What do writers read?

Words, mostly. I'd read the weather, but that's impossible around here. And, try as I might, I just can't read people worth a darn.

As for what I read... pretty much anything I stumble across. Mostly fantasy, though, because that's my first and truest love. Some sci-fi, a smattering of adventure and mystery, the occasional historical, and lately I've been poking at westerns, plus the odd nonfiction book. During downtime at work, I've been known to grab picture books from the tops of the totes. E-readers and public domain freebies are also tempting me back towards classics that I skipped in my misspent youth.

If you're morbidly curious what I'm reading now, check the link in my signature - there's a Currently Reading bit under the sidebar to the right. (Graceling, by Kristin Cashore, and a nonfiction title called The Forgotten Arts & Crafts, by John Seymour, to save the click.)

I read a lot of gothic poetry,dark erotica and horror fiction. I'm more drawn to novellas as well.

I'll read pretty much anything, but I'm not so in to straight thrillers.

I tend to prefer fantasy, horror and historicals, but I don't limit myself.

I have a few catnip things, though. Female characters, LGBTQAI+ characters, Victorian Women in Trouble, Bad women and girls or pirates will always attract me to a book.

With non-fiction I tend to read things about historical murders/scandals and notorious or admirable women, or interesting little books about strange things (Like the book about the hidden things under London, or the book about the historical roots of Unicorns)

I love a good thriller or two. Horror books too because of the suspense built up.

I read mostly non fiction too, not sure if that counts

ooo and biographies, but they are usually terrible.

I read mostly contemporary and historical romance, and some women's fiction...probably about a novel a week.

Stuff in my genre, m/m romance. Stuff not in my genre. Stuff I'm in the mood to read.

I read mostly contemporary and literary fiction. Love books set during the war, and big character stories, magic realism, interesting cultural angles, love stories, sad stories, gritty realism, historical fiction, fictionalised biographical stories, and any sentence Hemingway ever wrote.

I start a lot of books that I never finish. I'm a picky reader and I have a short attention span. But if I love something, I will read it at the expense of all other activity, until it's finished. I love reading.

Mainstream, crime, women's fiction, literary, historical, chick lit, mystey...in no particular order, although I gravitate toward WF. (I've read all but one of Picoult's book, and that one is on my end table in queue.)

Thinking about delving into some cozy mysteries to see what that's all about.

I've read romance in the past, but none in the last several years. I don't read fantasy, anything with vampires or demons, horror, or erotica.

I used to love SF, but have strayed. Would love to find some that mix modern culture with SF, but wouldn't know where to begin.

When I do read, it's mostly CSI novels based on the TV show, or the expanded universe of Star Wars. I hardly ever read these days, because it messes up my own style when I'm writing.

Later today, I'm going to finish the last chapter of Erich Maria Remarque's Three Comrades. I'm reading Remarque's book, because an email friend of mine, spoke of it in a message to me.

And currently on "hold" for me, at my local public library branch location, is Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential book. My desire to read his book, is simply because, he seems like an interesting guy. And that's coming from a guy whom doesn't drink, nor care much for food either.

Simply put, food bores me. But, his show on CNN (Parts Unknown) is pretty amazing.

I read a lot of science fiction and fantasy, as that is what I write. I am making an effort to read some more self-published SF/F just to get an idea of what else is out there. My favorite authors in SF/F are Heinlein, Walter Jon Williams, SM Stirling, John Ringo, Larry Correia, Jim Butcher and Peter Clines.
I also read some military history...I think the last thing I read was The Last Battle by Stephen Harding. Also a big fan of the Liberation Trilogy by Rick Atkinson.
I used to read a lot of popularized science books, but nowadays I mostly get the stuff before it reaches that stage.

You read, and you observe. Read the early books, read the current. Observe the world around you, imagine "why are they doing this?" or "Why does the Sun only come out during the day."

Specifically, I read Sherlock Holmes as a kid. I also read comics, initially in order to figure out how to draw them. But have since come to want to find ways to port some of the techniques to prose. Then of course my more recent reading experience with Cyberpunk.

I also read the Haiku Handbook. I tried reading how to write books, but many of the books had a voice that was far to abrasive as "my way is the only right way." How To Outline Your Novel, however is a treat.

I'm also reading a guy online, that has a more essay approach to writing book writing that combines his approach with humor and open mindedness.

Pretty much anything as long as it's written well. I tend to read more fiction than nonfiction.

I read some Horror fiction, less Fantasy (would like to read more) and Sci-Fi, plenty of ero-manga, and too much damned internet.

I mostly read fiction and news. Typically read similar stuff to what I write.

Most everything except for science fiction and fantasy.

I read mostly YA. But when I am writing a novel I do mix it up and read a lot of stuff with subjects that relate to the novel, so that may be any genre.

I'm reading a couple books on writing right now. Besides that I read horror, and fantasy mostly. I enjoy short story collections a lot, so I pick those up when I see them. Sadly though, i'm a terribly slow reader.

Probably the most ironic thing I read, considering I write erotic romance, is biblical fiction. Then again, some of those Old Testament kings had HUGE numbers of wives and concubines, so there had to be lots of smexy stuff going on, right?

I also love political thrillers, satirical crime fiction, romance and romantic comedy, science fiction, fantasy and historical fiction.

Obviously I read a lot of urban fantasy and science fiction since that's what I write, but I also enjoy horror novels, anything about Dissociative Identity Disorder (just a random fascination of mine), and nonfiction for laymen in the sciences. Recently I've also been reading a lot about Cryptozoology because I am weird that way.