I’m currently writing three books (I’ll post about that later), but I’m making some time to do a writing exercise.

I was talking to a friend of mine who draws. I asked him if he had ever redrawn a picture or a whole page by another artist. Many times he told me. I know of many amateur and even professional film makers that have redone a film sequence matching the original shot-by-shot. In the visual world it is accepted that copying someone else’s work is a good way to practice and learn how to be a better visual artist.

I thought on this. I asked another writer if they had ever rewritten a short story or scene from one of their favourite books. Of course not was the answer. The rationale seems to be that everything a writer writes might be published, so you can’t write other people’s stuff. I’m not talking about fan fiction, I’m literal talking about rewriting some of your favourite passages in your own voice and tweaking details. I still got a blank look of why would you ever want to do that.

The why is simple, to become a better writer. I know the only way I’ll become a better writer is by writing. But I worry that I may become trapped in my currently writing. Rather than just reading and hoping it rubs off on my writing, I can take some time to practice. I’ll take something that excites me and try to see how I might do it. I can choose a story or passage in a genre I don’t normally write and do it in my voice. I force myself out of my comfort zone and grow as a writer knowing no one but me will see it.

I currently write romance and erotica. So, I’m going to rewrite a favourite science fiction story. I think the exercise will cleanse my palette and push me into writing things I don’t normally think about. I’ll be writing out of my comfort zone, but with something that I am familiar with. So I’m going to rewrite someone else’s story in my words, to become a better writer.