Have you ever received comments on your essay or research paper that mentioned either lack of continuity or conciseness? Both issues, believe it or not, stem from how well you read.
Strong readers are strong writers because they emulate patterns from reading. Strong readers are able to show words and then connect their messages.
I frequently share a personal story with my students: When I had my first writing class in college, the required textbook was The Little, Brown Reader. As a college student, I thought, “Why do I have to read a book for a writing class?” The message soon became very clear. It is impossible to become a strong writer if you are not a strong, critical reader. Think about language. One learns to speak by emulating language patterns. The same goes for writing and reading.
Concise Writers Focus on Word Choice
So, strong readers are concise writers. Why? Because they show with words that paint a picture. This means that strong writers uses crisp words to describe, so that their readers can see with vivacity. This means that they focus on finding the perfect word choices to convey their message.
Skillful readers translate the information that they read, turning every word into a vivid picture. Then, when the skillful reader writes, he naturally understands how to powerfully and fluidly convey his thoughts with words. His readers will then be able to translate those words into pictures in their mind’s eye. Translating ideas into images is a core skill of the RTS Success® program. The practice of translating turns a mediocre reader into a reading genius and a powerful writer. The strong writer’s concise message is understandable to his audience and there is no room for ambiguity or interpretation. His readers always see the intended message.
Continuity is All About Linking Nouns and Adjectives
The strong reader also writes with continuity. She knows that sentences connect by nouns or adjectives. She also understands that paragraphs also connect by linking nouns. For instance, each subsequent sentences’ noun connects to the preceding one. The same goes for paragraphs. This creates continuity so that the reader can easily follow the concept. The strong writer knows sentence patterns and connections of thoughts. This is also a core skill we teach in the RTS Success® program.
Writing with concise language and continuity is critical for academic and career success. Upgrade your reading skills and you will naturally upgrade your writing skills.
Want to be a powerful writer? Become a powerful and effective reader. We’ll show you how. Learn more about the RTS Success® reading program.
Do you have any questions or comments? Please contact Cindy@rtssuccess.com