5 Books to Help You Read Like a Writer

Want to be a better writer? Start by reading like one.

1. DIY MFA by Gabriela Pereira

Gabriela Pereira writes, “Reading for pleasure is great, but if you want to be a writer, you need to read like a writer…[R]ead in order to figure out what the writer is doing…so that you can recreate something similar in your own writing.” So in DIY MFA, she shows you how to do exactly that. The book looks at everything from Harry Potter to Pride and Prejudice, teaching writers “creative practical reading” — the practice of paying attention to literary devices in order to use them.

2. Writing Through the Classics: Pride and Prejudice edited by Lizzy Sisk

Writers are told to read like writers, something Lizzy Sisk’s Writing Through the Classics series takes quite literally, annotating classic novels with footnotes that explain the writing devices used. Exercises and prompts also guide readers through how to apply these techniques to their own fiction. In this edition of Pride and Prejudice, Sisk offers insights on plot and structure, nailing that perfect ending, and fulfilling the promises we make as writers to our readers.