You've all heard the saying, "If you don't read books then you shouldn't be writing them," right? I mean, it makes perfect sense. It's one of the top pieces of advice out there for writers, and it's actually advice I've passed on myself to those who have asked me, "I want to be a writer, what advice can you give me?"
#1: Write. Write something everyday and continually strive to write better than the day before
and #2 Read. Read everything you can get your hands on, especially in the genre you prefer to write.
It's sound advice, and I still stick by it, but here is my problem...I don't think I've read anything, and I mean anything, in a very long time. How can I possibly give out this advice when I'm not even following it...ahhh, such the hypocrite.
All my life I've been known to have my nose in a book. I used to sneak books into class and hide them behind my text books so I could read them. I went to the library ALL of the time. And I've been known to put life on hold just to finish a book (just ask my husband and kids). I could finish a book in a matter of hours--HOURS. This is true.
So what the heck is going on now? Is it simply a matter of finding a good book to read? Possibly. But really I think it is a matter of shutting down my internal editor so I can gloss over mistakes and get into the story. I've been in editing mode off and on for the past year or more and so that's where my head is. So every time I pick up a book all I can see are the problems--every single book has them. They do. No book is without fault. Does that mean the story is bad? No. I'm sure most of the books are great, I just can't get past some of the "weirdness" for lack of a better word.
In the past several weeks I've probably started and stopped reading a dozen books or more. I'm a member of two book clubs and I haven't finished reading an assigned book in months. I get part way, lose interest or get frustrated, and give up. It's horrible.
I want to find my passion for reading again. I need to. But I'm not sure how. Maybe when I'm out of the editing phase (will I ever be out of the editing phase? It seems when I finish editing one book I'm quickly tossed into editing another).
Help. I want to enjoy reading again. I think I need a book with a fast pace, with interesting characters, and a super plot with twists and turns. Any suggestions? How do I get my love for reading back? How do I look past the "weirdness" and simply enjoy the story like I used to do? Advice is welcomed and appreciated.
#1: Write. Write something everyday and continually strive to write better than the day before
and #2 Read. Read everything you can get your hands on, especially in the genre you prefer to write.
It's sound advice, and I still stick by it, but here is my problem...I don't think I've read anything, and I mean anything, in a very long time. How can I possibly give out this advice when I'm not even following it...ahhh, such the hypocrite.
All my life I've been known to have my nose in a book. I used to sneak books into class and hide them behind my text books so I could read them. I went to the library ALL of the time. And I've been known to put life on hold just to finish a book (just ask my husband and kids). I could finish a book in a matter of hours--HOURS. This is true.
So what the heck is going on now? Is it simply a matter of finding a good book to read? Possibly. But really I think it is a matter of shutting down my internal editor so I can gloss over mistakes and get into the story. I've been in editing mode off and on for the past year or more and so that's where my head is. So every time I pick up a book all I can see are the problems--every single book has them. They do. No book is without fault. Does that mean the story is bad? No. I'm sure most of the books are great, I just can't get past some of the "weirdness" for lack of a better word.
In the past several weeks I've probably started and stopped reading a dozen books or more. I'm a member of two book clubs and I haven't finished reading an assigned book in months. I get part way, lose interest or get frustrated, and give up. It's horrible.
I want to find my passion for reading again. I need to. But I'm not sure how. Maybe when I'm out of the editing phase (will I ever be out of the editing phase? It seems when I finish editing one book I'm quickly tossed into editing another).
Help. I want to enjoy reading again. I think I need a book with a fast pace, with interesting characters, and a super plot with twists and turns. Any suggestions? How do I get my love for reading back? How do I look past the "weirdness" and simply enjoy the story like I used to do? Advice is welcomed and appreciated.
