a subject... He wrote this in 1837!! so you dont have to read to become a great writer, but sometimes when i have trouble with certain aspects of writing, such as description, i look to some books for ideas and as an example of how to describe BUT i DONT plagerise... hope this helped... KEEP ON WRITING!!! DONT LISTEN TO ANYONE BUT YOURSELF!!!! YOU CAN SUCCEED!!!!  :)

Answer 4

You don't have to read a lot to be a writer. I know a very famous writer and he reads very little. He doesn't want his stories to be influenced by other people's ideas!

To be a good writer, you must have two immportant skills. The first is that you must be able to write correctly. This means that you understand grammar, sentence structure, how to write dialogue, and spelling. I am a HORRIBLE speller and had a tough time until spell-check was invented... You also need to understand that a good story has a beginning, body and conclusion.

The second, and most important skill, is that you are able to tell a story! You must be able to make it an interesting read for others. Write what you know! Your world around you is a great inspiration.

A good writing practice is to write sentences that have "texture". This means that they tell about what you see, smell, taste, hear and can touch. Most people write about what is seen but not how things smell or feel.

For example: leaves changing color in the fall. We can all see the colors but how do they smell? How do they sound when you walk through them? Describing these things makes the reader feel as if they are there.

I would recommend that you creative write with your free time instead of reading books if you want to be a writer! Good luck to you!