Why? Because I read each article with the following two questions in mind:

• What makes this article work?
• What would make this article better?

If you’d like to become a better writer, this simple exercise is incredibly instructive. Conveniently, material is always at hand. Think, for instance, of all those magazines in your dentist’s waiting room. What makes the articles tick? Take a look and see.

You can add more questions as you go, if you like. For example:

• How does the first sentence hook the reader?
• Is the writing clear? If so, how?
• Do you like author’s sense of rhythm?
• Is one article obviously better than another? If so, why?
• Why did the author (or editor) choose this particular title? Does it grab your attention? Why?

Newspapers tend not to be adequate-but-not-great choices for this exercise because newspaper articles are strictly forumlaic. Magazine feature articles and essays are much better.

Do you have little ways to sharpen your writing skills that you particularly like? Share them with your fellow readers in the comments.