How much do you read? How many books a year? Do you keep count? I wish I could read more than I currently can. Reading is a joy for me. It brings you to this whole other world and you learn a lot during the process. I personally, at the moment, read one book every two years. Mostly because I've suffered a bit mentally. So my focus and attention isn't great. I've never been a voracious reader, but I used to be able to read a bit more than that. One time I read half a book in one night. I also wish I read more across the genres. When I do read, it's mostly science fiction. Some say you can't be a good writer without reading much. I feel like there is some truth to that, since I'm not that good myself due to my lack of reading. Not to stomp on myself, I do produce some work at least. What about you? Do you feel reading makes you a better writer? Do you think we writers need to read a lot to fully realize our potential?
I'm sorry for your reading struggles, Madman. That must be difficult and frustrating. May matters improve for you, and very quickly. I read fast which allows me to finish several dozen books a year, more if I include those that I've read multiple times. All things are possible, but I don't see how a person can write well without exposing himself or herself to a wide variety of literature. Observing how other writers solve problems, lay out plots, develop characters, etc. is Basic Writing 101.
I also read rather fast. I'm almost at 40, in one journal, and on my Goodreads page, I'm almost to 25. I plan on reading more books before the year is out, but that's where I stand officially. I think there's is absolute truth to the adage that reading makes for a better writer, but for me, I find that a desire to tell stories drives me to write slightly more than reading them does. I have been building the main world I've been working on for over a decade, and as it comes together, I do see the influence of other writers, but what I see in my head doesn't exist elsewhere. I think it's just as important to have that eagerness to share stories as it is to find them. ETA: for a long time I struggled to read and I had several people comment that I was such a ferocious devourer of books when I was younger, so why wasn't I reading more. Being in a solid mental space is more important than I think a lot of people allow for when it comes to reading. I think it's important to acknowledge that and know it won't be a forever thing, even if it seems like it sometimes. And if I may say, one book every two years is still a book being read. That counts just as much as any other number.
I don't have much time to read. I'm always busy gardening, cooking, blogging, trying to exercise, taking photographs, meeting up with friends, or discussing writing techniques with my writing mentor and coauthor, Dawn. No, I don't watch TV. When I do sit down, I'm either writing my own books or blogging. How many books have I read in a year? Maybe 12. TBH, I don't keep count. However, I've just discovered audiobooks, which means I can listen while engaged in other activities. When I read, I tend to analyse the author's writing style, which detracts from enjoying the story. It is the same with Beta reading, which I suppose helps with my books as I note likes and dislikes. But then, there are so many writing podcasts and 'how to' videos out on the web I tend to stick with a couple and listen/watch those. For example https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/ Circling back to your question: Do you feel reading makes you a better writer? Not necessarily. Don't sweat it.
I've always been a voracious reader. I just finished reading a history of Japan, and now I'm reading one of the earliest noir books (dating back to the 1920s). I've got half-a-dozen books on my bedside table, waiting to be read. And I have two books on order, waiting for them to be published - a biography of Medea, the infamous queen of witches, and a walk through ancient Rome, seeing things that Augustus, Nero, Suetonius and Flavius Josephus would've seen. Both by Philip Matyszak, one of my all-time favourite authors. I read a chapter at breakfast time, lunch time in the office, and dinner time at home. When I finish a book, I put it on the shelf and replace it with another. I have three bookcases, crammed full of books. I can't help it. Reading is more than a hobby to me. It's a lifetime passion. I'm a bibliophile. Is it too bad that there's no such thing Readers Anonymous? Maybe not! *grabs his feather-quill pen and runs away to read and write some more -- I just spent 5 hours last night writing the 3rd draft of chapter 1 of my next novel, yay!!! -- and emerges 5 hours later, all covered in ink speckles*
Have you considered, rather than tackling an entire book, reading a handful of short stories throughout the year (preferably from different authors)? I would think that would be a much more comfortable reading goal for someone who struggles to get through a novel. There’s a lifetime’s worth of terrific short stories out there, if you’re interested.
Good advice, yeah perhaps that might be a bit better for the mind to get through. I like the long stories because then I feel invested into the world, characters, and story. Even if it is slow for me. I do read the occasional short story here and there, though.
