One way of improving one’s writing is to get into the habit of keeping a record of your observations, of storing (46) in a note-book or journal. You should make notes on your experiences and on your (47) of everyday life so that they are preserved. It is sad (48) to be able to retrieve a lost idea that seemed brilliant when it flashed across your (49) , or a forgotten fact that you need to make a point in a argument or to illustrate a conclusion. The journal habit has still (50) value. Just (51) you need to record observations-the material for writing-you need to practice putting thoughts on paper. Learning to write is more like learning to ski (52) it is like studying calculus or anthropology. Practice helps you discover ways to improve. Writing down ideas for your own use forces you to examine them. Putting thoughts on paper for someone else to read (53) you to evaluate not (54) the content-what you say—but also the expression (55) you say it. Many writers have benefited from this habit. 50（）