One discussion that emerges in social media writing circles every few months is whether reading books helps you become a better writer. There’s no question about where we stand: reading books can absolutely help you become a better writer.

It’s important to note that for many people, reading is the act of actually seeing words in print (or on screen). But for folks who are sight-impaired, blind, or physically disabled and don’t have the capability of comfortably reading print books, screens, computers, or other devices, reading isn’t exactly accessible. In this case, audiobooks are just as valid a means of reading and experiencing a book. After all, these are the author’s words, only processed with our ears and not our eyes or fingertips (as is the case with braille).

Other folks may tend to prefer other methods of storytelling, such as film and television. After all, you can still learn story, plot, character development, dialogue, dramatic tension, and more. In fact, some might argue that for popular fiction, this might be the way to go, with readers voraciously consuming books that are paced and structured more like a blockbuster film or even a video game (see Ready Player One).

No matter how you consume books, they can expand your mind and open you to a myriad of possibilities. By reading books in a variety of genres, you can learn different techniques for story structure—the classic happily ever after of romance or the whodunit structure of mysteries, for example—and see how those same structures vary across other genres.

Not only can this help writers and authors learn the conventions of the genre—which can be important to your readers, because you don’t ever want to upset them so much they’ll abandon you—but we can also discover different storytelling techniques, whether that’s through narrative style, prose, structure, or even different kinds of plot devices. Learning what approaches thrill you (or absolutely repel you) can help you shape the kind of book you want to write.

“By making reading a fixed part of your regular routine, you can continually expose yourself to new ideas and techniques and recharge your creative juices for your next writing assignment,” suggests this Masterclass article “Become a Better Writer by Reading: 5 Ways Reading Improves Writing.” “The truth is that reading is most productive if it becomes a daily habit. Most working authors partition time in their day for reading, just as they set aside time for writing, editing, and rewriting. A disciplined reading habit gives you the daily opportunity to happen across ideas that inspire you—and you may be able to channel that inspiration into a new written work written in your own words.”

Inspiration is the key concept here. Sometimes when we get frustrated or bored with our own writing projects, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut of our own making. The words always sound the same, or pacing seems to follow its own rhythm, and even our characters can sometimes seem . . . well, less than inspired. But there is nothing to get you excited about writing again like reading a phenomenal book—or three or seven.

Then there is the added bonus that every kid who grows up on a steady diet of books develops: an inherent sense of grammar. Ask me about the difference between an intensive and reflexive pronoun, and I’ll give you a blank stare and likely make an excuse to visit the bathroom. But using everybody or anyone properly in a sentence is something I don’t even think about.

“Think of reading a novel or short story as a hack that lets you study grammar without having to work through a textbook,” recommends Masterclass. “The best books clearly communicate their messages, and to clearly communicate, you must have a working knowledge of English language grammar. Since you’re already reading fiction and nonfiction books to learn the craft, why not also take note of how professional authors tackle grammar questions you were never quite sure about in your own work? Study the way they use punctuation and grammar conventions, and you might just spare yourself the headache of reading a formal grammar book.”

In addition to inspiring us and improving our own writing, what we read can also have an impact on the general quality of our lives: “[S]uccessful people see books as a gateway to knowledge,” points out Vincent Carlos in “Why Reading Is the Habit of the Highly Successful.” “As a result, they tend to read books that are going to help them grow their minds and improve their lives.”

Most importantly, reading books—regardless of what they are or how you read them—can have a positive effect on your well-being. When we read for pleasure, we feed our souls even as we entertain ourselves. And as authors and writers, isn’t that the feeling we want to create for our readers? Because the more we know about joy and our experiences of it, the more we can share that with others.

Stuck for what to read next and don’t have a towering to-be-read pile? Here are a few lists to help you get started:

12 Books to Help You Love Reading Again

Meet This Year’s Class of Debut Young Adult Novels

The Best New Thriller Books of Fall 2022

22 Feel-Good Books to Read Right Now

40 Books That Might Help You Write Your Novel

Hannah Guy lives in Toronto and is a professional writer and copywriter who specializes in books, books, and more books. Follow her on Twitter at @hannorg.