Just Keep Reading! The Importance of the Written Word

When I was a pipsqueak in elementary school, I read purely for the love of the game. I have the Scholastic Book Fair to thank for my obsession with Lauren Tarshis’s collection of I Survived and Mary Pope Osborne’s the Magic Tree House series. In middle school, DEAR days (drop everything and read) were the highlight of my week, all because I was desperate to get to Chapter 15 and find out what happened to Abeke and Conor in Spirit Animals. 

I would also be remiss if I didn’t dedicate a significant portion of my love for the written word to the world of fandom (some of the best writers I know have very humble Wattpad origins). 

Reading and writing for me was—and continues to be—a form of escapism and actualization; it’s as much a journey of self-discovery as it is understanding human connection. I was fortunate enough in my early life to be exposed to a plethora of different series that opened my eyes to the many unique experiences of those around me. 

But, like everyone else, I’m not immune to change. Dependence on technology and social media has jaded reading for me, at times. But, in spite of it all, it’s still one of my biggest passions. And I hope by the end of this blog, you’ll remember—or realize—that it’s yours, too. 

The Devastating Impact of “I’m not reading all that!” 

A recent study from University of Florida and University College London found a 40% decrease in reading for pleasure amongst American adults over the past twenty years. Similarly, the NCES found that the number of young students who reported reading for fun daily in 2023 was just 13%, down from 17% in 2020 and a shocking 27% in 2012. 

In recent times, reading enthusiasts are frequently confronted with the harrowing reality of TikTok comment sections: I’m not reading all that! under a post about something as simple as a recipe, or as solemn as someone’s vulnerable remarks about their struggles with mental health. 

But what’s to blame for this tragic display of willful incompetence? A decreasing attention span? Simple lack of interest? ChatGPT’s message cap on GPT-4o? Actually, it’s a little bit of everything. 

Multiple studies have found a correlation between teens and young adults’ screen time and their ability—and willingness—to read for leisure. For most people, the more they engage on social media, the less inclined they feel to pick up a book. Which does make sense—social media is fast-paced by nature. Its entire purpose is for users to consume as much content as they possibly can within a short period of time. 

The result, though? Your brain is physically incapable of processing all the information you’re consuming at a profound level. The content you interact with is not processed as deeply as it might be if you took the time to seriously consider its implications instead of scrolling away in five seconds. Your brain’s cognitive abilities hinge on the age-old adage in psychology: use it or lose it! 

The difficult truth is that social media is greatly diminishing our ability to think critically. What’s even more heartbreaking, is that we’re living in a time where critical thinking has never been more imperative. With the increasing prevalence of AI, we’re becoming shallower thinkers. A dependence on artificial intelligence strips away the need for us to critically evaluate information. LLMs continue to plagiarize and regurgitate real, human-made information for the sake of convenience. “Summarize this article” and “highlight key points” have become the arch nemesis to cognitive function. 

The issue arises when people realize they can’t simply type “summarize” for a 300-page fantasy novel. So, where does that leave us? How do we rekindle the love for this seemingly dying art form? While there’s no clear-cut answer, I’ve tried to pinpoint a few key aspects of reading that might be a step in the right direction. 

Finding Balance—The Three C’s of Reading 

I’ve come to abide by three general principles with the prose I choose to consume, no matter the form it takes. 

First: be curious. Humans are driven by our thirst for knowledge. Simply put, you don’t know what you don’t know. Unsure about the kind of book you’d like to read? That’s okay! Think about the kind of shows you like, or the video games you play. What was the last movie you watched? If it originated from a book, congrats! You’ve got an easy pick. 

This is also where I think social media isn’t all bad: if you’re recommended a book online that intrigues you, check it out! If you’re fascinated by someone’s summary of research findings, look it up! Read the reviews. Read the research papers. Be inquisitive. Be investigative. Educate yourself. Learn more about the things that interest you. Consume as much writing as you can.  

Basically, the answer is always: READ READ READ!  

But also: be critical. Context is the key to the lockbox of a writer’s message. Look into the authors whose work you want to read. Be wary of the perspective they may be writing from, no matter if you’re reading a romance novella, a newspaper article, or a blog post like this one. 

It’s important to remember that being critical doesn’t mean you invalidate a writer’s experiences or knowledge, but rather you recognize that their perception of the world is likely different from your own. Maybe you don’t agree with a blogger’s opinion. Maybe you would’ve written a plot twist differently. Maybe an aspect of someone’s writing is problematic, and you feel it should be talked about more. 

All of these things are OK. In fact, they’re encouraged. You won’t always like, agree with, or understand what you read—it’s an inevitable part of the experience. However, it is crucial that you don’t view this as a hindrance or a reason to abandon a book or piece of writing completely. There is always something to be learned from those that are different than you. 

As humans, it is impossible to acknowledge every single one of our own biases; it’s why diversity and community is necessary. We may not be able to perceive our own shortcomings, but others might. This is one of your most important jobs as a reader: be critical of others, and understand that others can be critical of you.

And lastly: be connected. Yes, obviously, I understand that you’re not going to like every single solitary thing that was ever written in the history of language. Inevitably, you’re going to have quite a few DNFs in your reading career. 

What’s most important, though, is being connected to what you choose to stick with. This can be a positive or negative connection—as previously stated, you won’t love everything you consume, but this doesn’t mean you have to immediately put it down.  

Realize that connection coincides with curiosity. You aren’t required to relate to every word on the page, but find a way to keep yourself engaged. If you disagree with the central theme of a book, investigate why, and see if your opinion changes as you continue to read.   

No one is saying you have to go to your local library and check out a 500-page textbook on quantum physics or Aristotle’s teachings (though, if that’s your cup of tea, who am I to rain on your parade?). What I am saying, is push beyond the status quo—put your phone down when you can, get excited about new book releases, annotate to the high heavens. Be curious about the writing you consume, be critical of its perspective, and be as connected and immersed in it as you can. 

Some Closing Thoughts…

With September officially being both National Literacy Month and Library Card Sign-up Month, it feels only right to stress the importance of supporting your local libraries and bookstores. Beyond being incredible resources, libraries are an excellent source of community. Even if you’re someone who prefers to buy and own your books, head over to your library for a cozy chair and a sense of reader camaraderie. 

Lastly, I’ll leave you with this—spoken language may be our species’ primary method of communication, but I implore you to recall that the spoken word originates from the written one. Our society would be vastly different without the artistry of writing. Writing is equally as entertaining as it is historical and inherently political. It is a necessary aspect of the human condition. 

Reading, then, opens the door for exposure to a plethora of different experiences, ideas, cultures, identities…the list goes on and on. This level of exposure only serves to make you a better writer. Furthermore, it is also a key part of making sense of history: the good, the bad, the truths, the lies. Reading is a gateway through which we garner human empathy; it can also be a fulfilling method of self-discovery. 

In the age of AI and indifference, be the person with the random facts about wormholes or ceraunomancy. Be a part of fandom culture, support other writers. Know about various political ideologies, understand and express your opinions. And, most importantly, HAVE FUN! 

Check out our Back to Basics courses on reading, rereading, and more, here: https://www.writersworkout.net/basics

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About the author: Alexis McAvoy is a senior studying creative writing at Illinois State University, whose prose seeks to explore the complexities of human morality through the fantasy genre. A lover of all things angsty and mythical, her work draws inspiration from genre stunners like R.F. Kuang and Leigh Bardugo. It is her ultimate dream to become a fantasy novelist and someday see her work translated into film.