How to Become Better Writer

How to become Better Writer
There are two ways to become a better writer, in general: write a lot, and read a lot.
There are no other steps.
Of course, within those two general directives, there is lots of more specific advice I
can give you, and that other professional writers would offer. Let’s take a look at the
second general directive: read a lot.
Why Reading Makes You a Better Writer
I’ve been an avid reader since childhood, and I would submit that most good (and
especially great) writers could say the same. What we probably didn’t realize was
that our trips into the fantasy worlds of these books were actually training us for our
future careers. I’m glad I didn’t know — it might have taken a bit of the joy out of it.
Read can be pure joy, if you’re reading a good book. By that, I don’t mean good
literature — I mean anything that captures your imagination that compels you to
read more, that tells you a good story, which creates wonderful characters, that
builds new worlds.
But beyond reading for pleasure, a good writer also reads with an eye for the
writing. Maybe not all the time, but at least some of the time. And many times that
writer doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.
What we learn as readers, we use as writers. Maybe we don’t always do the best job
at putting that knowledge to use, but that just takes practice. Over time, our writing
becomes in some ways a compilation of all the things we’ve learned as readers,
blended together in our own unique recipe.
“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to
read.” - Groucho Marx
How to Use Reading to Improve Your Writing
There’s no one way, of course. Every writer reads his own stuff, and puts that stuff
to use in his own way. Below are just some tips of what’s worked for me — take
what you like from it, and use what you find useful.
1. Create the reading habit. It can’t be a matter of just reading a book and then
forgetting about reading after the initial burst of enthusiasm for reading. It has to
be a habit, that you create and keep for life. As someone who has learned a lot
about creating habits, I know that the best way to form the habit of reading is to
focus on it exclusively — don’t try to form any other habits during this time. Write
down your goal (i.e. “Read for 30 minutes every day” or something like that) and
post it up somewhere you can see it. Tell a lot of people about it and report to
them regularly to create accountability. Log your progress daily and give yourself
rewards. Do this for a month and you’ll have a decent habit in place.
2. Have regular reading triggers. A habit has a trigger — a regularly occurring
event that immediately precedes the habit. The stronger the association with the
trigger, the stronger the habit. What triggers will you have for reading? For me,
it’s eating, going to bed, using the bathroom, and waiting somewhere (like in a
doctor’s waiting room). Every time those triggers come up, I read, without fail.
Choose your triggers, and do it without fail. If you take my triggers as an
example, if I read just 10-15 minutes for each trigger, that’s 6 times a day (three
times eating and once for each of the others) for a total of 60-90 minutes a day.
Sometimes it’s more, but that’s the minimum (I often read for much longer
before bed).
3. Carry your book with you. When you go on the road, always carry your book
in the car or wherever you go. You might not need it for 9 trips, but the 10th
time, you’ll be glad you brought the book. When you have a lull, whip out the
book.
4. Read great writers. By “great writers” I mean not only the greats
(Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Cervantes, Joyce, and Fitzgerald are some
of my favorites here) but also the great storytellers. People who can write with
wit, create great characters, reach into your soul, create new worlds for you to
inhabit. Writers who can teach you something.
5. Get inspired. When I read great writing, I am filled with inspiration to write.
Sometimes I throw down my book and go to my computer to start hacking away
at the keyboard. Other times I’ll jot down stuff in my notebook for later. Use
these writers to inspire you to greatness.
6. Analyze character, plot, theme. Break down the books you read. You can
either do this as you read, or afterward, when you reflect on them while doing
something else (for me it’s running and doing housework and when I’m in the
shower). Why did the writer make the choices she made? How did she create the
characters and convey their qualities? How did she start the book and lay out the
plot? How is the theme of the book conveyed throughout the book.
7. Pay attention to what they do with words. Beyond the big things mentioned
above, the writer does little things with words, in every paragraph and sentence
and phrase. A good writer pays close attention to words, the effects they create,
how they mix together with other words, twists and turns of meaning. See how
he does this, as it is the best instruction you can get.
8. Rip them off. A writing teacher once told me not to mimmic other writers — but
instead to rip them off. Steal blatantly. Take things that you discover in other
writers, things that work, things that you love … and use them in your own
writing. Don’t worry — you can always revise later or throw it out completely. For
now, rip them off. It’ll help you make these techniques your own.
9. Riff off them, experiment. Once you’ve ripped off a few dozen writers, start to
riff. Do variations and experiments on stuff you’ve found. Give their techniques
and styles your own twists and flair.
10. Expand beyond your normal genres. If you normally read one or two genres,
break out beyond it. If you only read sci-fi and fantasy, read more mainstream
literature, read romance or thrillers, read “chick lit” (a term I hate, but oh well).
There’s a lot you can learn from writers beyond your normal scope.
11. Above all, enjoy your reading. Reading, of course, is about much more than
just learning and analyzing and experimenting. It’s about joy. So don’t let your
“reading to become a better writer” interfere with that. If a book bores you to
tears, go ahead and put it down for something you enjoy more. If you start to
lose track of the story because you’re overanalyzing, just forget about analysis
and lose yourself in the book. You’ll still be learning, so fear not. If you read for
pleasure, you won’t be able to help it.


