Become a Better Writer by Reading More Fiction

10 Comments

libraryOther than reading to my little girls, I think I’ve read less than five fiction books in the past 10 years. That all changed one month ago.

I love non-fiction. Wait, that’s an understatement. I’ve probably made my way through 300+ non-fiction books in the past 10 years. Whenever I want to learn something, I read a book.

But now decided to read strictly fiction for the next three months. Why? Because I want to get better at telling stories and that’s what fiction is all about.

Share your favorite fiction here for all of us to read. Here’s what I’ve been reading and loving.

What are you reading?

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Posted on July 26, 2012

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    I’m with you Justin. I began reading fiction again a couple months ago. The stories we read help us tell our stories better. 

    My plan is to have a ratio of 1-1 or 2-1 non-fiction to fiction going at a time.

    What am I reading?

    $100 Startup
    Coach Wooden: The 7 Principles That Shaped His Life And Will Change Yours

    Just finished the Hunger Games Trilogy

    Hoping to hop into some Star Wars novels or part of the Of Mars series next.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Star Wars. Great idea, Joe. I want to read The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy as well.

  • Scott Moore

    I know it marks me as a geek but running roleplaying games (like Dungeons and Dragons) has been a hobby of mine since I was a kid.  It has really honed my story telling skills as well as helped me understand small group dynamics.  And I’ve read tons of fiction along the way as well.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Any time fiction enters the conversation, we’ll be labeled as something, Scott. Just own it. :)

  • http://www.jmlalonde.com Joe Lalonde

    I’ve heard THGG is a great book. It also answers the question of the universe, right?

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Supposedly. It should be required reading then.

  • Tom

    Some favorites….in no particular order….The Alchemist, To Kill a Mockingbird, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Art of Fielding….looking at the lists below, this clearly marks me as a graybeard….and I’m ok with that.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    These are some of my favorites too, Tom. I was just holding The Alchemist in my hands on Wednesday. I’m checking out the last two on Amazon right now.

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    A list of free books through google. Easy to send to a Kindle too. https://play.google.com/store/books/collection/topselling_free

  • http://coachradio.tv/ Justin Lukasavige

    Oops, no app for the Kindle yet, but they’re working on it. You can read them on the iPhone/iPad.