Benefits of Reading

Happy Monday! Hope you are doing well. It's been busier than usual here, so I apologize if this post is a bit scattered. Have been thinking about this topic, so thought I'd offer a few thoughts upon which to reflect.

Thanks so much for coming by to visit. It's always good to see you! :)


Why should writers read? Benefits include mental stimulation, vocabulary building, and expanding our knowledge and worldview. It also helps improve grammar and critical thinking skills, focus and memory, reduces stress,  and has entertainment value. Reading helps us sample genres and illustrates good writing techniques, from plots and pacing to article elements and more.

In his post Why Writers Need to Read if They Want to Be Good, Jeff Goins says, 

"Nothing inspires a writer like reading someone else’s words."

Do you agree? I find great inspiration this way, and often have layers of ideas sprouting as I read. Words can inspire and keep us writers going. 

If I don't know the author of a book, post, or article, I focus more on the words versus who is saying it. This isn't a bad thing; we won't always have the privilege of meeting that author. (And the words of course, are often the main reason we're reading it anyway.) As a writer though, I know that reading isn't just about absorbing words. It's about a writer sharing, informing, and challenging. There are two sides to this, and being a reader helps being a writer. Make sense?

Jeff Goins elaborates further, saying we're in danger of running out of words if we don't read. This is an interesting point. I don't want to be the writer who runs out of words, do you? Reading makes our words richer, enhancing the value of our work. 

A Quick Announcement

The Coffeehouse for Writers has a new site! Classes begin in early May and topics include blogging, creating characters, freelancing, writing for the Chicken Soup series, boot camp for writers, and more. Instructors are Jennifer Brown Banks, Linda O'Connell, Victoria Grossack, Serena Wadhwa, Diana Bocco, and me (I'm in charge of boot camp!). Check out the offerings and details here.

Why do you read? Do you agree with Jeff Goins? What's on your spring reading list?

Happy writing,
Karen


Photo credit; Free Images

What's Your Outline Style?

Do you use outlines? Or are you a seat of the pants (SOTP) writer?  Or a little of both?

I hated outlining in school; my brain found it difficult to narrow the info down to key points. It's much easier now - I suppose an adult perspective offers a broader view. Breaking down the process helps, and I share these pointers in two of my teen writing classes:

 
The outline can help keep the writing plan organized and on track. It is like a paragraph or a story; there is a beginning, middle, and an end. The beginning is the introduction and includes the opening thoughts. The middle contains supporting facts and the end summarizes and concludes. It helps to break the topic into categories: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Outlines should not contain every little point you intend to make. Highlight the main points as a guide. Formal or informal – whatever your preference, the outline breaks the topic down into manageable and organized pieces.

For small projects, most of my writing is SOTP. I often have a mental outline or a scribbling of notes to aid the process. Larger projects get at least a rough outline. Usually. :) When revising, I often categorize the info as I review the material to make sure I covered everything.

Here are a few links that offer help with outlines:

Perdue Online Writing Lab - This site offers info on outlines, writing, research, citation, and more. It's a valuable resource for junior high through adults; my students and I use it often. 

Jeff Goins - Mr. Goins shares wisdom for writers of fiction and non fiction. One tip he shares on this page is to write a table of contents as an outline guide for a book. Hey, this is what I did with my book!

6 Secrets to Writing a Novel Without Outlining - Brian Klems confesses how when in school and required to write an outline for his story, he'd write the story first. I'm pretty sure I did that too. 


What's your outline style? Were outlines hard for you in school?  Have any tips to share?
 
Happy writing,

Karen

P.S. A few of you asked me to let you know when my book, Homeschool Co-ops 101, came out in paperback. It was released last week. :)  Check it out here.
 
Photo credit: Stock Exchange

Text content copyright Karen Lange 2013. No part of the text may be used without written permission from author Karen Lange.