Explore how critical reading improves writing skills
Writing is a craft. Writing not only needs to be practiced, but it also needs to be studied. Writers study writing to discover the elements of quality writing.
As writers it is beneficial to practice our craft. If we don’t study writing, then we miss an opportunity to grow as writers. This involves the practice of reading like a writer.
To read like a writer means to study our favorite authors’ writing and to read about developing the art of writing.
Writers don’t have to pay a fortune to study writing. Writers can study writing through critical reading. Writers can practice critical reading by asking themselves questions about their favorite books. The idea isn’t to criticize and find fault.
Critical reading is a process of considering what works well and what doesn’t work well in writing. After evaluating the writing, a writer applies the findings to his or her own writing.
There are classes, podcasts, workshops and other opportunities for studying writing. This post is going to focus on what you can do at home, at your own pace and at an affordable price. Critical reading builds a writer’s personal writing skills and equips them to give other writers quality feedback.
I do spend time participating in workshops, taking courses and listening to podcasts. It is great that there are so many options for building writing skills. I value learning from others in various educational experiences for writers.
Writers can strengthen their writing craft through studying what other authors have written and through reading about writing.
Study as You Read
I have found a great way to build writing skills is to ask questions while I read. The questions critique the use of the elements that create quality writing. These critique questions can be used to evaluate any type of writing.
Five questions to ask yourself as you read fiction
- Why do I like my favorite authors?
- How do my favorite authors create and grow characters?
- How do my favorite authors use poetic elements like metaphor, simile, etc. to add beauty to their prose?
- How do my favorite authors create scene and plot?
- How do my favorite authors write dialogue?
- How do my favorite authors create conflict?
- How do my favorite authors use the climax of the story to resolve the conflict?
Three questions to ask yourself as you read nonfiction
- How do my favorite authors address the need the writing meets?
- How do my favorite authors teach skills for addressing the need?
- Do my favorite authors use stories as examples of the need and as examples of how to address the need?
Read to learn
When reading, we have felt amazed or disappointed after finishing a book. There are books we stop reading. Then there are books we can’t stop reading. Writers can learn from disappointing and amazing reading experiences.
Other authors teach us what works well and what doesn’t work well. Writers use this knowledge to improve their own writing and to improve the quality of feedback they give to other writers.
Learn from what works well
I have found three steps helpful for finding and practicing writing techniques that work well.
- I go back over my responses to the critical reading questions.
- I make notes about what worked well.
- I practice those techniques as I write.
Learn from what doesn’t work
I have found three steps helpful for dealing with the disappointments I find while reading.
- I find the plot holes, weak scenes, unrealistic dialogue, underdeveloped characters, etc.
- I think about how I would improve the things that disappointed me.
- I rewrite the disappointing and weak elements.
I use this practice to develop my own writing skills. It isn’t easy to write. It takes practice and study to learn what works best. Writers gain the ability to execute the writing skills that create quality writing through study and practice.
Suggested Reading
I have discovered several books about writing. These books inspire and instruct me as I grow my writing skills. Some of them were assigned reading in college. Some of them I found after graduating from college. I seek out any chance to learn more about writing. Here is a list of some of my and many other writer’s favorite reading resources. They are not in any specific order.
- “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott
- “Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg
- “On Writing” by Stephen King
- “Walking on Water” by Madeleine L’Engle
- “The Longman Guide to Intermediate and Advanced Fiction Writing”by Sarah Stone and Ryan Nyren (There is an older edition of this book called “Deepening Fiction.”)
- “The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms”by Eavan Boland and Mark Strand
- “Poets and Writers”
- “Writer’s Digest”
I found that my local library has several of these books and other resources available to check out. I also like the Libby App because I can check out e-books and audiobooks about writing. A friend of mine found a book about writing on the free table at a used book sale and gave it to me.
Whether starting out as a writer or finding oneself in between writing courses, writers don’t have to pay a fortune to improve their writing.
I found many online courses, workshops and those sorts of things to be useful in building my writing skills. These resources teach writers how to write. They provide writing exercises and feedback. But they will ask writers to read with a critical focus for what works and what doesn’t work. Critical reading not only builds a writer’s skillset but it also equips writers to give other writers valuable feedback.
I would love to hear from you in the comments. I learn so much from other writers.
Do you have critical reading techniques for building your writing skills? What are they?
If don’t what critical reading techniques for building your writing skills, did you find this post helpful?
Which of the books in the suggested reading list have you read? Which of the books in the suggested reading list sound the most helpful to the specific writing skill your are working on?
Please like and share this post with your writing friends.
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