“If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” Stephen King, On Writing
As I mentioned a few days ago, I’m reading Stephen King’s book, On Writing. Although he approaches writing differently than I do (and obviously, his method has brought him a lot of success), I did agree with the point he made about the need to read.
I’ve always been a huge reader…there are books on my Kindle, books spilling off my shelves, books in my huge pocketbook, books waiting for me on hold at the library.
This year, one of my goals is to find more time to read.
Last year, I spent a lot of time writing. I wrote, actually, three books in the space of a year. I promoted two books. Many days, I ran out of time to read.
The last few months, though, I’ve been able to pack more reading in, even though I’m writing a new series for Penguin. That’s because I’ve got a variety of different things to read and I’ve got them available to me everywhere I go.
I’ve got different types of reading: non-fiction, short stories, periodicals, lit fic, and other genres.
I’ve got books in the car, in my purse, in my laptop bag, on my bedside table, and in the kitchen (we won’t talk about my housekeeping right now. Things are looking cluttered.) :)
The #1 biggest thing I’ve done to help me read more frequently? Is buy a Kindle. I’ve got many different types and lengths of books and periodicals on my e-reader, and the Kindle is so small that I can easily take it with me wherever I go.
There was a post this week on the Gatekeepers Post blog that had tips for finding more time to read. I’ll let you read the whole article, but here are some of the tips they provided:
Read on the treadmill at the gym
Take a book to the movies and read during previews
Read to someone else: your students, children or elderly relatives
Download audio books to your computer from your public library and listen while working
Check out books on tape from your public library and “read” in the car
Join a book club.
How do you find time to read?
I don’t seem to have as much to read this time of year as I usually do. I find that audio books are a wonderful thing. I can listen to them while I’m doing things around the house or driving. I always keep a book with me just in case I have a little extra time. Don’t have an e-reader yet, but I can see how they could be handy too.
Mason
Thoughts in Progress
I’m amazed at how many books I ‘read’ last year. Mostly thanks to discovering audiobooks. You can listen to a book while driving, cooking, exercising or nodding off to sleep. But I must say, my Kindle has also increased my reading because it’s always in my purse and on the off chance I forget it and need to read while waiting in at the doctors or juice shop, I can use Kindle on my iPhone.
I love paper books, but I equally love technology that delivers books in other formats. :-)
Elizabeth – I couldn’t agree with you more! The more one reads, the better a writer one becomes. It isn’t easy, but it is absolutely crucial to developing as a writer. I am a voracious reader. And I think what helps me is that reading is available in so many formats. I can read E-Books on my PC, carry paperbacks with me everywhere (you never know when you’re going to have to wait in a line or an office) and then there’s audio-books for the car. Having multiple formats is such a boon for a busy booklover.
I make the time to read. As a matter of fact, I’ve read 200 pages of Harry Potter #5 just on Friday alone. I’ve noticed a huge change in the way I see the stuff I’ve written versus what’s out in print, and that’s in no small part because of reading.
I read On Writing last year and from that point made a conscious effort to read more. I do agree that by reading I am in the same process, learning.
I set myself a goal this year to read at least 40 books – just over 3 a month – which I am well on the way to doing.
I read in bed before I go to sleep and I take my book to work and read when I’m eating my lunch. I have actually started a bit of a trend with this, since I started taking book into work in January. Two other colleagues are doing the same! This reading lark is contagious :)
I also read when I’m just plain tired and don’t have the energy to write, so I read. It’s still working on my craft, so I allow myself that time.
I’m loving all the reading I’ve started doing and the list of “to-read” books on my Goodreads shelf is growing rapidly.
I should read many more children’s books but difficult when I’m constantly writing my own. Though I did take a course recently where I had to read books by other authors and that was wonderful!
I can’t imagine not reading. It’s been a daily survival skill/enjoyment for me since I learend how :)
This was one of my new Year’s resolutions — find more time to read.I’m reading more (not being on deadline helps a ton), but I’m still not reading as much as I’d like to be.
