In a recent blog post, author Allison Winn Scotch (pictured, via) discussed whether or not being an avid reader is necessary in order to be a proper writer. Her answer is “yes.”
Here’s an excerpt with her blog post: “This doesn’t mean that you have to devour a book a week, but I do think it means that you have a higher appreciation and love of the written word (and 300 pages of those words) than the average person. I think being a successful writer means reading your peers and learning from them too – I can’t tell you how much reading authors whom I admire has helped me up my game.”
In a recent interview, Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan advised aspiring writers that reading is an essential part of the profession. Do you feel the same way as these two writers?