How to Read Like a Writer

Reading like a writer means reading to learn from other authors. By understanding the creative choices used in novels you admire, you can better apply those tools and techniques to your own writing. Literary analysis can involve taking an “academic” approach to fiction, but it doesn’t need to be a dry, boring endeavor. Engage with stories in ways that feel valuable and interesting to you and your writing process. Moreover, not every book needs to be dissected with a surgical knife—sometimes it’s more enjoyable to read solely for pleasure.

Background Music:
+ “Le cygne (No. 13)” by Camille Saint-Saëns, performed by Matilda Colliard (cello) and Stefano Ligoratti (piano)
+ “Homeward Bound” by Vindsvept
+ “Veiled in Light” by Vindsvept
+ “Illuminate” by Vindsvept
+ “Premonition of Tomorrow” by Keys of Moon

SOURCES



What It Means to Read Like a Writer (0:00)
1. Ask meaningful questions. (2:37)
2. Articulate your opinions—and use evidence. (3:28)
3. Annotate or keep a reading log. (5:38)
4. Create something inspired by what you read. (8:09)
5. Target specific writing skills you want to improve. (10:13)
6. Examine the larger context. (12:18)
7. Reread. (15:09)
Comparison Is the Thief of Joy (16:35)

[hexusziggurat]

7 steps to employ during Active Reading
1. Ask meaningful questions
2. Articulate your opinions - and use evidence
3. Annotate or keep a reading log
4. Create something inspired by what you read
5. Target specific writing skills you want to improve
6. Examine the larger context
7. Reread

[IntuitiveYakOfAllTrades]

Hmm. The moon is her mother. Reminds me of this exchange.

Sokka: My girlfriend turned into the moon.
Zuko: That’s rough, buddy.

[ayushisharma]

Reading books like a writer is important because one cannot just write the examination without understanding of concepts for which reading the textbook is necessary. And thanks to this channel that we can find a teacher who makes us understand the concepts.

[גרשוןפרלמן]

As they say, it takes ten years to become an overnight success.

[vinceven]

i read movie novelizations like a writer. seeing how an accomplished author interprets the dry language of a screenplay and fills it with descriptions and life is very helpful. and i can go back to a particularly good scene and read how the author describes it.

[historywithhilbert]

A new upload? Today just got even better!

[rohitsuryawanshi]

I am currently reading 'Giovanni's Room' and I just feel like reading each line, again and again, there is so much emphasis on the emotions poured into the vivid descriptions and the philosophy that comes out of it.

[Ruylopez]

Great point about re-reading allows us to focus more on how the elements are put together just like rewatching a movie. As for the last point about the gap between a writer and their idols they aspire to be like and the time it takes, Vonnegut said, 'Anyone who has finished writing a book, whether it was published or not, whether it was any good or not, is a comrade.' Gaiman also talks casually about the moment in writing his manuscript where he calls his agent to say it's a disaster and he can't possibly finish, and the agent reminds him this crisis happens every time.

[perymachado]

God, how I missed that closer..."whatever you do, keep writing." Warms my heart on these chilly autumn days.

I spent the last couple of months reading the Song of Ice and Fire books (aka, Games of thrones books). I'm not a fantasy person at all (historical and crime fiction mostly) but I was completely mesmerized by what GRRM created. Character development, world-building, description, intrigue, epic battles and one-on-one duels, killer pacing, hundreds and hundreds of pages that did not feel laborious to read, they were page turners. They have become some of my favourite novels, and I plan to reread them again and take notes because they are truly masterclasses on how a great writer creates a compelling story. Brilliant.

[GenesisMediusFin]

Every time I hear the music in the opening it makes me feel like a curious little kid in an old book story! All the possibilities and teachings! I am always so excited to learn from your insight, study, and work. Thank you for all the wonderful videos you have put out!

[SadbhW]

This channel's intro is my absolute favourite, it actually evokes that feeling when you're completely lost in a book

[SheegogProductions]

I just finished the Crooked Kingdom duology, and as I was reading it I thought, "I can't wait to read this again and figure out how she makes this so good!" There are so many things I want to learn from Bardugo, like worldbuilding, how to transition to backstory, how to create such intriguing characters, how to plant clues in plain sight. Also, her dialogue is killer!

[briteness]

When I got an M.A. in history, I wrote a thesis that was basically a book. It was good. I was proud of it, and still am. It definitely changed the way I read books, in some of the ways spoken of here. The way to read like a writer is to be a writer. The way to become a writer is to write something, then focus on making it the best it can possibly be. Justify every sentence, every word. Make sure everything you want in it is included, with nothing extraneous. Once you have turned it into something that you and at least one other trustworthy person consider to be worthy of publication, you will be able to read like a writer.

[koobidew]

"Comparison is the thief of joy." My new lock screen wallpaper! I am addicted to these videos. I feel like I am in the spot where my taste is there but what I'm tasting is pure disappointment in my own work, and especially my motivation to do the work. This video specifically was a great encouragement and a wonderful motivator. I feel like I can finally develop a structure for how I do my work and goals to achieve. Thank you 💜

[Benchmark]

Your videos are good. I am planning to study creative writing at postgraduate level to improve my writing skills. I started watching videos on creative writing because of this ambition and I want you to know that you are a blessing to humanity. Thank you.

[danieljackson]

Actually, I'm working on the other problem: Write a book like a Reader. Good Video.

[PedroKrick]

This analogy with music is great. Just like when I'm listening to some part of a nice song and I stop it when there's a nice cadence immediately I ask myself "how did they do that?" And then sometimes I try to find out what happened there by playing it myself.
And even though with music things are usually faster, like just finding out 3 chords that make the difference on the song, I'm starting to do this with book passages or chapters that make me lose track of time while reading it.

[john]

This is what I thought recently. I think writing is almost all about taste, because all you need to do is edit your work to fit your own brain, so if you have taste, you already have done half of the job, all you need to do is actually writing and finishing it.

[BillNessworthyPhotography]

Great video on close-reading for writers. I've read a few books on this sort of depth - Mrs Dalloway, Pnin, White Noise, If Beale Street Could Talk - I think an important first step is finding those books that really move you, that you can dive into and explore in this depth. I've read a few books where I started annotating heavily from the first page, only to get 50-100 pages in and find it a slog, because it wasn't the right book for me. These days I read 50 pages without a pen first, and then either go back to the beginning with a pen in hand, or put it back on my shelf.

[Krostovik]

“The bronze horseman” by Paulina Simmons, is a book I’ve read dozens of times, for the plot, the characterizations and overall writing style that’s so compelling it made me feel part of the story, and made me care about the characters.

It’s also the one book that inspired me to want to write. I’ve always been an avid reader and enjoyed books for their content, but realizing that a story could make me feel so much so easily, made my want to try my hand at writing, although I’m in that phase where I can see in the distance what I’d like to accomplish with my writing while I’m on the side where nothing I write is good enough.

More often than not Its disconcerting and go back to just reading instead, but that want and need to write my own works is always there.