Or, How to Read with Intent to Become a Better Writer - the lesson's in Roy Peter Clark's excellent book on how to read with intent, "The Art of X-ray Reading", can be applied to all writers. Here are some tips on how to improve your writing through reading.
I prefer to imbibe writing technique via osmosis I'll be honest. Analytics doesn't do much for me. In fact I find the analytical mind to be less useful when creatively writing. I prefer to save it for editing. But that's just me.
I hear what you're saying. When you get too scientific, it can stifle art.
Reading with intent is still osmosis though -- it's maybe just a controlled osmosis... lol. It's like walking through a forest -- you can hike through with your head down and just see the path ahead of you. Or, you can slow down, take a look around, and watch Nature at work. You learn more that way when you really, really look...
Hi Graham. I've been doing a lot of reading, thinking and some doing with regards to reading with intent, especially non-fiction. In fact I'm publishing a post tomorrow talking about ways to retain and play with the information using a Zettelkasten or Antinet. Let's say that note taking is a big part of it but there's much more and some great potential.
I've heard of Zettelkasten but not Antinet -- I'll have to watch out for that! I use Obsidian (https://obsidian.md/) for my novel(s) research, but it is such wide open software that you really have to bring your own research system with you. Ultimately a good thing, but if you don't have a structured research system, it lengthens the learning curve.
Glad you liked this post, and thanks for chiming in!
I looked it up -- yeah, I see what you mean. I like paper, but I think digital would be better for me -- easier to cut and paste links, images, etc. Plus, the notes are searchable -- I've done my time combing through books and notebooks and newspapers looking (and re-looking) for information! lol
I prefer to imbibe writing technique via osmosis I'll be honest. Analytics doesn't do much for me. In fact I find the analytical mind to be less useful when creatively writing. I prefer to save it for editing. But that's just me.
I hear what you're saying. When you get too scientific, it can stifle art.
Reading with intent is still osmosis though -- it's maybe just a controlled osmosis... lol. It's like walking through a forest -- you can hike through with your head down and just see the path ahead of you. Or, you can slow down, take a look around, and watch Nature at work. You learn more that way when you really, really look...
Thanks for the insights, Summer!
Hi Graham. I've been doing a lot of reading, thinking and some doing with regards to reading with intent, especially non-fiction. In fact I'm publishing a post tomorrow talking about ways to retain and play with the information using a Zettelkasten or Antinet. Let's say that note taking is a big part of it but there's much more and some great potential.
I've heard of Zettelkasten but not Antinet -- I'll have to watch out for that! I use Obsidian (https://obsidian.md/) for my novel(s) research, but it is such wide open software that you really have to bring your own research system with you. Ultimately a good thing, but if you don't have a structured research system, it lengthens the learning curve.
Glad you liked this post, and thanks for chiming in!
Hi again Graham. Antinet is a paper based Zettelkasten, often done on index cards.
I looked it up -- yeah, I see what you mean. I like paper, but I think digital would be better for me -- easier to cut and paste links, images, etc. Plus, the notes are searchable -- I've done my time combing through books and notebooks and newspapers looking (and re-looking) for information! lol