My biggest problem, it that after spending the last several years under huge pressure, I’m finding it REALLY hard to *not* do anything productive. I’ve tried a few times this last week to goof off, and I couldn’t do it. I need to grab books to read “for research” so I feel like I’m working when I’m reading for fun :) Maybe that’ll break the evil cycle
I read about five hundred books a year – some slowly – some quickly. I managed to do so with little babies, full time jobs and so on. I’ve never lost the desire to read except if I’m dreadfully ill – in fact that’s how I know I’m ill – I can’t read! I read daily in the tub, I read in the morning when my partner brings me coffee, I take books with me to work to read between clients and Ron and I often read in the evenings…I also, like Charmaine, listen to audio books in the car. Because I have a short commute to work (half an hour or so) I can get through lots of books. As well when I go visit my grandkids – which involves a couple of hours in the car – or any longer trips. I love audio books only there aren’t enough of the sort I like at the library! I am going to get an ebook of some sort this year…then I’ll really be in trouble. I love reading on the plane and like travelling small airlines as they don’t have tempting movies and home renovation shows!
Well, as I often have days where I am too tired or unwell to do anything else, I read very much in a ´bad´ month, and not nearly as much in a good one. So in February with birthday, book launch etc, I have only read three or four books, but edited a lot and written some flash fiction.
I bought a Nook instead of Kindle so I could “borrow” library books. My Nook currently has about 300 items to read. It’s so easy to carry everywhere. Whenever we travel I download audiobooks from the library to my mp3 player. Staying engaged in a good book makes the trip shorter, no matter how long it is.
Charmaine—Isn’t it amazing how an e-reader can really foster reading?
Mason–I think I’m going to have to use audio books more frequently. They’d be great for when I’m cooking supper or cleaning the house.
Jeffrey–I think reading is a great way to keep abreast of the market, for sure. And–I loved that Harry Potter book. :)
Rebecca–I think that’s another good way of looking at it–we’re really working on our craft when we’re reading….not just doing it for our own enjoyment.
I love that you set a real *goal* for yourself for reading! Maybe I should do the same. The book club I belong to definitely helps to keep me accountable and motivated, and also helps make me read things I might not have read otherwise.
Margot–Having so many different formats really does make a difference!
Carole–It made you make time to read! That’s what I need sometimes. :)
Janice–I think that now I have to actively *plan* times to read where before it just happened naturally.
Janice, I seem to be a workaholic (writaholic?) too! It’s sad. I’m pretty sure that I *used* to be able to relax! Don’t know where those days have gone.
Jan–I’d imagine that an e-reader would make a lot of sense for frequent fliers–so easy to pack!
Mary–I’m a big car traveler (not a fan of flying), and I think that audio books must be the best way to make a trip go quicker!
Isn’t ‘On Writing’ a great book? I really enjoyed it.
I got a Sony ereader for Christmas and downloaded about 85 old books from ManyBooks.net, and yes, I did donate. This week I borrowed my first ebook from the library… I can tell I’m going to love this!
If I go on vacation I won’t have a suitcase full of books, just my ereader! And I can switch between books at the click of a button.
I read sometimes at work during lunch or in the evening when I’m tired of staring at my computer.
I’m reading before in the weekends and vacations, and before I go to sleep. I also read when I’m out traveling, on the plane and waiting in the airport.
In fact, I’m reading On Writing by Stpehen King right now too, or at least I’m trying. I had the book in my pocket on a rainy day at the slopes, and it got wet. Now it’s kind of falling apart. Good book, in particular the 2nd part.
Cold As Heaven
Victoria–Whenever we’d go out of town, half my suitcase would be books. I’m so glad not to have to lug around books anymore!
Jemi–It’s still the best escape there is!
Alex–My eyestrain on computers has gotten pretty bad lately. Luckily, the Kindle doesn’t seem to have the same effect (but good old-fashioned books are definitely easy on the eyes, too.)
Cold As Heaven–I think I need to have more vacations!
I enjoyed the first half, although I think I wasn’t expecting really a memoir when I bought the book. It was interesting to see how he became a writer, but I did prefer the second half of the book.
Dorte–I’d say you’re accomplishing a lot in a lot of different areas!
