How I Read Books with a Writer's Brain 🧠

Stealing Expressions and Metaphors

When reading as a writer, one technique is to steal expressions, words, combinations of words, and metaphors from other writers. This can be done by finding impactful or likable expressions in books and using them in one's own stories or articles. It was previously seen as uncomfortable or even imposter-like behavior, but a quote from a well-known writer suggests that stealing small phrases from multiple sources is actually considered an acceptable research technique. As an example, the autobiography of Will Smith provides an expression like 'Dad feels like a lion that can't find anything to kill.' This technique allows writers to show rather than tell, adding depth and creativity to their writing.