Thanks, Nancy. I'm learning piano too, so the sense of frustration at times can be similar!
I've been a big reader forever, but was taught to speed read in early high school- a strategy I suspect stopped me from doing close reading like this. I think it may be why it's harder to retain the detail after reading a text or to see the struc…
Thanks, Nancy. I'm learning piano too, so the sense of frustration at times can be similar!
I've been a big reader forever, but was taught to speed read in early high school- a strategy I suspect stopped me from doing close reading like this. I think it may be why it's harder to retain the detail after reading a text or to see the structure. I've been typing out short stories as another way of slowing down, reading, rereading. Short Story is already getting me to notice so much more- hope to translate this into my writing at some point too. 'Taking more in' is so much better than scanning! :)
Elisabeth Strout said--and I don't remember if it was in writing or when I spoke to her once after a reading--that she would hand copy parts of stories that she admired, to understand how they worked. I've tried it and it definitely makes you more aware of what's happening. Another trick someone else suggested was to read a paragraph and try to write it out from memory. I was shocked by how little I had taken in. So Namra, you're not the only one.
I get this, too. I have a good friend who can't read anything unless she prints it out. It's a bit old-fashioned, but hey, it's why I don't read anything on a kindle. I have to feel, smell, hold a book in my hands while I read. There's something about it that is just kind of sensual. If that makes sense.
Thanks, Nancy. I'm learning piano too, so the sense of frustration at times can be similar!
I've been a big reader forever, but was taught to speed read in early high school- a strategy I suspect stopped me from doing close reading like this. I think it may be why it's harder to retain the detail after reading a text or to see the structure. I've been typing out short stories as another way of slowing down, reading, rereading. Short Story is already getting me to notice so much more- hope to translate this into my writing at some point too. 'Taking more in' is so much better than scanning! :)
Wow, you're so diligent and committed, Emma. I'm impressed that you're typing these out! Good for you!
Elisabeth Strout said--and I don't remember if it was in writing or when I spoke to her once after a reading--that she would hand copy parts of stories that she admired, to understand how they worked. I've tried it and it definitely makes you more aware of what's happening. Another trick someone else suggested was to read a paragraph and try to write it out from memory. I was shocked by how little I had taken in. So Namra, you're not the only one.
Well, the typing out is also so I can read them on a print out- reading on computer is not great...
I get this, too. I have a good friend who can't read anything unless she prints it out. It's a bit old-fashioned, but hey, it's why I don't read anything on a kindle. I have to feel, smell, hold a book in my hands while I read. There's something about it that is just kind of sensual. If that makes sense.
Yes! That's it exactly. Feel, smell, sensory experience, not just cerebral. And you can flick between pages quickly when you want to go back...