January 7, 2026
Why do you want to read like a writer? Authors often say that the inspiration to write a book, whether fiction or nonfiction, is born out of reading something that speaks to their soul. The characters, the storyline, and the way the author unrolls the events all contribute to the magic of a well-written book.
The truth is, however, that simply reading books for enjoyment is only half of the story. Good writers use the books they read to inspire them, teach them, and lead them to stronger writing. Learning how to read like a writer can transform your writing, too, if you know how to take advantage of your love of reading and channel it into tangible lessons that you can directly apply to your next book, story or writing project.
Casual reading is an important part of taking in literary content that will help you mature as a writer, but intentional reading – reading with a purpose – can have a much greater impact on your writing.
When you learn how to read like a writer does, you can expect to see every aspect of your writing morph and change with the influence of well-chosen books, intentional reading selections, and practice applying what you learn about those books in your own writing. Some of the ways your writing can improve when you learn to read like a writer include:
Instead of looking at reading as a completely separate activity from writing, think of them as two sides of the same coin. Each influences and impacts the other, and one cannot exist without the other’s presence. Your writing improves if you read like a writer.
A strong writer will often be a voracious reader, but not everyone has the time or energy to read everything they can get their hands on, given the demands of modern life, such as work, family, or personal time. If reading isn’t your full-time job, you likely have to find time to sneak in some reading time here and there, between the rigors of daily life and to read like a writer.
However, since reading is such an important part of learning to write well, being intentional about what, when, and how you read is the best way to make the most of your time and develop your writing skills as effectively as possible. These five tips can help you choose the right books and have the right attitude about devoting time to your reading time so your writing will grow and evolve out of your (admittedly enjoyable) renewed focus on reading.
One of the easiest traps to fall into as an avid reader is to find a genre you love and stick to it. But if you are going to use read like a writer, reading books in all genres is a must. Even if a romantic trope seems uninteresting or a complicated historical fiction feels too challenging to be engaging, experiencing the writing of talented writers in every genre will expose you to all different kinds of literary elements that can help you improve your own work.
As you begin to seek books from each genre, choosing a few select books that have been proven to be good writing is more important than reading as many books as you can. Turn your attention to the top authors in the genre to read like a writer, selecting a few books that represent the best of the best, so that your reading choices reflect strong writers who have proven storytelling and literary structure-building skills.
The only time quantity is just as important as quality is when it comes to the genre you are interested in. Read like a writer as many books from talented authors in this genre so that you can get a deep understanding of what kind of books readers enjoy while you discover how those authors create storylines and characters in them. Look at the top books right now as well as historical top books in your genre, keeping track of the ones that really speak to you so you can refer back to an author’s writing style, voice, and characterization strategies as you work on your own writing.
Because reading is so germane to becoming a good writer, your intentional dedication to it should be something you integrate into your writing plans.
First, prioritize reading so you can read like a writer. Schedule time for it into your day or week, and look at creating a reading schedule so you will stick to it rather than simply picking up a book when you have time, when the laundry is done, when work is not too hectic, or any other of the pressing life-activities that seem to get in the way of activities we want to do but don’t always find the time to do.
Next, be flexible to read as a writer. Not every reading schedule works out, but don’t give up on it if time is short or you just can’t finish the book chosen from that genre you don’t love. Make every effort to read quality writing, in every genre and focus on your own genre, but don’t get disappointed when you need to shift and pivot your schedule or priorities when needed.
Finally, keep in mind that reading is part of the writing process, but it should not replace it. While you integrate to read like a writer, keep your pen in hand (or computer keyboard ready) so you can continue to write, apply the lessons you are learning, and continue to grow as a writer. You might even find that you are more prolific when you become inspired by new authors, different genres, and surprising new ways to tell a story that you discover along the way.
As your eyes track words on the page, begin to look at a book with a more critical eye than simply deciding if a book is enjoyable or not one you love.
Engage with the book by asking questions as you read like a writer. Why does the author have the story’s plot twist and turn the way it does? How does the author create a character’s motivation? Why does the writer structure the book this way? Looking at an author’s writing as an intentional choice can guide your questions, and the answers can help you discover what makes good writing so enjoyable.
Make notes as you read. Pull out your pen and make notes in the margins where you have questions, see a great word or phrase, or see where an author creates magic for the reader.
Identify the book’s structure. Consider how each author develops the plot structure and how they present it to the reader. Compare an author’s choices to the way he writes in other books, as well as comparing authors with each other to learn the way that works best in each genre.
Consider the theme development. Look for hints at the thematic elements within a book and think about how each author develops their theme within their book and in the genre as a whole.
Search for the literary devices the author uses to develop the story and meaningful characters. Does the author use flashbacks to let the reader learn about key information? Or does a writer include meaningful symbols or imagery to create the mood or affect the tone of the book? Make notes on what works and what doesn’t, and why.
Since you will continue to write as you embark on intentional reading, let your writing practice reflect the lessons the skillful writers are teaching you.
Create a paragraph, short story, or chapter using a structure you found in your reading that was appealing, interesting, or difficult to recreate. Don’t be afraid to write something you are uncomfortable with; trying out new strategies, styles, or formats can help you see what works with your voice and style.
Begin testing out new word choices, phrases, and ways of expressing ideas based on the list of them you keep from the books you have been reading. Pay careful attention to repeated unique words that authors in your chosen genre use so your work will have a commonality with other writers who are skilled at capturing the feel and essence of your genre.
Even if just for practice, create a passage that mimics a technique that you found interesting in a book written by a talented author. You may just discover that you can use the technique, too, with a little practice.
Take a look at some completed writing to see where you can inject a fresh perspective into your work. Add in any of the techniques, elements, structures, word choices, or writing tricks you have studied to your previously written work to elevate your work.
Ask a trusted writing partner to review some of your new or reworked pieces and request concrete feedback to help you improve and offer to do the same for them. Look for other writers in your genre or authors who take the craft seriously because even though asking your friend to look over your writing may be helpful, another author’s insight may likely be more in tune with the type of feedback you desire.
Carefully review the feedback you are given and reflect on how and why your writing has changed or can be improved. And then try again! Keep practicing new ways to transfer what you see in great writing into your work, continually honing your writing voice and style along the way, until you are ready to partner with Publishing Xpress to turn your writing into a beautiful book you can be proud of for years to come.
© 2026 Publishing Xpress. All Rights Reserved.
