9 Reading Tips to Write Better

For most writers, writing is an escape from reality as they get the

Aspiring writers who want to perfect their skills often look for tips to write better. 

For most writers, writing is an escape from reality. as they get the opportunity to create their own world. Writing allows you to share your thoughts through the characters you create. With good writing, you can connect with your readers and take them on a journey with you. 

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However, many people often forget that effective writing and reading skills go hand in hand. The secret to good writing lies in becoming a good reader. Reading expands your mind and improves your knowledge. Well-written content can fire up your imagination and stay in your mind for a long time.

Tips to Write Better Through Reading

Much of the advice on how to improve your writing is focused on reading extensively. There’s a good reason for that. Reading expands your vocabulary, introduces you to varied writing styles, and opens up your imagination. Here are a few tips to write better by way of reading. 

1. Pay attention to the writing style

Every writer has their own writing style that reflects in their work. The elements of style adopted by all writers in the same genre will not be the same. George Orwell’s 1984 and Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale have two vastly different styles of narration. Although both books are of the same genre, they take their readers on different journeys.

2. Seek inspiration from classics

Read classics to inspire yourself. Classics like Moby Dick, Emma, and Alice in Wonderland have inspired many novice writers. Classics open up your imagination and help you develop varied perspectives on multiple topics. You can also get a sense of how the world functioned in the past, using it as a reference point to navigate your present. 

3. Read different genres

Reading books in different genres helps you identify which genre interests you. Writers who do not read regularly struggle to find their voice. This is another tip to write better. Avid readers choose to read different genres. 

This exposure helps them identify their favorite genre and inspires them to write more. Some famous books in different genres are Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (gothic fiction), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (romance), and It by Stephen King (horror).

4. Focus on the storyline and character development

One of the best tips for effective writing is to focus on the storyline. Choose books on different subjects to discover the ways in which you can make your storylines interesting.

When you’re writing any piece of content, your characters should grow throughout the book. Their emotions, personalities, and intentions should reflect in your writing. Pride and Prejudice is a good example of the character development of the protagonists.

5. Read for vocabulary

Writers need to have a good vocabulary to avoid sounding mundane. Writers who are not keen on reading often get stuck while writing, as they end up repeating phrases, words, ideas, and sentence structures. 

Writers with a good vocabulary connect with their readers better. To improve your vocabulary, it is important to read more. This is one of the most important tips to write better.

6. Express emotions

A good writer can take their readers on an emotional rollercoaster. The trick is to express the emotional state of the characters in a way that resonates with the readers. In The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank takes readers through her fears and tragedy. The book leaves the readers teary-eyed as they feel the emotions of the writer.

7. Assess readers’ interests

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A good writer needs to understand who their readers are, as the success of a book largely depends on how many readers pick it up. JK Rowling managed to captivate millions of young readers through Harry Potter. This is because she understood her readers’ expectations. A great tip to write better every time is to write according to the reader’s wants and needs.

8. Avoid clichés

Phrases like “Once upon a time,” “And they lived happily ever after,” and “On a stormy night” are all writing clichés. Clichéd storylines include love triangles, an evil stepmother, a lost treasure, and whirlwind romances. The best way to avoid these clichés while writing is to read books by different writers and experiment with different sentence structures. As you increase your reading, you will start to notice clichés. This will help you avoid using them in your writing.

9. Appreciate the hard work

Writing is not an easy task, as it takes a lot of time, patience, and mental energy. When you finish a good book, you will appreciate the time taken by the writer to create it. Some storylines need a lot of research, while some need distinct plots and elements of style. 

The creative energy of a writer is truly tested while writing. There are often scores of drafts written before the writer gets the confidence to send it to the editor. In order to become a good writer, you need to appreciate the overall effort that writing requires. 

Writing is all about taking the reader into an imaginary world. To do this, you need to express yourself by using the right words. 

When you read enough, you will find some content that is hard to stop reading and some that you leave unfinished. The content that you leave unfinished is where the writer has not met your expectations. To avoid this mistake in your own writing, understand who your readers are and meet their expectations. It’s a key tip to write better. Remember, the more you read, the better you will write.

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