Writer’s Blog

The Four Types of Reading

If you want to be a writer you should read often, but what kind of reading method should you use?

Beth van der Pol
An Imposter’s Guide
4 min readSep 27, 2019

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Four types of reading can be used for absorbing varying amounts of information. They all have their pros and cons, so it’s essential to know when and how to use each type.

Most of these techniques won’t be used in casual reading, so if that’s what you’re looking for. This article isn’t for you.

As a writer, we often have to do extensive research on topics, and that can mean reading through a lot of academic or research papers depending on what the subject is. These reading methods will help you save time when trying to digest what a large piece of text is saying!

So how do you read?

The best way to start enhancing your reading and note-taking abilities is to understand what level you are on now. Here are some questions to ask yourself to get to know your reading ability:

  • Do you jot down any feelings or thoughts while you’re reading?
  • What do you take notes on?
  • How long does it take you to read?
  • Do you read an article straight through or take breaks?

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Beth van der Pol
An Imposter’s Guide

Writer and author with an MA in creative writing, sharing knowledge and teaching techniques to level up your writing! Find me at https://imposters-guide.com/