Write of Passage Weekly

Hey writers,

Welcome back to Write of Passage Weekly. Last week, you learned that an idea isn’t yours until you write it down. Today, we’re talking about how reading fuels your writing.

Test-Drive the Write of Passage Bootcamp

Write of Passage is a life- and career-accelerator disguised as a five-week writing bootcamp. We help you attract new opportunities by sharing what you already know. This workshop is a 60-min test drive of our Bootcamp to help you find out if it’s right for you.

Writing can open doors you didn’t know existed. Our alumni land book deals, job offers, podcast appearances, new clients, and speaking gigs by sharing their best ideas online. What could the Bootcamp do for you?

We’ll give you the keys, and you can take Write of Passage for a one-hour joyride. Join us next Wednesday, March 13, from 11 am – 12 pm CT to test-drive the Bootcamp. You can register with one click through the button below or learn more here.

You're Not Reading Enough

On the Internet, where the dictum is to “create content,” it’d be wise to heed this timeless piece of advice from Stephen King: “If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” Talent and hustle alone do not make you a great writer. If you don’t read, you can’t write.

Consider the reading habits of literary giants. Stephen King reads an average of 80 books per year, and he advises young writers to read five yours per day. For King, each book — be it good or bad — is a lesson in the limitless ways you can tell a story, lending you the tools to shape your style.

But how do you know what to read or where to start? 

Nobel Prize laureate William Faulkner taught that reading is a writer’s apprenticeship. He said, “Read, read, read. Read everything — trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You’ll absorb it. Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.”

The answer: read anything and everything, then notice what you enjoy and why.

The creator of the great wizarding world of Harry Potter says to read what you enjoy until you enjoy reading. For J.K. Rowling, that’s Jane Austen’s books; she’s read them more times than she can count. Once you find what you enjoy, you can reap the greatest fruit of reading: imitation. You’re influenced by the writers you spend the most time reading, and that’s a good thing. To aspiring writers, Rowling says, “At first you’ll probably imitate your favorite writers, but that’s a good way to learn. After a while, you’ll find your own distinctive voice.”

The recipe for great writing begins with a simple ingredient: reading. What you consume determines what tools you’ll have to create. So, read anything. Then, pick out what you enjoy and figure out why it works. Let each book you encounter expand your understanding of language, deepen your appreciation for different perspectives, and inspire you to experiment with your own voice. Imitate, then innovate.

Taking the time to read — to engage deeply with words — isn’t a luxury; it’s an indispensable part of being a writer.

How I Write Podcast

How To Find Your Edge As A Writer | Michael Mauboussin

Perhaps the most common skill among great writers is the ability to find inspiration in unconventional places. And that’s Michael Mauboussin in a nutshell. Investing, business, reading, writing, luck — name a topic he’s passionate about, and he’s found a way to make money from it with his writing. 

How? By subverting “The Curse of Knowledge.” 

With his decades-long career on Wall Street, you’d think that reading Michael’s work would be like trying to learn Latin on the fly. But the opposite is true.

“I put my arm around the reader, and we gaze off into the world and say, ‘Let’s talk about what we see. Let’s make this concrete and interesting.’”

No stuffy professionalism. No robotic jargon. While many of us writers see the ignorance of a reader as a handicap, Michael sees it as an opportunity. And as a result, he’s become a billboard for how to build a career around who you truly are and what you’re actually interested in.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to do the same. Come learn tactical writing and life instruction from one of Wall Street’s best and brightest. 

Listen Now: YouTube | Spotify | Apple

Thank you for reading Write of Passage Weekly. This week, read something great and imitate it.

Happy writing,

The Write of Passage Team

P.S. Scholarship applications are now open for the next Bootcamp. If you have great ideas and a burning desire to share them, we want you in the Bootcamp. And we don’t want the price to prevent talented people from participating. Scholarships are limited and the competition is rigorous. If you’re interested, apply today.