Promising myself I read more Fiction this year is one of the best things I’ve done for my mental health. The escapism, the ritual, and the quiet. It’s brilliant, but it can be challenging to carve out the time.
Today I’m sharing some tips on how to read more books.
It’s also been great for my writing too. I get ideas on formatting, points of view, character development and story arcs.
As you know I’m a huge advocate of libraries and reading actual books. There have been many studies that the two different ways of reading work very differently, the general consensus being we absorb and retain information better when it’s not digitally consumed.
There’s also the smell and feel of a book, I’ve always been a kinesthetic learner and the sense of touch and physically holding something (in the case a book) really floats my boat.
So how to read more books?
Here are my tips;
- Always have a book with you. In your bag, in your car, in your office drawer. Which brings me too…
- Read more than one book at once! I promise you, you won’t get confused 😉
- Have a list of books you want to get through, like setting yourself a challenge or a target.
- Read in a genre you love. Don’t be shy, whatever does it for you.
- Join a book club, online or in real life. Knowing you can chat about the book you’re reading is a great incentive,
- Make a routine. Instead of scrolling through your phone for 15 minutes in bed, read a book instead. Morning or night, or both!
- Don’t waste valuable reading time with a book you don’t love. I did this recently, ended up giving up halfway through. Life is too short for reading books you don’t enjoy.
- Track what you read, I do this on Goodreads and I love seeing the progress I’m making.
Will you try reading more books?
susan earlam ~ horror author 
I would love your input