 | 23 Mar 09 |
…you don’t have the time or the tools to write.” – Stephen King, On Writing
For the last couple of years, I’ve really struggled with reading. I used to read a book a day, but last year, I managed to read less than a dozen. I tried to figure out what the problem was. Was it the books themselves that caused my reading slump? Had the quality diminished? Why did so few books hold my interest? Did I have ADD? Was my internal editor too damn loud? I wondered if it was the stress of my crazy schedule that prevented me from connecting to the stories I read. I felt guilty every time I took a reading break, which is hardly conducive to getting lost in a book.
Simultaneously, my writing became a struggle, too. While I’ve managed to remain somewhat productive, the ease with which I used to write deserted me. Making my daily page count grew tougher and tougher, until I finally had to lower my expectations so that I didn’t disappoint myself all the time. I began to wonder if I’d reached a total burnout point and even contemplated stepping back from my career altogether; an odd and distressing mental state to be in considering the multiple new series I’m launching this year.
So I started this year with a reading goal — 52 books, one for every week of the year. I figured that was doable. I’m a really fast reader, thanks to a power reading course I took (and enjoyed). I’m happy to report that I’m ahead of my goal so far. And somewhere along the way, I got my reading mojo back. I can easily get lost in a book again. I’ve had all-nighters, and I’ve shed tears. I’ve laughed, and felt my heart race.
Ah, the joy of reading! How I’ve missed it. How my writing has missed it!
So what screwed it all up to begin with?
I’m still testing out the theory, but I think reading for me is habitual. I have to get in the groove and actively work to stay there. I have to make time, every day to read. Because if I don’t, it becomes my habit to not read. It’s happened to me before. From the age of 17-27, I didn’t read for pleasure at all. Seriously. I gave all my books away. I had none. Not one. It wasn’t until I was a SAHM that I started reading again. And remembering my dream of wanting to be a published author. And sitting at my keyboard to write several books over that first year.
My productivity has a direct correlation to how much I read. All those times I felt like I couldn’t afford to take time to read a book, I really couldn’t afford not to. I know that now. And hopefully knowing is half the battle. Hopefully, I’ll stay conscious of my need to read and make it happen, come hell or high water.
For you writers out there who’ve lessened their time for reading, have you found that it affects your writing? And for the ARC of EVE OF DARKNESS that I offered up on my last blog… Greta, you won it. 
Sylvia Day is the national bestselling, award-winning author of seventeen novels. A wife and mother of two, she is a former Russian linguist for the U.S. Army Military Intelligence. In addition to her novels, she’s written numerous novellas and short stories for both print and electronic-original release. Sylvia’s work has been called “wonderful and passionate” by WNBC.com and “wickedly entertaining” by Booklist. Her stories have been translated into Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, German, Czech, and Thai. She’s been honored with the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, the EPPIE award, the National Readers' Choice Award, and multiple finalist nominations for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award of Excellence.
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OMG – Jumping up and down litterally. I sent you an e-mail to sj@sjday.net.
by Greta March 23rd, 2009 at 4:10 amI HAVE to read. And I do have my routine. Every night in bed. And 4 mornings at the Y on the recumbent bike, which does double-duty as getting in some workout time and having guilt-free reading time.
And many days, I’ll stop at about 3 in the afternoon, grab my book and sit in the chaise in the bedroom, reading and watching the lizards, butterflies, and birds (and the occasional cat in pursuit thereof).
So — I’m off to the Y now. Later, I’ll be at the eye doctor and will have more guilt-free reading time. Probably quite a bit, as he always runs late.
When my writing slumps, I increase my reading. There’s something about escaping with a good story that recharges the batteries.
by Terry Odell March 23rd, 2009 at 4:12 amWow, what an inspiring and timely (for me) post! I’ve so been struggling with this issue and missing my favorite authors and, probably not coincidentally, having a hard time hitting my daily page goals. 50 books in a year should be doable, even with the late start–I’m jumping on the bandwagon!
by Louisa Edwards March 23rd, 2009 at 8:43 amI would die without reading. I read two to three books a week. I love the feeling of losing myself in a book. I have found I’m more picky about what I read, and I will get rid of a book that I can’t get into.
by Amanda March 23rd, 2009 at 9:20 amI hear you loud and clear. I was an avid reader all through school and once I had my first child, it all kind of took a back seat. I finally started reading on a regular basis again about five or six years ago and now I read at least 4 books a month. Which doesn’t explain why my TBR pile hasn’t dwindled…..I’ll have to look into that.
I love to read, reading takes me places that I may never go otherwise. It keeps my imagination active which really helps the creative juices flowing for the WIP.
Glad to hear you’re back on the reading bandwagon. You should should check out Blood Magic, I finished it last night about 1:00 a.m. It’s awesome.
by Erika March 23rd, 2009 at 11:30 ami love to read, but find myself bored by so much of it. i did just finish megan hart’s dirty which i found fascinating. now i’m reading shannon mckenna’s ultimate weapon. i have jen’s latest release, which is next. so far, the interest is holding.
by Karin Tabke March 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 amI love to read, and I believe reading is important for market research and to keep stretching my mind. Seeing the way other authors come up with plots and conflicts and twists…all of it energizes me creatively.
by Jen Lyon March 23rd, 2009 at 12:19 pmJen, LOL! Every time the DH stares at my massive TBR pile, I try to convince him its all “market research.” That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
by Silver James March 23rd, 2009 at 2:25 pmI still read a lot but if I don’t find the right book I can’t turn off my internal editor and that ruins it for me. When I read a fabulous book, like one of the many from the authors of this blog, I’m inspired to write better.
by wendy roberts March 23rd, 2009 at 1:18 pmI’ve always been a reader. If I’m not reading, then something is wrong. I’d never really thought about the correlation but I think you’re right, S.J. The periods in my life when I didn’t read much, I didn’t write at all. There must be a switch in the imagination–one triggers the other.
by Silver James March 23rd, 2009 at 2:29 pmWanted to come back and answer the question. I have to read. I don’t function normally and I get very irritable I don’t read.
by Greta March 23rd, 2009 at 6:27 pm