TECH: Reading for Writing

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting 15 February 2009

Reading like a Writer

Writer's Digest, January 2006, pages 44 and 45, have an article by Linda Busby Parker with the title "Read like a Writer." The point is that you should be learning from writers that you like to read. How do you learn from your reading?

"Observant reading -- the most basic and invaluable route to better your craft -- shouldn't be overlooked." Look for how the author "develops characters, nudges the plot, blends transitions, create suspense and opens our heart."

So you're going to look at how your favorite writers work. If you're like me, you may need to read them at least once just to get past the reading -- I certainly get stuck in reader mode, and forget to watch how they're doing it.

Linda suggests two approaches to looking at plot in your reading. The first is to make note cards, with a card for every plot point. In many stories, you need to include shifts in plots and subplots. Linda recommends including page numbers on each card to let you really go back and look at how this writer put together the storyline. The other approach that Linda suggests is to use highlighters, with one color for each main plot and subplot.

Transition sentences. These are often practically unnoticed in casual reading, but they are keys to how your author ties together the plot and subplots. "How does the author shift from one scene to another?" Stop and take a look at those transition sentences, and how they introduce setting and time and characters. Think about how you could use similar transition sentences.

Character development is the other big thread that you want to study. How does this writer show you their characters? You can use note cards or highlighters, and identify how they've used description, other characters, dialogue, mannerisms, and interior monologue.

The sidebar suggests five other points that you might want to look at in a close reading -- a reading to learn as a writer, rather than simply enjoying the story.

1. Analyze scene handling.
2. Study dialogue
3. How do they establish setting?
4. What conflicts face the main character?
5. How does the novel get resolved?

Fair warning -- this really isn't reading for enjoyment. And sometimes you may find yourself taking apart a book rather than dropping into that reader's zone. But learning can be fun, too.

Exercise? How about picking up that book you know so well. And take a close look at how the writer has constructed it. Look at the beginning scene, the characters, the plot -- and the words and sentences that make that magic happen.

and then write like that!

put some clouds in the sky, maybe a drop of rain, with black letters?