Is reading a double-edged sword for writers?

I was working on my thesis and kept notes on the novel I was studying. Later, I read others’ critiques and analyses and found that some critics shared one of my thoughts. I related this to one of my supervisors, feeling proud that I had independently produced this thought and found it validated by actual literature. He simply said, “Just make sure to reference that.” I answered, “I will, of course,” but I felt that my independent competence to analyze a work of literature went unnoticed.

In another instance, many years ago, I started a science fiction short story, later developed into a novella. I got caught in the loop of perfecting that first piece, which wasn’t the best decision because I couldn’t move away from it. When I finally did, I felt guilty for abandoning it. You can see it in the cover of “Conceive” on my website. I designed it to embody my first milestone, even if it didn’t turn out as I wished. This overuse of the story, which knew a few different titles, ended up in the lap of a writer in residence in my city. Usually, such readings of the first five pages of your manuscript are meant to give you feedback to help you further your craft as a writer. I went to the meeting excited because I could take all constructive feedback and while I knew my story wasn’t perfect, I was particularly proud of the technology and the lifestyle of the world I built.

The writer was a bit cold. She had scribbled a few notes on the margins of my pages, but they were recommendations to watch TV series and movies and read a couple of books. I was immediately deflated. The conversation took a weird direction. She kept talking about these movies and TV series, saying I could use their science fiction elements. It was obvious she was more of a watcher than a reader of science fiction. I told her I mostly read literary fiction, and my repertoire of science fiction books was selective, including classics like “1984” and the works of Jules Verne, “The Time Machine,” and “Frankenstein.” The only contemporary writer I could cite was Margaret Atwood (which was my favorite at the time with her “The Year of the Flood” and “Oryx and Crake”). When I first had these ideas for science fiction stories, I didn’t know why I was inspired to write them. It may have been my innate passion to link the past, present, and future and push creativity beyond the restrictions of reality.

Anyway, I confirmed to that writer that I didn’t watch TV. I didn’t even have a TV set at the time and wasn’t subscribing to any streaming services. I watched everything on my computer and borrowed DVDs from public libraries for international movies that attracted my attention. The writer in residence moved to other, more pertinent notes. I wasn’t convinced this was the help I needed. Although I was disappointed in the outcome of that meeting, it made me realize I needed to read more in science fiction. I was apprehensive that this might subconsciously affect my writing style and plotting, but I incorporated many science fiction and fantasy books into my reading lists.

Now, the question is whether it affects our creative process or not. In my opinion, it does. I refrain from reading in the genre when I’m actively writing a science fiction piece. Another writer’s world can seep into yours. A protagonist you like might be reincarnated in your stories. A plot can appeal to you and find its way into your plots. That doesn’t mean that the influence reading in your genre has on your ideas or writing style is all bad. It can be inspiring in choosing your narrator, understanding plotting, and identifying preferred science fiction elements or subgenres. It can motivate you to read more non-fiction science books, which is always a bonus. It can also show you what doesn’t work, especially in world-building, like info dumps when the writer is eager to tell you everything about the political and economic system, how people dated, got married, their technologies, the protagonists’ backstories, and so on.

Reading remains the main feeding of writing. While a writer can learn a lot from observation and practical experiences, reading provides access to human intellect. Everything we write is the fruit of years of education, training, and interacting with intellectual stimuli.

The only tip I can leave you with is to keep reading.