The professional benefits of reading for pleasure
Copywriters often deploy a toolkit of resources and reference materials. It might include a subscription to a professional journal, a readability scoring app, an online thesaurus or a style guide. My copywriter toolkit also features an untidy stack of books piled up on my bedside table.
This is my RLD stack – Read, Learned and Digested. I read for pleasure and distraction, but as a writer, it’s also a form of continuous professional development.
As a copywriter, versatility is key to my work. I write about lots of different topics, addressing diverse audiences and using a wide range of channels and media. From technical explainer copy for software development management to emotionally appealing content for sports lovers and travel audiences, my style has to adapt, engage and evolve all the time. Downtime reading feeds my skills and creativity.
Sometimes, I reflect very consciously on the style and structure of what I’m reading. At other times I lose myself in page-turners and enjoy the craft of other writers without conscious thought. It’s a (mostly) joyful, immersive process of discovery that constantly enriches my experience of the written word.
So far this year, I’ve read around 25 books, from Ken Follett’s epic world-building in The Pillars of the Earth to the razor-sharp political espionage of Mick Herron’s The Secret Hours, via Sandi Toksvig’s comic Friends of Dorothy and Dame Stephanie Shirley’s autobiography Let it Go.
Reading is one of my great pleasures, but it’s also deep work. It’s how I keep my language fresh, my style agile and my brain primed to deliver the most effective copy for your next project. For easy relaxation, I read authors and series I already know I love. But I also actively step outside my comfort zone in fiction and in non-fiction, guided by friends, colleagues and book reviews as well as places I visit and real-life experiences.
I’m planning to share some thoughts about my RLD stack. I love talking about books: as well as reflecting on what they teach me about the art of copywriting, it’s always a pleasure to share recommendations and opinions. I hope I might receive some too!