Become a Better Writer, One Book at a Time

Raising your writing skills from average to awesome is a monumental task. Many writers spend decades honing their craft before experiencing the glory of seeing their name in print. But as with any art form, the advice of peers can be the greatest motivator to push harder and practice more. With that in mind, I’m happy to share some writing wisdom that’s been helpful in keeping my prose fresh and thoughtful.

Read a Book

One of the most intuitive ways to become a better writer is by reading a book. Would you know that a sentence is a series of words that convey a statement, question, or command without first having read a book? Unlikely.

Write a Book

You’ve now read a book, so why not try writing one? Call the boss and tell him you won’t be in for roughly three months to a decade. Begin laying the foundation for a sprawling epic novel set during the Spanish Inquisition, but serving as an allegory for the unchecked power of corporate America. Make the most of this exercise by paying close attention to word choices and experimenting with different rhythms and styles.

Eat a Book

Pressing a book against your body is clearly a ridiculous way to become a better writer. Ingesting a book, on the other hand, may bear fruit. Cut a book into bite-sized pieces and consume it using a sturdy pair of pencil-themed chopsticks. Chew slowly and take the time to savor each word. It is not recommended that you purée your book, as this will make it impossible for your taste buds to absorb new vocabulary and detect structure and formatting techniques.

Marry a Book

Make the ultimate commitment to writing. Sure, by now you’ve read dozens of books–hey, even three or four is respectable–but there’s one that you keep coming back to. It just does something to you. Other books may be funnier, or have better cliff-hangers, but this book is solid from cover to cover. So why wait another day? Get down on one knee and tell your book that you want to spend your life with it, because everything you could possibly hope to understand about writing is printed across its pages.

Read a Second Book without First Book Finding Out

The book you married is a fine book. It’s always been there for you, and there’s no doubt that it’s helped make you a better writer. But lately it has become a bit predictable. Its story never changes and its characters are forever reciting the same tired lines. Perhaps skimming the pages of a second book might help your craft. It’s not like you’re going to buy that second book. Maybe you just pop into the library and read a few pages in a dim corner behind the periodical stacks. There’s no question your original book will always be the one you love and turn to for plot development advice. But a second book is just…different.

Divorce a Book

Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to buy that second book. After all, the librarians are starting to get annoyed by the dog-eared pages and late fees are piling up.

But then you’d have two books. It just isn’t done. If you’re honest with yourself, you know what to do. Lately, the distance that’s been growing between you and your first book has stretched to a chasm. The twists and turns that once had you riveted now play like the crackling grooves of an overused record.

Meanwhile, your second book takes you places you never thought literature could go: using words and story devices you never even knew existed. There’s only one thing you can do at this point. You’ve got to cut that first book loose. You’ll always respect your first book, so you offer to pay for it to be recovered first, and help it find some nice bookends where it can settle comfortably.

Try and Get a Book Back

What were you thinking!? This second book is garbage. What seemed compelling and exciting in the shadowy corners of the public library reads like cheap pulp in the light of day. There’s nothing to be gained here. The story is basic at best and how could you have missed the endless adverbs sucking all charm and nuance from the pages?

It’s time to face facts: you’ve made a huge mistake. Take the book to a busy café and after reminiscing about a few of its least cringe-worthy passages, wish it the best of luck and leave it on the table. Who knows, maybe someone will find it there and appreciate it more than you ever could.

Watch a Movie

Maybe writing isn’t for you.