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Reading Like A Writer: Unlocking the Secrets of Great Writing

Reading Like A Writer: Unlocking the Secrets of Great Writing

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Reading Like a Writer:Unlocking the secrets of Great Writing — a podcast episode — What is reading like a writer?To read like a writer means looking past the story to study how it was built. After the first read for pleasure, you revisit the text to examine structure, pacing, dialogue, and emotional beats. It’s about learning how great writing works so you can use those tools in your own. Helping writers craft authentic, immersive stories.Find out more about us here. Inside Creative Writing Email this Page Share on Bluesky Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Threads Share on Facebook Table Of Contents Formatted and Edited Transcript The Magician Metaphor Great Writing Is Like Great Magic Rule #1: You Don’t Read It Just Once Does It Kill the Magic? Step One: The First Read Is for Pleasure Step Two: The Second Read Is for Study Studying the Beats Looking at Mystery, Subtext, and Pacing You’ll Need More Than Two Reads What About Bad Books? Studying Other Media Extreme Exercise: Rewrite a Novel or a Screenplay Exercises to Strengthen Your Writer’s Eye Wise Words from Great Writers Your Writing Challenge: Build Your List Final Thoughts: Reading Like a Writer Is a Lifelong Habit Talk to Us! Share This Resource Great writing feels like magic—but it’s not. In this engaging and practical episode, Brad Reed breaks down exactly how to read like a writer so you can start uncovering the techniques hidden beneath the surface of great stories. Whether you’re working on your first draft or stuck in revision, learning to read like a writer can transform how you approach your work. Key takeaways include: Why reading a great book once is never enoughHow to mark up a book without losing its magicTechniques for identifying emotional beats, tension, and pacingWhy studying bad books can teach you just as much as great onesExercises like rewriting movie scenes or copying chapters word-for-wordHow to build your personal “touchstone books” list that grows with your writing journey You’ll also hear about Brad’s favorite books for studying craft and how he uses them to solve real writing problems. Whether you’re looking to deepen your prose or get unstuck in your current project, this episode is a practical guide to improving your writing through intentional, curious reading. Check out the full episode, and if you’re ready to go deeper, visit the How to Write a Novel page for more resources and writing challenges. Formatted and Edite...
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