Writing Tip Watch The Tapes

by Matt Burchett
(El Campo, TX 77437)

Football players don't just play and practice to get better, they also study the styles and techniques of other players and teams--watching tape.

The same is an invaluable resource for the writer. Don't forget to read! Reading other work exposes you to different voices, ways to structure phrases, ways to construct dialogue, and any other myriad number of writing techniques, down to something as simple as words you may be unfamiliar with.

This doesn't necessarily mean delving into the lists of prize-winners or bestsellers; any relatively unknown volume plucked from the shelf of your local discount bookstore might contain some gems of knowledge.