To read like a writer means to approach reading not just for enjoyment but with a focus on understanding the author’s writing choices and techniques to improve your own writing. Key steps and tips for reading like a writer:
- Be curious and analytical, asking why the writer made specific choices at every sentence, character, or plot turn.
- Study how the story is told, including structure, style, character development, and word choice.
- Annotate the text by marking passages with notes about the author's decisions and how they affect the reading experience.
- Think both big picture (overall plot structure, pacing) and small details (sentence structure, word use).
- Read with a mindset of learning and strategy, as if trying to figure out how the story was crafted from the inside.
- Compare what you read with how you would write or what you have written, seeing how alternative choices might change the effect or meaning.
This way of reading is like a writer’s detective work, examining the craft behind the writing in order to learn practical skills and insights for your own writing projects.
