The Creative Process

Discover practical insights on creativity, music, and entrepreneurship from writer and musicologist Mark Samples. These short, story-driven essays help artists and creators level up their careers with timeless lessons, smart frameworks, and real-world examples. Perfect for musicians, educators, and creative pros seeking growth.

Posts in Reading
Reading Tip: Aim for Understanding, Not "Reading"

In my previous post, I shared my overall advice for college students who want to spend less time reading while getting more out of what they read. Now I want to follow up with the most important mindset shift to make when you are moving from high school to college reading assignments.

The goal of a reading assignment is not simply to read all the words from beginning to end and take scattered notes on random elements that you think might be important.

Instead, the goal is to uncover the author’s argument, and be able to restate that argument briefly in your own words.

How do you know when you have understood?

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