Freelance Writing Tip #6: Read Other Authors Carefully

One of the best ways to hone your own writing is to read other authors you admire. If you know that you need to improve your pacing, read short fiction anthologies like the Book of Final Flesh or Voices from the Web 2006. Dialogue? Read screenplays like Gladiator Screenplay, plays like A Streetcar Named Desire or comic books like Marvel’s Civil War. If you’re interested in technical writing or business writing, read free annual reports for companies listed on Nasdaq, computer program instructions from Microsoft or Open Office, or even appliance booklets. By analyzing other writer’s works, you can infuse your writing with great techniques and stretch your writing muscles.



Monica Valentinelli is an author, artist, and narrative designer who writes about magic, mystery, and mayhem. Her portfolio includes stories, games, comics, essays, and pop culture books.

In addition to her own worlds, she has worked on a number of different properties including Vampire: the Masquerade, Shadowrun, Hunter: the Vigil, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, and Robert E. Howard’s Conan.

Looking for Monica’s books and games that are still in print? Visit Monica Valentinelli on Amazon’s Author Central or a bookstore near you.

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