The best way to improve your writing is also totally free:
Read.
If you’re serious about writing, reading isn’t optional, but essential.
But don't just read for fun. Learn to read like a writer by studying the mechanics under the hood.
Here's how to learn about writing from everything you read:
Read.
If you’re serious about writing, reading isn’t optional, but essential.
But don't just read for fun. Learn to read like a writer by studying the mechanics under the hood.
Here's how to learn about writing from everything you read:
Comments
Which characters did you like or hate? Try to pinpoint why they sparked that strong emotional response.
Was it their actions? Their motivations? How does the author convey the characters' personalities and voices? How do we get inside their minds?
Note the author’s structural choices.
Is it written in past or present tense? First or third person? Is it close or distant? If there are multiple storylines, are they equally compelling?
How does the structure impact your experience of the story?
Highlight passages that strike you and note how they work.
What tone or mood does their word choice create? Is it lyrical and atmospheric, or is it matter-of-fact and punchy? Do they use a lot of figurative or plain language? To what effect?
Did the book meet genre expectations? Did it use or subvert any tropes or clichés? What did it add that felt fresh or new?
Did this book deliver the experience that you thought you were signing up for when you picked it up and looked at the cover and description?
1. Studying the characters
2. Looking at how the story is told
3. Analyzing the writing style
4. Considering the genre
Use it to grow in your own craft.
What's a book you've read that taught you something about writing?