<\/h3>\nWhen I\u2019m flying through a book, I don\u2019t always stop at words I don\u2019t know.\u00a0Usually, the words that sandwich the one I\u2019ve never seen before give me enough context to understand what\u2019s happening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But part of becoming a better writer is expanding your vocab, and there\u2019s no better way to do that than to stop, look up the words you don\u2019t know, and use them yourself. <\/p>\n
Next time you read and come across a foreign word, jot it down and look up its definition. Then, use the new work to write a sentence (or two) of your own.<\/p>\n
(I save my sentence writing<\/em> until after I\u2019m done reading. I don\u2019t like the lurching back and forth between starting and stopping while I\u2019m in the middle of a good book.)<\/p>\n\ud83d\udc49Why do this?\u00a0<\/strong>Expanding your vocab gives your writing more color.<\/p>\nStep 2: Jot down sentences or phrases you love<\/h3>\nBecause this is a personal document, you don\u2019t need to worry about copyright infringement and can write down sentences and passages you absolutely love.<\/p>\n
But although it\u2019s personal, it\u2019s still good practice to include citations for two reasons: <\/p>\n
\n- You can easily revisit any passages<\/li>\n
- You\u2019re reinforcing the notion that what you\u2019ve written isn\u2019t your own work, so you don\u2019t subconsciously pull these phrases into your own writing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
After jotting down prose you enjoy, write a quick note explaining why<\/em> you liked it. This part is key and will help you develop your own voice as you figure out what you like.<\/p>\n\ud83d\udc49Why do this?\u00a0<\/strong>This helps you develop your own unique voice, and you\u2019ll have a bank of inspiration for the next time writer\u2019s block hits.<\/p>\nStep 3: Write a summary of what you liked\/disliked about what you just read<\/h3>\nLastly, jot down what stood out to you after reading something (be it a few chapters in a book or an article).\u00a0<\/p>\n
What did you love? What was missing? What would you have done differently?<\/p>\n
Take a few moments to reflect.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udc49Why do this?\u00a0<\/strong>Reflection helps cement what you read in your memory so that when it comes time to write, you can quickly pull inspiration from the depths of your mind.<\/p>\nUse your spreadsheet and write<\/h2>\nYour spreadsheet will be a living and breathing file, but the beauty is you can begin using it right away.<\/p>\n
Next time you need to write something, fire up your spreadsheet. <\/p>\n
Review your word repository to see if you can spruce up your writing with some better language. Just remember:<\/strong> don\u2019t use words that your audience wouldn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\nRe-read your favorite sentences and passages to see how you can emulate something similar. <\/p>\n
And go through your summaries to see if your writing captures all the things you enjoy when reading others\u2019 work.<\/p>\n
In summary<\/h2>\nI\u2019ll admit, spreadsheets and word repositories don\u2019t exactly scream relaxing reading session<\/em> to me.<\/p>\nBut you don\u2019t need to do this every time you read. Fit this practice into your schedule where it makes sense and at times that work best for you.<\/p>\n
Be consistent, practice, and your writing will <\/em>improve.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\nThis article may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.<\/p>\n
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Dana Nicole is an award-winning freelance writer for MarTech\/SaaS who was rated one of the best SaaS writers by Software World. She specializes in writing engaging content that ranks high in search engines and has been featured in publications like Semrush, ConvertKit, and Hotjar.<\/p>\n
Dana holds a Bachelor\u2019s degree in Business Administration and has over 15 years of experience working alongside national brands in their marketing departments.<\/p>\n
When Dana\u2019s not working, you can find her dancing en pointe, cooking up new recipes, and exploring the great outdoors with her two big dogs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n