On the Importance of Studying

What a writer needs to remember

This essay was inspired by a conversation we had in the P3 offices this morning.

When it comes to any art form, I think what often gets overlooked is the importance of studying those that came before. As writers, we owe it to ourselves to respect the greats and learn from them. Regardless of how far you’ve come or what level you’ve reached, you should always make time to study, consistently. Practice and study go hand in hand.

I've talked about practice before in my newsletter, The Pulp Fictioneer, discussing how every story that you write, whether it be flash fiction or a novel, serves as good practice.

But what do I mean by studying fiction? Well — reading. Reading everything you can and reading often. Since short stories are my chosen form of practice (for now), I make it a habit to read short stories every day from a wide variety of authors. From Kafka to Bradbury, I try to branch out as widely as possible. I’ll try different genres, authors, and anthologies to keep the creative well-flowing. You can also get down and dirty with your studying. Currently, I keep a spreadsheet of stories and books I’ve read. Once I’ve read something, I’ll record it and rate it on a scale of 1 to 5. If there is a story I love and gets a 5 rating, I make a point to examine the story. I’ll reread, analyze my favorite parts, ask myself why this story worked so well for me, and even sometimes type in the words on a Google doc.

Keep in mind this is just one technique. It works well for me and I enjoy getting down into the details so it’s all a fun activity. It goes without saying the more you read, the better your skills as a storyteller will develop over time. If I were to start all over again, I think I’d incorporate the following routine:

1. Google a list of writers you wish to study. Maybe you’re interested in being a bestseller. Go and make a list of bestselling writers by genre. If you love science fiction and fantasy, go look at the list of Hugo and Nebula Award winners and nominees over the past decades. Mystery? Go to the Edgar Allan Poe Award lists. You get the idea!

2. Bring your list to your local library, thrift store, or even eBay, and BUY BUY BUY. Rack up a ton of books for cheap. Classic works, genre greats, collections, and anthologies. Whatever you can get your hands on.

3. Read every page and keep a record of what you love. As mentioned before, I keep an in-depth spreadsheet of what I’ve read and jotted notes on what I love and how to incorporate the findings into my own fiction.

4. Repeat the above and keep writing. There will be a ton of reading and writing with this plan. The goal is to be disciplined but also have fun in your learning. As you discover new authors and techniques, you’ll continue to develop your skill set.

Need some accountability?

My friend,

Brady Putzke

, has started a challenge called the 10 Million Project. He and a few others are committed to the road to mastery of fiction. It’s a fun challenge that will keep you writing, hold you accountable, and help you practice. Brady also loves a good list.

If you’re interested, join below.

Introducing: "The 10M Project"

In the end, the goal is to have fun. Writing fiction is my vocation and I treat it as such. The great practitioners and masters of the craft should be honored and respected. I’ve come a long way in my young career but I still have much to learn and love showing up to the keyboard every day.

For me, nothing is better than waking up in the morning with a cup of coffee and a blank page.