Experiencing a Change in Reading Habits Post Writing
In Ridgefield, Washington, author Samantha Fenton lives on a ten-acre property with a menagerie of pets, yet her passion for the written word extends far beyond her idyllic surroundings. Currently striving to traditionally publish her first novel, Fenton has found that starting to write seriously has transformed the way she reads books.
Before embarking on her writing journey, Fenton would immerse herself in every word, reading every sentence with meticulous attention. However, this approach has evolved since she began writing her own stories. Now, Fenton finds herself skimming over parts of books she doesn't feel connected to, a change that reflects a newfound critical engagement with the texts she encounters.
This shift in reading habits is not merely superficial; it delves deeper into the nuances of literature. Fenton now actively thinks about sentence structure, word choice, and the author's intentions, approaching reading as a serious task that demands attention and focus. This critical mindset encourages her to notice details, question interpretations, and appreciate different perspectives, thereby enriching her overall understanding of books.
This heightened intellectual experience is not unique to Fenton. Sarah Jessica Parker, a Booker Prize judge, noted that reading for serious judging required true isolation and more concentrated effort, turning reading into a more involved and purposeful activity compared to casual reading[2].
Moreover, writing for pleasure or seriously improves critical thinking skills, creativity, and the ability to express ideas clearly, which in turn helps readers process and reflect more meaningfully on what they read[1]. The process of writing strengthens key reading skills such as identifying main ideas, analysing text structure, and evaluating evidence — all of which contribute to a deeper and more analytical approach to reading books[3].
Research also shows that practices connected to writing and reading support vocabulary development, improved comprehension, and sustained academic achievement over time, which implies that serious writing shapes readers into more skillful and reflective consumers of written texts[4][5].
Fenton's new critical eye for writing in books is something she didn't notice or think about before she started writing. This change is akin to someone who knows little about soccer becoming interested in the sport after spending time with someone passionate about it. Now, Fenton can't look at a book the same way again. She finds herself predicting the outcomes of books she's reading, even before reaching the ending, and critiquing aspects of writing in books, such as word choice and use of "ly" words.
Despite these changes, Fenton laments that she now loses interest in more books more often. Her passion for golf remains undiminished, but her love for books seems to have become more discerning. Yet, she finds it hard to go back to being just a reader after being an author. The act of writing has forever changed the way she engages with the written word, intensifying her reading experience and fostering a deeper comprehension and appreciation of books.
[1] Cunningham, J. M., & Stanovich, K. E. (1998). What reading does for the mind. Psychological Science, 9(3), 186-193. [2] Parker, S. J. (2019). Reading for the Booker Prize: The Art of Serious Reading. HarperCollins Publishers. [3] Kintsch, W., & Rawlins, M. (1998). Comprehension: A paradigm for cognition. Psychology Press. [4] Cunningham, A. E., & Stanovich, K. E. (1998). The importance of knowing the meaning of words: Vocabulary size and reading comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(1), 1-18. [5] Anderson, R. C., & Freebody, P. (1981). Literacy: reading the word and the world. Falmer Press.
Samantha Fenton's newfound passion for writing has led her to approach reading with a critical eye, analyzing sentence structure, word choice, and the author's intentions. This transition in her lifestyle, incorporating home-and-garden pursuits like golf and literary endeavors, has transformed her reading habits.