The Offering
Two beggars were sitting on a busy street corner in the
downtown section of the city. It was quite clear for a night
in December, but the cold wind made them huddle
together for heat and comfort. They watched helplessly as

scores of people walked by, some purposely ignoring
them and others too caught up in their own cares to even
notice their existence. Every so often, a kind-hearted
woman or a small child would drop a few coins in the hats
which lay in front of them on the icy sidewalk. Some
people, feeling particularly generous, would even pull out a
bill or two from their wallets and stuff them into the
beggars' hats, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.
Today was not a bad day for begging. The men were able
to collect enough for a decent meal at the coffee shop
down the street and a few candles to light up their lean-to
shacks in the alley behind the train station. As the crowd
began to die down, they started to pack up their bundles
and head for their evening shelter.



Just as they were getting ready to leave the street corner, they noticed a man
walking toward them. He was obviously a wealthy man--they could tell that from
the finely tailored business suit he was wearing and the gold watch chain
that adorned his left pocket.
The first beggar nudged the second and whispered with excitement, "He's
coming our way!"

The two tried not to look directly at the man as he stepped closer to them, but
they couldn't help gazing up with anticipation as he reached into his pocket and
took something out.
"Thunk" was the only sound they heard as what looked like a piece of hard
candy, wrapped doubly in tissue paper and cellophane hit each of their waiting
hats. The rich man turned and continued on his way, not making a backward
glance.

"How insulting!" said the first beggar, as soon as the rich man was out of
sound range. "He could have easily left us a few coins or a spare bill, but he
mocks us with a piece of rock candy."
He looked at the wrapped offering with disgust. "Who does he think we are--
children? There's no way we can even eat this--we have no teeth."
The beggar picked up the object with the very tips of his fingers and flicked it
into the gutter. He watched as it floated a few yards in the stream of muddy
water and disappeared into the drain at the end of the street. Then, he gathered
up his things and walked away.

The second beggar looked down at the morsel in his hat, then at his departing
friend. His first impulse was to toss the donation in the trash can under the
street light. But his second thought made him change his mind.
"I haven't had anything like this for ages," he thought. "I can't chew it, but I can
suck on it for awhile, and the sugary juices will stay in my mouth for a long time.
How nice of that man to offer me something so sweet."

He opened the cellophane eagerly, then paused as his hands touched the white
tissue paper inside. "Maybe I should save it for another time," he thought. "It
won't spoil, and I could eat it later when I'm really hungry."
The beggar debated for a moment, then exclaimed aloud, "What the heck. He
wanted me to have it anyway. I might as well enjoy it now."
With that, he unfolded the white tissue paper, but to his surprise, there was no
hard rock candy inside. Instead, into his fingers fell a shiny white pearl worth
thousands of dollars.
Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right.
Word
adorn _____
cellophane _____
disgust _____
drain _____
flick _____
gaze _____
gutter _____
huddle _____
impulse _____
inconspicuous _____
mock _____
morsel _____
nudge _____
obviously _____
score _____
shack _____
sidewalk _____
spoil _____
stuff _____
suck _____
Definition, meaning
clearly, easily seen
channel near the street for dirty water
contempt, disdain
crowd or move close together
decorate, enhance
go bad, become rotten
group of twenty
look curiously or with wonder
make something dissolve in the mouth
pedestrian walkway near the street, pavement (Br.)
place where water flows downward and away
put or cram into a small place
quick involuntary reaction or thought
quick toss with the fingers
ridicule, insult
small portion of something, usually food
small, poorly built house
touch lightly with an elbow
transparent sheet for wrapping
without being noticed



10 Steps to Retire a Millionaire
Having a million-dollar portfolio is a retirement dream for many people. Making that dream
come true requires some serious effort. While success is never a sure thing, the 10 steps
outlined below will go a long way toward helping you achieve your objective.
1. Set the Goal
Nobody plans to fail, but plenty of people fail to plan. It's a cliché, but it's true. "Plan" is the
leading self-help advice from athletes, business moguls and everyday people who have
achieved extraordinary goals.

2. Start Saving
If you don't save, you'll never reach your goal. As obvious as this might seems, far too many
people never even start to save. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, enrolling in the plan
is a great way to put your savings on autopilot. Simply sign up for the plan and
contributions will be automatically taken out of your paycheck, increasing your savings and
decreasing your immediate tax liability.
If your employer offers to match your contributions up to a certain percentage, be sure to
contribute enough to get the full match. It's like getting a guaranteed return on your
investment. Finding the cash to stash may be a challenge, particularly when you're young,
but don't let that stop you from pursuing future riches.

