Do reading books improve your writing skills?

[Quexos]

Originally Posted by shalym

I disagree. "writing" is the translation of thoughts to a medium where others can read them. If writing is defined as ONLY being done by forming letters with a pen, then most authors aren't writers, either, and haven't been since the invention of the typewriter.

Shari

Then we're going to have to agree to disagree...
Technically speaking writers aren't writers, they're literary authors. The word "writer" exists because authors of books used to "write" them with a pen or feather and ink or whatever. Now such authors type their creations instead.

Note that this doesn't change anything to their talents or skills, it's more a technicality than anything else. But my point and answer to the question of this thread remains: reading books only improves spelling but not writing.
Unless of course by writing skills, mastering the art of composing words and sentences to create a work of art is what is implied here, in which case yes, reading books can help.