Ink and Imagination: The Stories That Feed My Writing Voice

Reading comes as second nature to me. I read all day, every day—well, okay, maybe not when I'm asleep, but you get the idea! Lol.

When most people hear the word "reading," they automatically assume thick, wordy books. And if they aren't big bookworms, they find no joy in that. But it’s different for me. I love reading and consider myself an avid, "can't-stop-won't-stop" reader.

What does this look like in everyday life?

Can a person dedicate so much time to reading that it becomes second nature? 100% yes.

As an author, I understand that reading is essential. If I don't read, my writing becomes subpar. And that, frankly, is a massive faux pas.

My reading ranges from my daily devotions (Bible study) to anything that catches my eye in transit... posters, paintings, neon announcements, and those long, tedious work emails. I must read. My eyes need to scan something new every day. Even if I’ve read the same subway poster a million times on my commute, I still read it again. Why? Because reading is the ultimate fuel for memory and vocabulary.

Reading is the Foundation

For me, I can't write without reading. It is my foundation (outside of the divine ideas given to me, of course). I would feel truly lost without scanning something.

• Random foreign language on a container? I read it.

• Tags on clothing? I read them.

• A word I don't know? The dictionary is my best friend.

  
  

I promise you, I learn something new every single day.

My Challenge to You

I’d encourage you non-readers not to focus on the "what" (meaning where your eyes scan), but focus on the fact that you're reading.

• Build your vocabulary.

• Learn new things.

• See how your own writing is influenced by the words around you.

  
  

You truly can't have one without the other.

Reading + Writing = Exceptional Author

Happy Reading!

~Theastarr Valerie