I actually started my blog based on Stephen King’s comment – it was my way of making sure I read as much as I wanted to. My reading time has really increased recently because I’m moving into my slower period at work, and also because of my iPad. My library has recently added an ebook collection that I can access online (I love it!) and they also have an app for the iPad, so it makes borrowing and downloading an ebook really easy. And I use the Kindle app a lot, too. I love the iPad’s screen size, and I can read in bed at night without disturbing my husband with the light.
When I’m really busy with deadlines, though, audiobooks have ensured that I don’t leave reading to the side. In addition to Audible, I also download a lot of audiobooks from my library’s collection.
I find that the more I do read, the more time I also spend writing – there’s definitely a synergy there, for me!
I read in snatches, whenever I can. I took 2 books with me on my recent trip. I should have taken three. I do want to find the time to figure out how to download an audio book onto my iPod so I can listen when I’m on the elliptical trainer. And I admit, I’m having eReader envy. My husband loves his iPod. He said I could download a book or read one off his shelves, but he’s rarely off the thing!
Posts like this are edging me closer and closer to buying a Kindle.
I love On Writing, and I had the same reaction the first time I read it. It gave me permission to read more. I’d always felt guilty for escaping into novels–and felt I should be writing every spare minute. Now I consider reading–even escapist fiction–to be part of my writing time. I know it’s improved my work.
The most important thing for me was getting my TV watching under control. I had an expensive satellite package and felt I should watch what I was paying for. Like it was my job or something.
Boy am I happy to be rid of that obligation. And now I can read all I want! Well, not all I want, but a whole lot more.
(Coming late to the party…)
I have a new strategy, which is an attempt to kill two birds with one stone. Since I always have my books with me only iPod Touch, I am making an attempt to substitute reading for other things I need to cut back on.
(Especially time on the internet — which is why I haven’t been commenting on blogs as much as before…)
Belle–I saw an iPad’s e-reader function and was really impressed at the way it looked like a real book (pages turning, etc.) I *don’t* usually want backlit screens because I’ll read outside…but then I do miss backlighting at night because I’ll turn on my reading light and wake my poor husband up (and I’m an insomniac, so it happens a lot!)
I need to get hooked into Audible. I’ve heard way too many good things about it.
Reading is definitely inspiring. I’m usually either thinking, “Wow. This is amazing. I wish I could write this well.” Or else, “This scene could have been written better. I know just what I’d have done…”
Helen–I really, really like my Kindle. I do. And I can definitely say that I’ve increased the amount of time I spend reading. I need to fiddle more with the library’s downloadable books–I really would like to hear more audio versions of books.
Anne–I really never thought I’d be one to recommend an e-reader. I thought I’d be one of the last holdouts. I really did! But I love it. And I’ve decided that it’s all about the *reading*, not the format or vehicle.
You’ve made a great point about television. I’d get more out of reading a *bad* book than I would spending the same time aimlessly watching TV. TV can have good storylines, but now I will tape things that are well-reviewed…that way I’m only watching the good stuff.
Does reading blogs count? I sometimes start checking blogs I enjoy and even without commenting everywhere, I look up and a couple of hours have passed LOL…
Seriously though–I love my Kindle and my Kindle for Android. I ride the bus anywhere I cannot walk, so even if I’m not carrying the Kindle, my phone app lets me start where I left off.
Then I have physical books stacked everywhere–nonfiction research for my WIP, library books I’m reading for challenges, my TBR mountain; the only thing I have never tried is an audio book but from what I read here, I will try those next. After all, I need background music or TV when cleaning house, so why not audio books?
I guess I always thought that audio books would be “cheating” for a reading challenge, but I guess they aren’t? I also want the “whole” experience, so can someone here steer me to a source of unabridged audio books? I’ve had the impression (probably snobbish and incorrect) that the audio version would be a type of “Cliff Note’s”–you know, just the meat but none of the potatoes or gravy?
The post and the comments have certainly opened my eyes (and maybe my ears as well LOL). I also realize I need a copy of “On Writing” ASAP. Thank you everyone for sharing your thoughts.
I just tell myself that I have to read x amount of pages or x amount of times a day. I put in my to-do list. I make it official. That way, it’s as important as cleaning or doing laundry or getting work done.