Improve your writing by reading

If you love to write, you probably love to read, too. Reading is what introduced you to writing in the first place. If you do love to read, you are ahead of the writing game. Reading is a great way to improve your writing.

Improve your vocabulary

Anyone who has taken the SATs or a similar test should know that reading improves your vocabulary. You will read new words and discover new ways to use them. A better vocabulary and better grammar and language skills will definitely help you write better.

Just think about how you write now compared to how you wrote when you were in 5^th grade. You know many more words and so many more ways to use them. Keep reading and keep building that list.

Explore different genres

You might love to read and write a certain type of genre. Maybe you can pry yourself away from a good mystery or perhaps you love to fall in love with a good romance novel. Even if this is what you like to write, you shouldn’t limit yourself.

Try to expand what you read to get to know different genres. This can help you with your words as well as more of the structural aspects such as conflict, plot, etc. A good idea would be to write down every genre you can think of and try to rotate between them.

Check out different authors

Just as reading different genres will expand your writing skills, so will reading different authors. I’m not saying you shouldn’t read the latest book from your favorite author. Keep up with your favorites and learn from them. I’m sure even your favorite author couldn’t turn out new books often enough to keep up you’re your reading, or at least that’s how it should be.

While you’re waiting for their new bestseller, try out a new author, preferably in a different genre. Take note of their writing style and pay attention to how they structure and craft their novel. There’s no substitute for learning from the pros.

Look beyond your craft

If you write fiction, try reading some nonfiction or poetry. If you write poetry, try reading some essays and articles. Don’t just read what you’re used to. Expand the types of writing pieces that you read in addition to the genres and authors.

Reading a lot is definitely going to help you, but also read quality and varied work. Immerse yourself in writing that will challenge you and teach you. Most importantly, keep reading. If there weren’t readers, there would be no reason for writers.

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