I have become a better reader over the years from reading novels and editing my own work. The more often words are digested through your thought process, the better your brain will be at pulling up information from your memory which will result in a better understanding and a faster "read". I believe a big part in my growth of "better reading" comes from my work as a writer. I am constantly rolling over words and looking words up in a dictionary. I believe reading novels contribute to being a better reader, but working with words on a daily basis to create worlds from within the depths of our minds is what truly works the best.
So, if you find yourself with some free time throughout the day, try creating something on paper with more complex words than what you are use to using.
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4 comments:
I definitely agree! Your post reminds me of the best advice a professor has ever given me in regards to writing:
"In order to be a better writer, read great writers."
I constantly read excellent writers in order to enhance my own writing. My professor also said that by reading their writing, we can steal techniques and ways of writing--but we put it in our own context in our own way. This is definitely a way to improve writing--through learning from the experts.
Jami
I agree as well.
To build up the vocab and kill time. I do something that I call dictionary tag. I randomly open up the good book to a page and begin to read definitions untill I encounter a word that I either don't know or whose exact meaning is a little shaky. I then look up that would which often has another word I'm unsure of, so I go to that page...simple but fun, if you dig words. I find these words leaching into my prose though, so its a good deal
Bravo to all three of you! All good writers repeat the mantra that the more you read the better you'll write. Jo, dictionary tag sounds like fun!
I agree with professor Stearns: A dictionary tag does sound pretty neat!
I like this post a lot and I like even more that you are trying to get us to do something new and to help us gain more knowlegde. Thanks!
This past summer at my job, my boss had this routine of looking up a random word every day and trying to use it, successfully, throughout the day. Before I knew it, I picked up on his habit and we had battles with each other. Who could get the longest word, who could make the most sentences, etc. It's amazing how much you can learn from taking 3 minutes out of your day to look up a word you never knew.
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