To learn, just copy

Understand the specific moves a writer is making, in as much detail as possible. This involves a lot of close reading and reverse outlining. I’m essentially taking apart an essay and making extremely pedantic, precise observations: 12 paragraphs; first paragraph is 6 sentences long and opens with a quote, then context for the quote, then 2 short... See more

‘Take something you like,” she said, ‘and try to copy it exactly. Copying teaches you a lot about technique.’¹