How to Amass Writing Materials Through Reading
Reading is a cumulative process that does not happen overnight.
Only a vast amount of reading can improve one's writing.
Reading is more than simply reading; it is also about thinking while reading. The more you read, the more your knowledge will expand and your perspectives will broaden.
Furthermore, writing necessitates the acquisition of resources.
Only by reading more books, paying more attention to what is going on around you, and linking what is mentioned in the book with real-life will you be able to create better articles.
Reading cannot be self-contained, nor can it be a nerdy pursuit. It is vital to blend reading and writing, as well as to merge the substance of reading with life's sentiments.
We are unable to personally watch and feel everything due to time and location restrictions.
What should I do? This necessitates reliance on indirect observation and experience, i.e., understanding things via reading, watching movies and TV, seeking counsel from others, and so on, to compensate for the deficiencies of direct observation and experience and to enhance our composition materials.
The most significant kind of indirect observation and experience is reading, which includes both readings in class and reading outside of class. Because books are society, and a good book is a good society; reading is an observation of life and an understanding of society.
"I gather impressions immediately from life and from literature," Gorky replied in response to the inquiry "How did you learn to write?" Books have something to offer me that I don't see in individuals. And the power to be unaware.
To create, one must watch and examine the works of others.
Reading is so crucial that it necessitates that we pay attention to it and accumulate in it. Another significant approach to gathering composition elements is through reading. Only those who have "read ten thousand books" and learned to amass things through reading can "write like gods."
What materials and content are accumulated as a result of reading? Life experience, scientific common sense, and ideas must be accumulated, but so must linguistic materials, writing expertise, and methodologies.
The basic requirements for accumulation are as follows: first, carefully read and familiarize yourself with the entire text (or a portion of it), accurately understand the content, and deeply understand the thoughts and feelings; second, you must repeatedly consider and think carefully about the article's expression form and language. What are the features of the preceding, and why do you wish to write it in this manner? We can only accumulate on this basis.
The precise ways of accumulation are as follows:
1. Take reading notes, such as:
①. Extract the aphorisms, beautiful phrases, and important points of the article, or record the great fragments of the article, good beginning and finish, and original text (excerpted reading notes).
② Summarize the key points of the article or the subheadings of each paragraph (each section) (inductive type, outline type reading notes).
③ Write down your thoughts on the people and events in the piece, as well as the writing style (evaluative reading notes).
④ After reading, write down your own opinions and experiences (feeling reading notes).
⑤ Rewrite the article, or extend or supplement a section of the text, or continue writing the article's conclusion (imaginary reading notes). What should be highlighted is that while taking reading notes, it is advisable to organize them into volumes for future reference.
2. Collect newspaper cuttings
Cut and paste the text you want from the newspapers and publications you have subscribed to in the newspaper clippings. Newspaper clippings should also be classified and cataloged for simple retrieval and use.
3. Print out reading cards.
Make a reading card after reading a book (or an article), and put the title of the book (or article), author, publisher (or published newspaper) name, book (or article) on the card's major content.
