What Are Our Writers Reading? Favorite Reads from Comma Writers
It’s rare to find a writer who doesn’t have a large pile of “to be read” books on their bedside table. For some of us, the stack gets so precariously balanced that there’s an earthquake every time we turn off the alarm clock in the morning. But behind that pile of words to discover, is an even longer list of books we’ve read.
Here at Comma, we have some expert bibliophiles in our ranks, from voracious readers who consume more than 100 books a year, readers who savor every word, and the audiobook connoisseurs who love a good narrator. We believe in reading for fun and education, and especially the mantra “reading makes you a better writer.” In fact, for many of our Comma writers, reading is what inspired them to write.
Reading is Why We Write
“Falling in love with the storytelling aspect of reading at a young age inspired me to write,” Emily Garland, a B2C writer says. Like many young readers, Emily remembers “devouring books” and wanting to weave words just like her favorite authors. Bridie Bowerbank says: “Reading has helped me learn the many ways you can use words to tell a story. At Comma, we are stepping in at the twisted web stage [of a story] with a problem and a rough outline given by our clients who don’t know what to do next. We then get to lay out a wonderful ending by unweaving the knot they’ve given us and writing content worth reading.”
We’ve Always Been Readers
For some, it’s hard to even remember life before a love of reading was part of their identity. Bridie recalled: “I think I’ve always had the reading bug, honestly. My Mom would read books to me and my siblings every night before bed. That’s probably where my love of reading and books was first ignited, and then it just continued to grow.”
There were many literary mentors in our lives. From teachers to parents, older siblings, and that ever-so-special librarian, reading creates core memories for us as individuals and in our relationships. Maddie Daetwyler recalls her love of reading started in first grade. “I remember we were going to make t-shirts at the end of the year that said how many pages we’d read,” she laughs. “I was determined to have over 1,000 so I could put a comma on my shirt.”
Some of our writers have been crafting stories as long as they’ve been reading. From childhood poetry (cringeworthy now, but adored by our parents) and stories about beloved animals, our writing portfolios reach way back. Not a surprise, as reading and writing truly go hand-in-hand.
How Reading Makes Us Better Writers
There’s solid research that reading makes you a better writer and while we’re all about giving you facts and letting you decide for yourself, our writers wanted to share what reading has done for them.
Marie Leslie, who has been writing for decades, says: “I have learned something from every book I’ve read (even the awful ones). Seeing examples of good—and bad—writing could not help but influence my writing.” Maddie Daetwyler agrees: “book genres all across the board can inspire my writing in different ways. They all offer ways of showing me how to use words to evoke emotions and thinking.”
Add These 5 Picks to Your “To Be Read” Pile
We polled some of our writer-readers to give a few new top picks for your “to be read” stack. They’re a favorite, what they’re reading right now, or perhaps a book they say represents them as a reader. So here are five books to check out from your local library.
Sarah Acheson, Client Success Manager
Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen. “Give me the classics any day,” Sarah says.
One of Austen’s most popular stories, Sense and Sensibility centers around the three Dashwood sisters and their life-changing move from the estate they grew up on to the country. There, Elinor and Marianne (the two oldest) learn the true meaning of love and trust as they discern the true character of their neighbors.
Bridie Bowerbank, Managing Editor
And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie. “The first book I couldn’t guess the ending to,” Bridie says. “It made me fall in love with mysteries!”
One of Agatha Christie’s most famous works, And Then There Were None is a classic “who done it” murder mystery with an unpredictable twist. Ten strangers end up on an island where they think they’re going to enjoy a vacation but end up wrapped up in a murder. One by one they succumb to the terror, until finally…, well, you’ll have to read to find out.
Maddie Daetwyler, Lead Writer
What Kind of Woman, by Kate Baer. “Poetry ties us together,” Maddie says.
A “stunning and honest” collection of poetry about what it means to be a woman in the 21st century. Full of heartbreak, love, and triumph, these poems encourage women to embrace who they really are.
Jen Bruton, Team Lead
Anxious People, by Fredrik Backman. “I was gripped from the beginning and so sad when it ended,” Jen will tell you.
A real estate open house collides with a bank robbery gone wrong, turning into a hostage situation no one planned on (especially the bank robber turned captor). Each of the half a dozen captives is dealing with grief, hurt, and secrets, and not one of them is who they appear to be. In the end, you’ll be left wondering who really rescues who.
Marie Leslie, Lead Writer
Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls. Marie reads around 75 books a year, and add this one to her list of books that define her as a reader.
One of the most well-known reflective and nostalgic juvenile fiction novels, Where the Red Fern Grows is a coming of age story about a boy and his dogs, growing up in the Ozarks. Billy scrimps and saves to buy his dogs himself, and the three of them are inseparable.
Readers for Life
We’re committed writers and readers at Comma. Just ask any one of us at any given time, and we can gush for hours about what we’re reading. If you need more suggestions on what to read next, you know who to ask.
