I’ve discovered one side effect of writing a book that I wasn’t warned about. I’m not reading as much for pleasure as I used to.
I do still read. I am reading books on writing. I’m reading books that friends are writing to provide feedback. I’ve read a few books to review. I’m reading blogs by my favorite authors. What I am not reading are books for pure pleasure. I’m missing that.
I am trying to make up for it with listening to audiobooks a work. It’s not quite the same. I find my enjoyment doesn’t depend on the quality of the writer, but the quality of the narrator. I have sat through books that I normally would have put down because of the quality of the narrator’s voice. There have also been books I stopped because I disliked the voice reading. Plus there are several books I would like to read that are not available as audiobooks. I know that there are ways to get your tablet or smartphone to read them using text-to-speech functions. I haven’t been able to get that to function smoothly.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can fit reading back into my life?
Mercedes Lackey once said that to be a writer, you have to be a reader. Can you make it a date night, with a pleasure book? Just one night a week, for at least an hour, set aside for that special somebook. Its important.
I have similar struggles with making time for reading. I find I have just have to set aside the time on the weekend, or listen when I commute.
Yeah, I think you’re right. I’m going to have to look over my schedule again and carve out time. I need to learn that it is okay for me to do stuff for myself without guilt.
I was hoping that audiobooks would scratch that itch for me. Cause then I could listen for six hours at work. It just seems to be very hit-and-miss in terms of satisfaction for me.
Well, my current audiobook certainly isn’t scratching anything for me, but I’m determined to finish it. I wish I had the option to listen to a book while I work, but it’s just not feasible for my day job.