Writing instructors often say, “If you want to write well, you should read a lot.” Unless we have photographic memories, reading a great writing style won’t take us far toward knowing how to write it. We’re more likely to say in frustration, “I wish I could write like that.”
Since many books are bestsellers due to an author’s popularity or platform, not because the writing is that great, we might incorporate their weaknesses in our own work. That wouldn’t be good. A better approach would skip the weaknesses and find strengths that would improve our writing styles.
In his early years, Mozart is known to have copied the masters in order to build upon their strengths. So here’s one thing you might do. (1) Read a novel by an author you like. (2) Highlight paragraphs you find exceptionally good. (3) Type those highlighted paragraphs into a Word document. (4) Then, each morning, spend 15 to 30 minutes practicing a process to make just one of those paragraphs better.
First, read the paragraph. Then write it down, copying everything word for word. Next, edit and improve it. And finally, rewrite the paragraph in your own words. In a year, can you imagine what a benefit that might be?
In what ways do you use work of the masters to improve your writing skills?
Great idea, Frank! Wow… I never would have thought of that!