3. Get Aggressive
Studies have shown that the majority of the returns generated by an investment are
dictated by the asset-allocation decision. If you are looking to grow your wealth over time,
fixed-income investments aren't likely to get the job done, and inflation can take a big
chunk out of your savings.
Investing in equities entails more risk, but is also statistically likely to lead to greater
returns. For many of us, it's a risk we have to take if want to see our wealth grow. Asset-
allocation strategies can help you learn how to make picking the right mix of securities the
core of your investing strategy.

4. Prepare for Rainy Days
Part of long-term planning involves accepting the idea that setbacks will occur. If you are
not prepared, these setbacks can put a stop to your savings efforts. While you can't avoid all
of the bumps in the road, you can prepare in advance to mitigate the damage they can do.



5. Save More
Your income should rise as time passes. You'll get raises, you'll change jobs, and maybe
you'll get married and become a two-income family. Every time more cash comes in to your
pocket, you should increase the amount that you save. The key to reaching your goal as
quickly as possible is to save as much as you can.

6. Watch Your Spending
Vacations, car, kids and all of life's other expenses take a big chunk out of your paycheck.
To maximize your savings, you need to minimize your spending. Buying a home you can
afford and living a lifestyle that is below your means and not funded by credit cards are
all necessities if you want to boost your savings.
7. Monitor Your Portfolio
There's no need to obsess over every movement of the Dow. Instead, check your portfolio
once a year. Rebalance your asset allocation to keep on track with your plan.

8. Max out Your Options
Take advantage of every savings opportunity that comes your way. Make the maximum
contribution to tax-deferred savings plans and then open up a taxable account too. Don't let
any chance to save get away.

9. Catch-Up Contributions
When you reach age 50, you are eligible to increase contributions to tax-deferred savings
plans. Take advantage of this opportunity!

10. Have Patience
"Get-rich-quick" schemes are usually just that - schemes. The power of compounding takes
time, so invest early, invest often and accept that the road to riches is often long and slow.
With that in mind, the sooner you get started, the better your odds of achieving your goals.

The Reality of Retirement
Retirement might seem far away, but it when it arrives nobody ever complains about having
too much money. Some people even question whether a million dollars is enough.

That said, with lots of planning and discipline, you can reach your retirement goals and live
a comfortable life after work.
Burn the Fat, Keep It Off
We often discuss ways to burn off excess fat and calories, but what we do to take off weight
is only a small part of the equation - keeping it off needs just as much attention, probably
more.
Why can't we keep it off?
Here's my belief: When we desperately want to lose weight we engage in activities that are
too darn difficult to maintain. For example, we drastically reduce our caloric intake - eat too
much less - or too differently - to be able to keep doing it for very long.
We start an exercise program that is too demanding - too physically tough, takes too much
time, is too expensive - to keep up for very long. Soon we just stop doing them. Then, very
often, because we cannot maintain the program that we set up, we have a backlash. We
punish ourselves emotionally and physically by overeating, not exercising at all, and
basically giving up.
Then, a few weeks or months or years later, we become desperate to lose weight again, and
we start another, "too difficult" plan to take the weight off, and once again it fails. This cycle
goes on and on for so many people.
How do we stop this (try to lose weight/give up) cycle?
Here's what I suggest:
1. Take a good hard look at your past attempts and assess what is realistic and what is just
too unlikely for you to sustain?
2. Don't be hard on yourself about the past, it's done, it's gone, it's over, but useful for
informing the future.
3. Accept the fact that work is involved. You are going to have to change your ways, give up
some things, adjust, adapt, and accept that a new way of eating and a new level of activity
will take a concerted and focused and deliberate effort.
4. Be your own champion. Give yourself realistic goals and build yourself a support system,
but remember that you and only you can make this happen; you must champion the change.
5. Don't let a lapse, or setback, in your new plan become a relapse or ending to something
that you have started. There will be mistakes, missed workouts and unplanned meal
experiences but that is all part of the program when you are doing something for the long
haul. Being able to stick with it means allowing for lapses.
6. No more "if - thens." If I lose weight, then I will buy a new outfit/look for a new job/start
dating - no. Your life is in session now; so don't act as if it will begin when you lose the
weight. Getting yourself to engage and take action in all areas of your life will help you
champion your own fitness/weight loss program to success.
I know you can do this if you start off with a realistic idea of what your plan should and
shouldn't look like. If you are kind to yourself you'll be more likely to keep going when the
going gets tough (and when your plan doesn't look exactly like you thought it would).
Your desire to change must be matched by an effortful willingness to change, and you'd do
well to invite other caring individuals into your plan while you remember that your opinion
(and decision) is really the one that matters. Progress moves forward and back and now is
the time to make your commitment to not just lose weight but live healthfully from here on
out.