- When you read a lot, your brain stores away how a story should be written.
Try It: What’s your absolute favorite book of all time? (Surely it’s one of mine!) Read the first page and note the exact place where you knew you were going to continue reading. That’s how you start a story.
- When you read, you improve your vocabulary, and to be a good writer you need to use good words.
Try It: Take out the book you’re reading now (maybe it’s a Lily or a Sophie?) Using a fun piece of paper and a cool pen (we don’t want this to be too much like school), write down all the words you didn’t know before you came across them in the book. Can you write a hilarious paragraph using all those words?
- Reading gives you ideas for things to write about. It isn’t copying to use what you’ve picked up in a great story for a great story of your own. That’s how many great writers learned their craft.
Try It: Think about the last book you read that you really liked. Go to your favorite part. Picture yourself in the same situation the main character was in at that point. Imagine how you would react, what you’d say or do. What would a scene with you as the star look like?
