Reading as a writer - Helen Hewitt

Photo by Shreyas Sagade on Unsplash

I’ve been thinking a lot about reading recently. This is partly because of my new role as school librarian, but also because I’m nursing a football injury that has put my right hand out of action for several weeks. For the moment, gardening, baking, knitting and driving are off the table. With time unexpectedly freed up, I’ve enjoyed a number of autumnal walks and have been on a steep learning curve, adjusting to typing with my non-dominant hand. It’s also been a chance to catch up on some of the reading I seldom get round to. 

My reading habits have changed significantly over the past few years. Historically, I commuted into central London every day, which provided precious time to tackle a novel on the train there and back. I also used to read before bed but, since having children (and perhaps the impact of advancing age too!) I tend to fall asleep under the book now before I’ve got very far. Holidays when I would devour a stack of books are also a thing of the past. 

This is a source of sadness for me. I wrote last month about the benefits of reading for children, but it’s good for us adults too. A couple of things have also got me wondering about what it means to read as a writer. I recognise much of what the author of this blog says about the barriers to reading, but she goes on to say that she considers it to be a ‘vital part of my writing. It’s commitment to your craft.’ Along a similar line, a fellow member of my CWA writing group shared this by the Christian author Philip Yancey in which he talks about how ‘good writing can be learned’ through careful and intentional reading. 

Can I honestly say that the little reading I manage these days is critical to my writing? I don't mind admitting, I read for pleasure and seldom have the inclination to wade through worthy tomes. Some years back, I was in a book group where the successive texts seemed to get more and more challenging. Picking up a novel should be something to look forward to in my view, not a chore! I read the odd Christian non-fiction book, but I usually gravitate to the crime fiction section in Waterstones. Good writing, wherever it’s found, can help refine both our skill and empathy. However, I haven’t previously given much thought to reading as a commitment to my craft. 

So – I’ve got time on my hand(s) – what have you read recently that’s inspired you as a Christian writer? Are there any books that have been helpful in learning how to write better? And if you have any recommendations about good crime fiction, I’d love to hear those too!

Helen Hewitt is a baker, gardener, writer and maker. She lives in southwest London with  her husband and two young daughters. Formerly a doctor and clinical academic, she now runs a social enterprise, which combines a microbakery and community gardening project (@nourishandgrow_food). Helen is a member of the Community of Hopeweavers. 

You can find more of Helen's writing on her blog, Warp & Weft.