Master your writing without hours of reading!

As someone known for having a knack for writing and with a decent number of publications to my name, I am usually met with a look of shock and disbelief whenever I share that I am not an avid reader. It's almost as if a writer and a reader should always come as a package-if you want to be a good writer, it's imperative that you first be a great reader.

But is that really the case? From my experience as a writer, I'd say it's pretty true. You need a lot of reading to reach your full potential as a writer. Bad news indeed for people like me who are passionate about writing but can't get themselves to enjoy reading much!

Luckily, I've figured out over the years that it's not the end of the world. There are many other ways to improve your writing and somewhat compensate for not indulging in reading much as a writer. I've spent a considerable amount of time finding and putting these methods to the test myself. I have found some of them helpful, and I will share them in this article.

The first suggestion I would like to offer is to use audiobooks or the read-aloud option available in popular document reading software such as Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader. The reason I am putting this suggestion on top is that I have found it to be the most effective among the ones I am going to list here.

Listening to materials will offer you many of the benefits that you will get from reading them. Among other things, it will enrich your vocabulary, expose you to different patterns of writing, enable you to communicate your thoughts in a more thoughtful and organised manner and improve your ability to tell a story through writing that better captures the pulse of your target audience.

However, if you want to make the best use of your time while listening to an audiobook or a document to improve your writing, my advice would be to note down and find the meaning of any unfamiliar word you come across and become acquainted with how it is used in different contexts. This also applies to all the other suggestions you will come across later in this article.

You will find a non-exhaustive list of audiobook platforms from the following articles: 7 best audiobook apps: Audible isn't your only choice; 10 Best eBook Reader Apps for Android, iOS in 2024.Go to these websites to know how to use the read-aloud option: Conveniently read PDF files aloud; listen to your Word documents.

I've been a movie buff for as long as I can remember, watching all kinds of films whenever I could. At first, I used subtitles solely to understand movies in other languages. Still, I quickly realised they also helped improve my vocabulary and taught me how to pace a story well. Seeing words used in context made it easier to understand their meaning. This, in turn, helped me greatly in improving my writing.

Academic research has also confirmed that subtitles enhance the mental capacity required for reading and listening while improving comprehension abilities. So, my second suggestion? Maybe something more entertaining than the first one, at least in my opinion-watch series, cartoons, and movies with subtitles.

If you're thinking about giving this suggestion of mine a try but don't know which series, cartoons, or movies to start with, check out these articles for some great recommendations: 10 best movies to learn English with; 10 of the Best TV Shows for Learning English; 20 Best Cartoons to Learn English for Kids - A Detailed Guide.

My third suggestion is to listen to songs and try to read and understand the lyrics while doing so. Like the other two suggestions mentioned above, this will enable you to learn many new words if you choose the right songs, i.e., songs that are lyrics-heavy. Listening to songs can also enhance your memory, listening skills, and help you tell stories more lucidly in your writing.

If you're confused about which songs to start with, these articles might be helpful: 100 Best Songs With Deep Meaning; The 40 Best Song Lyrics of all time, from Fleetwood Mac to Kate Bush; People Are Sharing The Song Lyrics That Changed Their Lives And - I'll Admit It - I'm Sobbing.

Additionally, just like any other art or skill, writing improves the more you practise it. No matter how many materials, songs, movies, series, or cartoons you consume, you won't get better at writing unless you push yourself to write on a regular basis. Explore different styles of writing and incorporate those you find appealing into your work. Analysing materials you have written in the past to find and rectify your weaknesses can be very useful as well.

Last but not least, join online and in-person writing workshops and enroll in writing courses if possible. I have seen many people make the mistake of not doing enough research into the workshop or course they pick and regretting it later. So, before you do, make sure to carefully read the reviews and contents thoroughly to ensure the best use of your time and money.

Arafat Reza is a researcher and journalist based in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

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