Reading as foundation of writing

It is often said that reading and writing go hand in hand. This familiar expression captures a simple yet profound truth: The ability to write well is deeply rooted in the habit of reading.

To illustrate the close relationship between reading and writing, I may draw on my own experience. Half a century ago, I came to Canada to work for a Canadian bank. As my work followed a typical nine-to-five schedule, I had plenty of free time after work, and I devoted much of that time to reading books. I read widely, exploring a broad spectrum of disciplines. I read in English, as Canadian bookstores mostly sell books published in that language.

Reading is not merely a way of acquiring knowledge; it is also a form of dialogue with great minds across time and borders. Through these encounters, my perspective on human beings, society and life gradually broadened, and my understanding of the world steadily deepened.

Reading not only enlightened me but also nurtured both my critical and creative thinking. Exposure to diverse ideas taught me not to view issues from a single perspective but to reflect on them from multiple angles.

By reading well-written texts, I learned how ideas are developed and how sentences are structured with clarity and coherence, forming a logical flow throughout a piece of writing. In addition, the good writing I found in books helped me appreciate the power of language and gradually inspired me to express my own thoughts in writing.

In my late 30s, I mustered up the courage to try my hand at writing a newspaper column. Lacking any formal training in writing, I went through many trials and errors along the way.

Yet I persevered, and with time and experience, my writing gradually improved. But I still have a long way to go to master the art. Each time I write something, I wrestle with sentences, revising and polishing them again and again until they feel right. That said, there is a quiet satisfaction in watching an awkward sentence gradually become clear and polished through repeated revision.

When I have an interesting story or a seemingly insightful thought pops into my mind, I cannot resist the temptation to put fingers to the keyboard. What I learn from books, the impressions I gain through travel and the reflections that arise from life itself all become material for my writing.

When I feel that what I have written may be worth sharing with other people, I contribute it to newspapers or post it on social media for what it is worth. In this way, writing becomes a means of communicating with readers and, in my own modest way, contributing to society. And when readers respond positively to something I have written, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment.

Looking back, the most important foundation of my writing has always been reading. Books have given me not only knowledge but also the ability to think and the desire to express those thoughts in words. For that reason, I continue to read voraciously. To write well, one must first become a good reader.

Lee Hyon-soo is a retired international banker based in Toronto, Canada, and the author of “Tales of A Modern-day Nomad,” among other books.