By Alex Bartley
As a writer, you often seek ways to improve, find inspiration when stuck, learn from your peers, and so on. Every writer’s journey is personal. However, it is often argued that reading and writing are permanently linked.
The question, “Does reading inform the creative writing process?” piqued my interest.
Nautica Blue is a chronic hobbyist, professional student, self-published author, and soon-to-be medical professional. She is 25, Black and Puerto Rican.
Blue has self-published two books, with a third set for release at the end of summer.
“I read because I love to immerse myself in the heads of other writers and in the worlds they create,” she said. “Reading a new book is like living another life.”
She explained that the genres she reads most are dystopian, fantasy, and romance, while also dabbling in thrillers, horror, and the occasional children’s book.
“Often I jump between reading and writing because of the inspiration I gather through my reading. It’s nearly impossible for me to read a story and not see some element in the plot, world-building, or character that inspires an idea in my head.”
Her pull towards writing began young. The first full story she wrote was a one-page piece in fourth grade, followed by a deeply personal short story in seventh grade. By high school, she was working on and publishing her first book.
She explained reading made her gravitate towards becoming a writer, with books such as Geronimo Stilton and Legend by Marie Lu proving especially important in that journey.
For Blue, the relationship between writing and reading involves engaging with the genre she wishes to write in.
When reading, she often makes mental notes of details that spark inspiration, from world-building to character traits. These are the kinds of elements that may eventually find their way into her own story planning.
At the same time, she made it clear that she reads to draw inspiration from different styles rather than to change her own author’s voice.
Featured image: A laptop and book on a counter. Photo: Alex Bartley
