Are You Not Reading Enough?

Why Writers Must Feed Their Minds

In the whirlwind of writing deadlines, client work, content creation, and life in general, reading can easily get pushed to the side. I get it. You tell yourself you’ll read later, but later never seems to come. And if you’re anything like me, your reading time has slowly shifted from pleasure or personal growth to “resource mode,” where every book you touch is tied to work.

I realized this recently when I looked at my stack of books. Nearly everyone was about writing, bookkeeping, marketing, or running a creative business. Helpful? Absolutely. But something was missing.

Let’s talk about that missing piece and how you can bring reading back into your creative life with purpose and joy.

Why Reading Matters for Writers

Reading isn’t optional for writers. It’s fuel.

When we read, we expand our vocabulary, deepen our understanding of craft, and sharpen our storytelling instincts. Reading shows us what’s possible with words—how other writers break rules, evoke emotion, and keep readers turning pages. It helps us internalize rhythm, structure, and pacing in ways that writing alone can’t teach.

Without consistent reading, our creativity dries up. We might still produce content, but the depth, style, and spark start to fade. Reading gives us a creative edge. It’s one of the best (and cheapest) ways to grow as a writer.

What Happens When You Only Read for Work

When I started my business, I naturally gravitated toward reading books that helped me grow it. Writing guides, marketing books, productivity strategies, QuickBooks tutorials, you name it. And while those books were helpful, something began to shift in my mindset.

Reading turned into a task.

I wasn’t being inspired anymore. I wasn’t getting lost in a good story or pausing to savor a beautifully crafted sentence. I was scanning for answers, taking notes, and moving on.

There’s a time and place for reading with a goal, but we can’t live there. If you’re only reading to extract information, it’s like eating protein bars for every meal. You’re technically feeding yourself, but you’re missing the flavor, the nourishment, the joy.

Rebuilding a Purposeful Reading Practice

So, how do you fall back in love with reading when your time is limited and your to-do list is long?

Here’s what helped me:

1. Schedule It Like You Mean It
Reading won’t magically happen. You have to make space for it. I started blocking out 15–30 minutes in my schedule a few days a week just for reading something unrelated to work. Sometimes it's fiction, other times it’s a memoir or poetry, but the key is that it’s something I want to read, not have to.

2. Mix It Up
If you’ve been in “resource mode” for too long, try switching genres. Read a novel. Pick up a book of short stories. Revisit a childhood favorite. Creativity is sparked by contrast, and the unexpected connections you make while reading something different often show up in your own writing later.

3. Choose Books That Speak to Your Season
I believe in reading with intention. If I’m in a season of healing, I’ll read stories of resilience. If I’m building something new, I’ll find books with characters on a similar journey. Purposeful reading doesn’t mean you only read for business; it means choosing books that feed your spirit, stir your imagination, or challenge your thinking.