It would seem evident that the practice of writing is in the writing itself. However, this is a mistaken notion. For example, an American football player does not practice American football by replicating a game of American football. Simulating game after game of American football does not hone in the skills one needs to succeed in real game of American football. Furthermore, a truly accurate simulation of American football would open up the risk for more harm than any reward that could be yielded through a one to one simulation practice. In much the same way, writers practicing writing by writing do great harm to their craft and rarely achieve progress. And by writing to practice writing, these writers are not honing in on the true skill set needed to be a good let alone great writer.
Then what is the practice of writing if it is not writing? The practice of writing is reading.
But how does reading prepare one for writing?
By reading, one confronts words and styles outside of their own. In this confrontation, one learns the tendencies and traits of writing. By being able to examine these tendencies and traits, one judges which sorts of these tendencies or traits they take a liking or disliking too. It is not that the reader should be a sponge of what they enjoy, but rather they should use reading to gain a writer’s instinct. A writer’s instinct is simply one that differentiates types of writing.
What sort of reading should one go about?
No reading in particular. Instead, one should read a ton without discrimination. Even a random instruction manual can be a tool for one’s practice of writing. Perhaps the most underutilized and underrated thing to read is song lyrics. Song lyrics are fantastic reading material as they showcase clearly the flow and rhythm of language. Alll reading formats do this in their own way. What a writer is able to do above all else is hone in their writing rhythm and flow.
Is it being advised that one should not write at all?
To write is to go about original writing. There are forms of reading that involve the physical act of writing. It is perhaps from this understanding that we can discuss a practice drill one can run. Hunter S Thompson would transcribe on his typewriter full works by Ernest Hemingway to get a rhythm and feel of those works. Is this not a very diligent form of reading? Though Hunter S Thompson was clearly physically writing, is transcription not a form of reading? It is not that one should never write, it is that one should only write when they have had enough practice.
But what is enough practice?
This is dependent on the individual's natural skill and where they want to be as a writer. Yet, in all cases, more reading will equal a greater improvement in one’s writing skill.
The teaching of writing is in a sad state due to bad practice. The worst writing advice one could grant is that one should write daily. It is rather that one should read daily and then write when prepared. Writing should not be forced as this can lead to poor writing and terrible writing habits. If one writes everyday, they are more likely to force something and come to accept poorly written forced phrases. But in reading, even when forced one acquires no bad habits but instead a virtuous habit. Reading requires focus and diligence not required by writing. In writing, one can faff about and still have something written. However when reading, if one is not diligent then they have done nothing but simply stared blankly at the words before them. Through the practice of reading, one can learn diligence in their writing. It takes diligence to focus in while understanding flow, feel, and rhythm. Writing by itself is too open to be lost in its own whimsy. So it should not be mistaken again, that the practice of writing is reading.
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