Monday, April 22, 2013

Want to Read your Way to Better Writing?

Become a Mindful Reader.

A lot of people say the best way to improve your writing is to write more. I have recommended that. It is usually a good idea. I think it becomes an excellent idea when you include a program of reading specifically designed to help improve your writing.

In designing your personal reading program, you should read the kind of writing you want to write. If you want to improve your online writing skills, read plenty of websites, especially award-winning websites. If you want to write a poem, read plenty of award-winning poems of all kinds. If you want to write a nonfiction article, become a voracious reader of nonfiction articles published in the most highly respected journals and magazines. If you want to write short stories, read the very best short stories. If you want to write romance novels, read lots of successful, widely read and award-winning romance novels. The same is true of advertising writing, historic fiction, literary fiction, sci fi or fantasy writing.

In order to read to become a better writer, do two things: 1) Always read the highest quality writing in whatever category you like, and 2) Always be a mindful reader.

A mindful reader is someone who not only enjoys a well-written piece of literature for its own sake, but who at the same time is continually keeping tabs on how the author is achieving those effects. What specific elements is the mindful reader keeping tabs on? Here are some:

  • Plot
  • Character development
  • Descriptions and images
  • Vocabulary
  • Sentence structure
  • Theme
  • Writing style
  • Metaphor, simile
  • Verbs
  • Adjectives
  • Dialogue
  • Character movement from place A to place B

That last one stumps a lot of beginning writers. How do they get a character off the phone and out of his home and into a car? How do they get someone from the garage into the house? Every writer of every kind of novel has to deal with these issues. The easiest and fastest way to strengthen these skills is to see how highly experienced writers handle these challenges in their writing.

If a piece of writing makes readers cry at the end, a mindful reader asks, How did the author get me to cry? What were the combinations of all the elements mentioned above, and how did the author combine them to create the empathy with the character and plot that led to me shedding tears at the end?

Here are a few things you can do to develop a reading program designed to help you become a more mindful reader.

Based on either your own impressions or what other people who have critiqued your writing have said, decide which elements you most want or need to improve first. Then read works that are strong in that area and read to see how the author accomplished that end. And that becomes your reading program.

For example, say your goal is to write better short stories, but you notice your efforts lack organization or a clear theme, or perhaps it’s the opposite: Your stories have themes that hit readers over the head like a hammer.

You could turn to a best short story collection in your interest area (best mystery, best horror story, best murder mystery, etc.) and read those stories specifically looking for ways authors artfully blend theme with plot and overall style of writing so that the theme is clear and present but does not call too much attention to itself.

Many writers say they have a challenge writing convincing dialogue. Approach people who know your writing area of interest. Ask them: Which authors should I read whose writing has excellent dialogue?

I’ve always had a challenge writing character descriptions. But when I was recently reading Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, I found his descriptions to be so powerfully evocative, I felt as though Mr. Yates was personally teaching me a course in the subject.

The major point I’m making in this EWA: Mindful readers pay attention to what they are reading.

The next time you’re reading, pay attention to what elements or combination of elements you specifically need to improve in your writing. Notice how the best writers do it. And let your technique be influenced by the best.

Next month: Must-read books about writing.