Reading is imperative. Make yourself do it by whatever means possible, whether it’s signing up for a literature class through an online school or simply making a goal of reading 50 pages a night.

It doesn’t matter if it’s Sir Walter Scott or JK Rowling; it’s going to improve your writing.

Remember in high school, when your teachers told you that the best writers are always the best readers? They weren’t lying. The best writers really do live with their nose buried in books. Though there are complicated, neuro-science reasons why the brain is stimulated to write when you read, it’s easier to just boil it down.

Learning is easier with examples. When you’re reading, you’re actively absorbing information about how to form thoughts into nice, grammatically correct phrases. Imagine being surrounded by examples of simple equations. Eventually, after a few hours or a few days, you would figure out their purpose.

Writing is an inexact science. Teachers can only impart their wisdom when it comes to grammar and—to a degree—style. They can’t tell you how to spin your phrase and when to sound more like Hemingway or more like Dickens. Simply put—they can’t tell you how to be interesting.

The Panda update had everyone scrambling to be more relevant, which is a completely noble goal. But at the same time, you want to appeal to your readers. Sacrifice a keyword drop, and describe something instead of just saying what it is. Remember, as a blogger, you’re populating the internet with words. You have a responsibility to keep it fresh and thought-provoking.

Failure to do so may result in decent rankings. After all, Google can read like a human, but it doesn’t have the same sensibilities. Write for the humans though, and your rankings will naturally increase as you deliver content that people will enjoy and link to.

Many bloggers would protest the idea that they don’t read by virtue of the fact that they’re online all day. I’m sorry to say it, but it’s not going to give you the same benefits as reading actual books will. Reading the internet to learn how to write for it is like trying to create a new dish by scooping some of yesterday’s leftovers out of the refrigerator. Yes, it will taste a little different, but is that really what you’re going for? Even if it was from the New York Times and written excellently you want to get your ingredients, if you will, from a variety of sources to create a new experience.

Some bloggers still may be wondering if this really applies to them. After all, video game and tech news doesn’t really need an interesting tone because it has nothing to do with the frilly English types, right? Wrong. Techies could get their news from manuals if they really wanted to. They come to your blog to get your take on the news as well as to read your writing. Make sure it’s worthy of their time and attention by challenging yourself to read and write better.

This is a Guest Post by Lindsey from professionalintern.com.

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