Reading can take you places without ever leaving the comfort of your home. You can travel forward or backward in time, sail the oceans, cross deserts, and scale mountains. Writers read with intention. We notice language, story, mechanics, and tone.
Language
The language used in science fiction is very different from the language used in romance novels. Get to know your genre by reading. A lot. No, I really mean it. The more you consume in your genre, the more natural the language becomes. Some books are written in a flowery style while others are lean and sparse. Some use similes, metaphors, or analogies where others use simple, plain language to get their point across. Pay attention to how the author is using his or her words to tell the story.
Story
Basic story elements include character, setting, problem, and plot. As you read see how the author weaves these elements together. Ask yourself, does the author take a linear route from beginning to end? Or are there alternating threads to a story? Does the author leave out any of the basic story elements? Perhaps the author uses characters, theme, setting, narrator, or something else to pull the story together.
Mechanics
If you are a student your teacher may limit you to a set of rules: grammar, punctuation, paragraphing, etc. As you read the work of published authors look for examples where they break those rules, then examine why it works. There’s a lot of wisdom in the expression “you have to learn the rules before you can break them.” Experiment and see what works for you. But be prepared to explain to your teacher why you made those choices.
Tone
Is it okay to write from a place of anger, hate, or desperation? Of course it is. Some of our greatest literature comes from dark wells of emotion. For instance, The Hunger Games explores themes of violence and rebellion. Identify the author’s tone as you read. Is it sarcastic, humorous, or maybe even cocky? Think about why the author chose that tone and learn from it.
Writers read with intention to improve their writing.
