To be a better writer, just read.

Well, we did it. In a few short days, 2021 will come to a close — another year on the books.

Speaking of books, I thought I’d share a few reflections and recommendations on one of my favourite pastimes / storytelling tools: reading a book.

Since the pandemic hit, I’ve been reading voraciously. It’s probably the best habit I’ve picked up in pandemic times. (And trust me, not all of them are quite so angelic.) 😇

I’ve always been a reader, but in recent years I tended towards non-fiction: business, self-development, memoir, and so on. I saved fiction for reading on planes and on beaches.

But when the pandemic turned our world upside down, I returned to the voracious reading habits that I used to enjoy when I was younger, fiction included.

It rekindled something in me: the joy of getting lost in story.

I always loved to read. (Shocking, I know.) In my teenage years, second-hand bookstores were my sanctuary. My sister and I would spend hours picking through used records and books at City Lights — our favourite downtown shop, named after the iconic San Francisco bookstore. It’s where I picked up my used, well-worn copies of The Diary of Anais Nin, and other life-changing works.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="960"]

[photo – me at the actual City Lights (and eating a Chinese pork bun - yum), in 2018] [/caption]

In my twenties, I worked at a major chain bookstore. While working retail wasn’t always fun, I loved helping people choose books. There was also something satisfying about being “in the know” when it came to the publishing market. I can still remember opening up the big boxes of books as they arrived, and getting a thrill from discovering the new titles inside. I loved being exposed to all the new releases; my work allowed me to encounter so many books and authors I’d otherwise miss.

(Of course, they weren’t all gems. One shift, I literally stood at the front of the store and handed out copies of The DaVinci Code because every single person entering the store was asking for it. 🤷‍♀️And hey, I read it too.)

This past year (or two) felt like a return to my bookstore days. I read 75 books in 2021, and I’ve enjoyed reading reviews and staying in the loop on the newest titles. (Plus, I had the satisfaction of seeing a book I co-created with a client on the shelves of that big bookstore.)

Beyond that, reading has been a solace at a time when there have been few consolations.

Sometimes, reading is what has gotten me through the day. On dreary lockdown days last winter, as I began to emotionally spiral, I often told myself: “Just read.”

And, in general, I think “just read” is pretty good advice.

There are plenty of storytelling methods I can teach you, but the simple acts of reading and writing are to storytelling what nutrition and exercise are to fitness.

Which is to say: they are the basics. They are good for you. You should do them more often. :)

And, for an added bonus, read outside your comfort zone. Spend some time in a bookstore or library, if you can. Browse the genres you normally skip. Try a new author. Pick up a book you might have missed.

Here are a few suggestions from my reading list this past year.

Non-Fiction

• The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matters – Priya Parker
• Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving – Celeste Headlee
• Life is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age – Bruce Feiler
• The Practice: Shipping Creative Work – Seth Godin

Fiction

• Convenience Store Woman - Sayaka Murata
• Black Buck - Mateo Askaripour
• Gold Diggers - Sanjena Sathian
• Midnight Library - Matt Haig
• Detransition, Baby - Torrey Peters

Books involving or about twins (Okay, this is a pretty niche category, but being an identical twin means I’m extra interested in twin-themed stuff, especially if it’s actually good. So on the off chance you share this interest in some way, here ya go.)

• The Vanishing Half - Brit Bennett (fiction)
• Mirrorland - Carole Johnstone (fiction)
• Twin Dilemmas: Changing relationships through the life span - Barbara Klein (non fiction)
• The Holiday Swap - Maggie Knox (Light fiction – and impossibly, implausibly silly, but if you want to turn your brain off and enjoy a cute read about adult twins pulling a switcheroo, this’ll do it.)

Want more? Check out my must-read memoir list for more reading ideas.

And hey, thanks for reading THIS. I appreciate your attention, because I know it’s precious.

Happy New Year. I wish you a year of health, happiness, and of course, some darn good stories.

Your story – your perspective, your insight, your uniqueness, your leadership — it all matters. So don’t hold back, okay? I’m here, cheering you on, and toasting to your success. 🥂