I second the short story recommendation. Some of the best stories I've encountered have been shorts. I've got several anthologies on my to-read shelf, and I'm picking through a Steampunk collection every now and then. And, if you read a collection of short stories, you'll have read a book. Double whammy of a time.
Thanks to audiobooks and listening thru the work day, I can go through as many as 30 books in a month, if they are short.
I used to average about 4 books a year, not counting comics, which I read a lot of in the 00s. That 4 a year also didn't include all the books I read half of before losing track. Reading (and finishing) books has always been tough for me. I love literature, but my ADHD attention span makes it difficult to read for longer than about ten minutes most of the time. But then I discovered audiobooks in 2008 and slowly became addicted to them over the next few years. In fact, from 2018 through 2022, I finished 505 books in 5 years. Lately, though, I'm only finishing about 6 a month. I'll probably finish out the year around 72, which will put me over 800 books since high school, mostly audio. I do believe that absorbing literature makes you a better writer (even if you're not reading with your eyeballs.) I switch things up constantly, listening to books from different genres and different eras. I keep hundreds on my phone because I never know what I'll want to hear next. Just in the last couple of months I've listened to everything from Misery to The Andromeda Strain to The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde and Other Tales of Terror. I've heard comedies, thrillers, creative non-fiction, MG adventure books, all sorts of things. I learn so much from these books, even the ones I don't end up enjoying all that much. You can learn a lot about what not to do from a bad or mediocre book. I enjoy most of what I hear on some level or another, though. I do a bit of research before choosing my books, even if it's just reading the blurb and a few reviews on Goodreads, so I'm seldom surprised by one I hate. @Madman, if you're having trouble getting through books due to focus and attention problems, I highly suggest trying audiobooks. They're not just an alternative for people who don't have enough time to read. They're a great medium in their own right. I could read The Old Man and the Sea, or Donald Sutherland could read it to me. What would you choose? Yeah, you happen across a bum reader occasionally, someone who does bad voices or has deadpan delivery. It can ruin a story, really, but the majority of audiobooks are performed by pros. I can't wait to hear my first book read by Cassandra Campbell or the like. (She's big in the audiobook world.) And if you need suggestions, I have many. In fact, if you're into it, drop me a PM. I'll put some books in a Google drive for you to download. I'm sure I have something you'd enjoy.
Thank you @Rzero Yeah, audiobooks is something I should try. I appreciate the offer, perhaps I will take you up on it once I'm finished with my current book.
I dont read as much as a could. Thats not to say that i dont WANT to read. i love reading. I just dont fel like I have the time to read. and when I do have the time to read, I feel like i should be writing. There are a few occasions where i'll become obsessed with a topic or a genre and will read until that obsession has been sated (i went though a phase where i read/listened to all of Caitlin Doughty's books... googled her and found out she is the founder of this group called "The Order of the Good Death" then I started reading the books that some of the other people in the Order had written). but as of right now, im not reading anything. I've hit a dry spell. havent found anything to keep my interest for long, and my TBR piles continuously grows rather than shrinks. I've been asked to be a co-leader of a book club, though. The books i HAVE read are really helping me develop the book club list for the 2025 year. and some of the books on my TBR list will make it in there too.
Speaking of fiction novels only, I go through spurts. Intentionally. Starts and finishes are two separate things. I discard 3 of 4 books within the first chapter. If my interest is thoroughly piqued and I make it past the first chapter, the chances of me completing the book are high. I can complete 30 to 40 books in a year. But I will also go years without reading (fiction) before picking it up again at a later time. I'm one-tracked and singularly focused on whatever I'm doing. I have no balance with endeavors. So if I start reading books - I'm not doing anything else but reading books and the rest of my life will be in the gutter. One last quirk. I intentionally avoid a genre, a style, or subject matter in any artform that I'm actively working to produce in, whether it's writing, painting, graphic design, copyrighting, product design, etc. It feels natural to try and seek out inspiration from similar works - a lot of people do this as "step-one." But I've found that it's difficult to avoid emulation, especially if you've stumbled across a work that is truly inspiring and beautiful. Instead, I'll avoid "peeking" at other similar works and go through a period of abstinence, hoping to pull more inspiration from my own experiences, imagination, and real-world environment. The final product will feel more authentic to me.
