Dr. John A. KingIndigenous Australian. 100% Human. Neo-Noir Novelist. Poet. Speaker. Performance coach. More than a Survivor. Terrible Golfer, Awkward Dancer🕺

Why writers should read outside their genre #substack #shorts

26 Apr 2026 · 1 min

Watch on YouTube

0:34

In this brief YouTube short, the speaker urges writers to read works outside their primary genre to improve their craft. He suggests fantasy authors study history, while nonfiction writers benefit from reading fiction, thrillers, and fantasy to enhance character development and portrayal. He then recommends a particular book, describing it as "candy for the mind" with a Lone Star, cowboy‑style narrative that is entertaining and relaxing, encouraging writers to enjoy such reads for both pleasure and learning.

Chapters

If you write fantasy, some of the best things you can ever do is read history. You write history and nonfiction, some of the best things you can do as far as learning character development, how to portray someone, is writing, reading fiction, thriller, fantasy, etc. So as a writer, this book was actually, was really entertaining. Candy for the mind. Big brute, Lone Star, beats up bad guy, gets girl. Just bloody relax. That's how it's going to go. It's like cowboying the wild, and I really actually enjoyed it.