Whatever type of writing you do, you can learn a huge amount from what you're reading ... even if it's not part of the genre you write in.
Important: You don't need to do all of these – and you certainly don't need to do them all the time.Just use them as tools to bring out when you've got a few extra minutes to really think about what you're reading.
1. Notice What Works Well
This is a great one to do even if you don't have much time to spare. Simply notice what's working well in the book/article/etc that you're reading. Perhaps it had an opening that really grabbed you, or maybe the pacing keeps you turning the pages. You might want to jot down what you particularly liked.
2. Think About What You Don't Like
As well as noticing what you like in what you're reading, pay attention to what you don't like. Maybe the main character just isn't likeable enough. Perhaps the middle of the story really drags. It could be something as simple as a turn of phrase that just doesn't fit with the rest of the piece.
3. Ask Yourself How the Author has Achieved Specific Effects
If you've got a bit longer to dig in, don't just pay attention to what's working (and what's not) ... think about why. How did the author make the opening so gripping? How exactly did they keep up the pace throughout the piece?
4. Read a Wide Range of Different Things
Of course, it's important to read the type of thing you want to write: it's going to be hard to write a sweet romance if you've never read one, or a thought-provoking blog post if you only watch videos. But it's also good to read more widely: to try things that might not be your usual fare. Look out for techniques you could carry over to your own work.
5. Annotate What You're Reading
This does take time ... but keeping notes as you're reading can really help you understand how a story or article is put together. You could highlight key passages or phrases (this is really easy to do on the Kindle), perhaps using different colours to mean different things. You can also take notes, recording your thoughts or focusing on particular writing techniques.
6. Keep a Swipe File of Excerpts
The idea of a "swipe file" comes from advertising and copywriting, where writers would keep a file of clippings to inspire their work. You can use this technique for any type of writing, though. Simply keep a file (digital is definitely easiest!) where you store great excerpts from things you've read, for your inspiration. Obviously, you can't copy these into your own work, but you could certainly learn from
them – e.g. using a powerful word that resonated with you.
7. Break Down the Structure
This is easiest to do with short pieces, like blog posts – particularly ones that already have a clear structure through subheadings. But you could do it with a whole novel or something even longer, like a trilogy. You want to create an outline for the piece, showing all the major parts. So with a blog post, that might be the key subsections. With a novel, it would likely be the main plot points. Seeing the underlying structure can really help you with planning your own work.
This week, choose something you're already reading to look at as a writer. (If you don't have much time, try a short story or blog post.) What can you learn from it, that you could apply to your own writing?
