Reading When You Hate Reading

If you want to be a chef, you’ve got to get in the kitchen.

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If you want to be a musician, you’re listening to music. Daily.

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If you want to be a writer or improve as a writer, you need to read. Nope. No shortcuts.

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But many writers find themselves loving the end product (that is the finished + signed off book), maybe even the road to that (writing it), but not the prerequisites before it. In this case being reading. Building the skills.

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There’s a few reasons for this, namely: Life is a lot faster nowadays, distraction are endless. Attention spans, shorter. Instant gratification is in. Reading, the kind that demands time and focus, is not as popular as it was 10-20 years ago. There are websites that summarize books for you, as a result of this.

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— Audiobooks. Podcasts too. None of this is necessarily bad. (I have a queue of audiobooks I can listen to while I whip up a pasta bar.)

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The art of storytelling is not dead. But there are a lot of aspiring writers who come into it with a certain mindset.

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And so you get Q’s like these from writers trying to find work arounds to reading. When there isn’t one.

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^^ If that sounds familiar and you’re a writer who finds themselves at odds with the very thing that can make you a better writer…This editorial is for you.

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By its end you’ll be well informed on the benefits of reading, (we’ll be taking the work to benefit approach here), and you’ll have several ideas on how approach this issue head on, so that you can get your head in the game.

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Benefits Of Reading

I’m paraphrasing my last editorial on why reading is non-negotiable. So I want to hip fire a few reasons. I do recommend going back and reading that before this. But to summarize:‍

>> It builds your vocab. Your unique word flow. The more words you know, the better you can get your point across. Less wordy you become.

For writers, sometimes you have the perfect scene in your head but on paper - you're stuck trying to string the right words together. It ends up being a hot mess.

‍That’s an unnecessary hit to your story.‍

‍>> You also get to pick up on different writing styles and voices. Deconstruct them and put them back together again. Really understand how your favorite author does that thing you love about their books.

‍I’m a firm believer that we are the sum of our inspirations - the ones we closely study.

Sometimes you can tell who a writers inspirations are just by reading their work. ( But only if you’re well-read 😉)

‍>> And finally it teaches genre conventions. I plan to write an editorial on how to learn genre conventions -  deep excavation style. Stay tuned.

‍But with this ^^^ in mind - like seeing the prize behind the velvety red curtain - let’s solve your problem, so that you can have these needed benefits.

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Why Do You Hate Reading?

‍To start I would look at the why, this is my one psychology class coming into play here. There can be several reasons why you feel this way.

• Are you bored?

• Short attention span?

• Easily Distracted?

• You’re busy?

• Maybe restless?

‍I’ve experienced a few of these myself some time ago. But to come to my own conclusions I had to check in and make a mental note of how I felt when it came to reading.

‍And the opposite as well. Was there a time when you loved reading? I first fell in love with reading as a kid. Remember The Bailey School Kids? And Goosebumps? And that one Anamorphs book that terrified me?

‍What’s changed? We’re older, busier. But older, busy people still make time for reading.

‍So draw back to your why for me real quick. Take note, once you’ve got the why we can look to some solutions.

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How To Fall In Love With Reading (Again)

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If you're - Finding Reading Boring

‍I remember throughout my school years a lot of us hated those reading assignments. The books were boring to us. Not bad. But a most 12-13 years old don’t want to read Hatchet. And that alone has thrown so many people off of reading.

‍So when someone says they find reading for fun boring — my first guess is they’re reading the wrong books.

‍I like to tell writers to have an experimentation stage - before you do anything. In my upcoming book: Before The Book I talk about this.

‍Take some time to find out who you are as a writer, and what you like. As a reader and as a writer.

‍I read a lot of different genres and formats of books. Even till this day, because I might surprise myself. I’m also not afraid of adding a book to my DNR list. Sometimes a book just isn’t for me.

‍I don't find every book I read interesting. Some are NYTBS or are critically acclaimed. They’re just not for me - and every book isn’t for you.

So no need to force it.

‍Read books that excite you. If a book doesn’t have me excited about what’s next ~ throughout my day. It’s likely I won’t enjoy that book.

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I’m a picky reader, maybe you are too. But that means it’s even more important to find what works for you and what doesn’t.

‍I mentioned fictional formats too because I know readers who enjoy interactive fiction for example but hold no desire to read traditional fiction.

• Some readers prefer short anthologies.

• Some prefer a long multi-book series.

• Some prefer a standalone.

Interactive fiction is very different to write than traditional fiction. I'd say its much harder. But if that's what you prefer to read you may enjoy writing it as well.

‍Just some things to consider at this experimentation stage.

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If you - Have a Short Attention Span/ Distractions

‍Some readers also report of a wandering mind when reading — which forces them to reread the several lines again and again. I mentioned earlier that a lot of us are bombarded with distractions throughout our day. If it’s a distraction issue - and by that I mean phone pings and other noise.‍

‍Then you've gotta shut that down when it’s reading time. I prefer to read at night, the world is quieter - my world is quieter. I'm free to talk to (myself?) the book as if I'm watching a play unfold in front of me. It's lovely.

‍But this might be mornings for you. Find what works.

‍If it's a mind distraction - as in you're thinking about the 50 other things you need to do this week, or you're replaying that one comment your co-worker made earlier in your head.

‍Well this may take some habit forming. So again when it's reading time, kind of like your phone notification - all of that stuff gets turned off.

‍And this can also tie into boredom. If you find yourself constantly thinking about everything else but the book in front of you - are you just finding the book not so great??

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If you're — too busy to read

‍If you’re busy. I recommend audiobooks.

‍I’ve heard several writers exclaim how audiobooks reignited their love for reading.

I have a friend who listens to an audiobook everyday on their commute to work.

‍I listen to an audiobook when I’m cooking, cleaning, or going for a walk.

‍So I can fit in my must-dos while still reading.

Despite that, I’ll always recommend traditional reading, for writers. Maybe I just prefer to mark up my books. I rarely admit this, I know it’s a crime 🫣.

But it helps me digest the books better. Helps me to read and understand, and takeaway like a writer.

‍Even if you prefer to keep your books clean — seeing the words and their arrangements may help you pick up on writing techniques faster than just hearing them. I explain more of this in my Reading Is Non-Negotiable Editorial.

Last on the topic of being too busy:

Stephen King put it succinctly:

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."

Of course we all have moments where are schedule is packed. But if you can find time to write, then you can find time to read.

Otherwise there’s little point.

Try these tips out when its time to read, and you'll be on your way to reading like a writer.

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