Audiobooks! I somehow have less time to "read" now than I did when I had a full-time "regular" job and a houseful of young children, but I cannot live without books. I fantasize about discovering a kind of iv drip for books, so they can just be streaming into me at all times, but until that happens, I keep my phone at hand constantly with earbuds at conveniently stashed spots for those moments of quiet that pop up. Dog walks, dishes, laundry, teeth brushing - they're all moments when I can keep my latest novel pouring into me. I listened to The Ones Who Got Away in 2018, The One You Can't Forget in 2020, and Off the Clock in 2022 (all recorded on my booklog)! And Input's my #1 and Learner my #3, so I know what it means to have trouble prioritizing all I want to cram in in a day.
Ooh, good point! I forgot to mention audiobooks. I'm a big fan of audio, but I've listened to way more non-fiction in audio this year than fiction. I need to make a point to switch to some fiction. And thanks for reading/listening to mine! :D
OMG, I'm so guilty of the "what if I lift another author's voice?" excuse! But...I'm slowly coming around with the help of WBF and coaching. ;) Another double-edged sword that pushed me back into reading was finally admitting that I had to take a day job to pay the bills because authoring was not nearly cutting it. Suddenly, I was reading to cope with my 2-hour commute and mind-numbing warehouse job. It was a revelation because I was reading...as a *reader* again. I wasn't looking for plot structure or genre conventions or any of the things writers read for. I was reading for...escape, enjoyment, to feel something other than frustration with my reality. It's really helped alter my perspective in ways that I feel are much healthier than my old ways of thinking.
It really can be a magical feeling to lock back into that reader mindset and put aside the analysis for a while. I'm glad it's helping with some of the less desirable parts of the job.
I am SO guilty of this (not prioritizing reading). I need to do better about it. Also, "Taking time to read feels frivolous and like I could be doing something more productive." My brain does this as well, but my Achiever is sooo low. I wonder where it comes from for me? 🤔 This is also why I don't game despite wanting to. My brain berates me for not using my time more wisely.
It could be coming from a number of different places or combo of strengths. Competition thinking taking a break will put you behind, Discipline not wanting to break from the work routine, Strategic not seeing it as the best strategic move, something like Responsibility thinking you owe the work to someone (like your readers).
Ah! I'm a #2 Strategic and #4 Discipline. Tho that's in the basement right now as I battle some generalized anxiety crap and going back on meds for that, and how the anxiety is affecting my writing -- I panic when I open my MS, and it's (Discipline) probably guilting me on some level as I try to rest and be nice to myself.
Sorry things are basement-ing. Maybe try telling Strategic that the best path forward is making sure you're a healthy, creatively-engaged writer and that reading can help with that. Then let Discipline schedule some reading time. :)
I love this, and I needed it. I’ve been struggling hard. I am indeed so busy that if I don’t do all else first thing in the morning, I’ll be too exhausted come nighttime. Exercise? Get it over with. Reading? Do it over coffee. Even then it’s hard because I feel guilty for getting a late start at 8 or 9am lol. I’m going to aim for 30 min a day to begin and see where it goes.
Thanks! Glad you found the post a helpful reminder. :) Don't feel guilty for getting a "late" start. You're doing important, healthy things that ultimately help support the work because they help support you.
It happens all the time, especially for those with certain Clifton Strengths that favor work over all else (not helped by the increasing pressure on speed in the industry.) But yes, I'm the same. My creativity dries up. That's why I'm annoyed that I didn't see how significantly my reading had changed this year. I should know better! lol
Audiobooks! I somehow have less time to "read" now than I did when I had a full-time "regular" job and a houseful of young children, but I cannot live without books. I fantasize about discovering a kind of iv drip for books, so they can just be streaming into me at all times, but until that happens, I keep my phone at hand constantly with earbuds at conveniently stashed spots for those moments of quiet that pop up. Dog walks, dishes, laundry, teeth brushing - they're all moments when I can keep my latest novel pouring into me. I listened to The Ones Who Got Away in 2018, The One You Can't Forget in 2020, and Off the Clock in 2022 (all recorded on my booklog)! And Input's my #1 and Learner my #3, so I know what it means to have trouble prioritizing all I want to cram in in a day.
Ooh, good point! I forgot to mention audiobooks. I'm a big fan of audio, but I've listened to way more non-fiction in audio this year than fiction. I need to make a point to switch to some fiction. And thanks for reading/listening to mine! :D
Beautiful cover!
Reading for myself instead of others and obligations... hmm... not so much.
Thank you!
OMG, I'm so guilty of the "what if I lift another author's voice?" excuse! But...I'm slowly coming around with the help of WBF and coaching. ;) Another double-edged sword that pushed me back into reading was finally admitting that I had to take a day job to pay the bills because authoring was not nearly cutting it. Suddenly, I was reading to cope with my 2-hour commute and mind-numbing warehouse job. It was a revelation because I was reading...as a *reader* again. I wasn't looking for plot structure or genre conventions or any of the things writers read for. I was reading for...escape, enjoyment, to feel something other than frustration with my reality. It's really helped alter my perspective in ways that I feel are much healthier than my old ways of thinking.
It really can be a magical feeling to lock back into that reader mindset and put aside the analysis for a while. I'm glad it's helping with some of the less desirable parts of the job.
I am SO guilty of this (not prioritizing reading). I need to do better about it. Also, "Taking time to read feels frivolous and like I could be doing something more productive." My brain does this as well, but my Achiever is sooo low. I wonder where it comes from for me? 🤔 This is also why I don't game despite wanting to. My brain berates me for not using my time more wisely.
It could be coming from a number of different places or combo of strengths. Competition thinking taking a break will put you behind, Discipline not wanting to break from the work routine, Strategic not seeing it as the best strategic move, something like Responsibility thinking you owe the work to someone (like your readers).
Ah! I'm a #2 Strategic and #4 Discipline. Tho that's in the basement right now as I battle some generalized anxiety crap and going back on meds for that, and how the anxiety is affecting my writing -- I panic when I open my MS, and it's (Discipline) probably guilting me on some level as I try to rest and be nice to myself.
But yeah, Strategic and that make sense!
Sorry things are basement-ing. Maybe try telling Strategic that the best path forward is making sure you're a healthy, creatively-engaged writer and that reading can help with that. Then let Discipline schedule some reading time. :)
I love this, and I needed it. I’ve been struggling hard. I am indeed so busy that if I don’t do all else first thing in the morning, I’ll be too exhausted come nighttime. Exercise? Get it over with. Reading? Do it over coffee. Even then it’s hard because I feel guilty for getting a late start at 8 or 9am lol. I’m going to aim for 30 min a day to begin and see where it goes.
Thanks! Glad you found the post a helpful reminder. :) Don't feel guilty for getting a "late" start. You're doing important, healthy things that ultimately help support the work because they help support you.
I am most shocked when writers admit to being so busy writing that they haven't read. I have to read to even get any creativity flowing.
It happens all the time, especially for those with certain Clifton Strengths that favor work over all else (not helped by the increasing pressure on speed in the industry.) But yes, I'm the same. My creativity dries up. That's why I'm annoyed that I didn't see how significantly my reading had changed this year. I should know better! lol