I gotta admit that as of about a week ago, I went on a totally dry spell of not reading. It lasted better than a month. I didn’t pick up a book, my Nook or even paged through a magazine. An occasional newspaper was the only thing that I’d read. I was even in the middle of Jennifer Estep’s “Spider’s Revenge” when I stopped reading. Now this is a fantastic book. I was three quarters through it when I put it down and didn’t pick it up for a month. Why? No idea. Jennifer is one of my favorite authors. The characters were compelling, the plot tight, the action exciting. I had picked up five or six books by authors whose releases I had been salivating over. Was I even tempted into reading them? Nope.
Don’t’ mind sayin’ that it had me worried. I don’t think I’ve EVER gone so long without reading a book. Now I’ve been an avid reader since I was around five or six years old … when I first realized that those funny squiggly things were actually words and those words translated into stories. Stories that I could lose myself in. There was no looking back from there.
Since then, it was story books for kids, every animal story I could get my hands on, anything with horses in it, graduated to Harlequins in my teens, discovered historicals, science fiction, back to romance, then on to romantic paranormals and urban fantasies. Obviously my tastes have evolved over the decades. While I still read science fiction ‘pon occasion, I’m pleased that I came back to my first love … romances (no pun intended).
I’m also pleased to say that my reading dry spell came to an end last week. Whatever my funk was, I snapped out of it. I finished Jennifer’s book in record time, read Ione Andrew’s “Magic Bites”, and am now in the middle of Faith Hunter’s “Raven Cursed”. Right behind that come I have Carrie Vaughn’s latest, another Ione Andrews book and a whole slew of other books lined up for my attention.
So what are you reading right now? And have you ever gone through a dry spell where it seems like nothing — absolutely nothing, appealed to you?
I have gone through dry spells, but it’s usually when I’m immersed in my own book. Normally I can write and read but every once in a while, I just can’t do both.
Glad you got your reading mojo back!
Can’t even blame my own writing for this dry spell, Edie. Yes, I worked on it, but not to the extent where I’d drop everything I was reading.
Liz, I have gone through this before, too. Sometimes for longer than a month!
It always amazes me afterwards that I could go so long without reading. At the moment, I want to read, but I can’t find anything new that appeals to me all that much, so I’m re-reading favorites. But I do have the 3rd book in Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniels series on order, and I bought her short story, Silver Shark, over the weekend and read that. So some new stuff is coming in.
Michelle Diener`s last blog was …Talking about the call to adventure in KEEPER OF THE KING’S SECRETS
Actually, I think Ione has four books out in the Kate Daniels series. Pretty sure I saw that B&N the other day. Funny how it doesn’t matter that I was at the Brookfield B&N on Wednesday. When I was at the Mayfair B&N on Saturday that didn’t didn’t stop me from digging through the romance and science fiction shelves … despite the fact I knew I’d probably find nothing new.
Didn’t pick up Ione’s third or fourth book because I’m pretty sure I have at least the third one. Gotta dig through my own shelves at home to see if I have it. If not … onto the Nook it goes.
Yes. I’ve done this.
Sometimes I don’t read because I feel guilty. I “should be” writing instead of writing!
And yes, sometimes NOTHING hits my reading hot button. I remember one Judith McNaught book that I started, hated and put back on the shelve. A couple of months later, I picked it up again and LOVE IT. I think it was my frame of mind.
Glad to hear your dry spell is done.
Guilty? Hmm. Perhaps subconsciously I knew I should be devoting that reading time to writing … which, of course I didn’t do anyway. I’m finding that I HAVE to get some reading in … even if I’m in the midst of writing a book. I think it gives my mind a chance to relax and download. Plus, you never know when you read something that jars something loose in your head that you find is perfect for your WIP.
Glad to here you’re out of the reading funk. I noticed my stress levels seem to climb when I focus too much on writing and not enough on reading for pleasure. Last night I started Kresley Cole’s Lothaire and forced myself to put the book down at midnight (I’m a 10pm bedtime kind of girl). And, I can’t wait to read the read tonight!
Okay, I’m with you on the stress level hypothesis, Berinn. As I mentioned above in response to Cynthia’s comment, I find that I need to read to find some sense of balance. I felt all outta whack during that month that I wasn’t reading. Coincidence that it fell right around the holiday season? Maybe, but I don’t recall this problem in the past.
Too much to do, too little time.
Liz,
I’ve never not read though how much has been determined by time and other commitments.
I do find myself avoiding books the whatever genre I’m writing at the moment because I tend to lose myself in what I read and also in what I write. Started that on my second book when going back to revise I realized the previous chapter had names that were from the reading book, not mine!
Glad you’re reading mojo is back!
That’s sorta funny, Mary Jo, accidently using the names of the book you’re reading. Not good, mind you, but funny. Never did that. I have found myself coming up with ideas for my WIP when I’m reading other books. It seems to shake a few brain cells loose.
Liz, I started a one book a week challenge in Sept. Used to be a three book a week gal, but writing does sometimes slow us down. The results are three or four one week, nothing for two weeks … one and then another and nothing. I read in a variety of genres and this w/e finished Marilyn Brant’s A Summer in Europe (delightful), and I am now finally getting to finish Kristina McMorris’ Letters From Home so I can read her second. I lost sleep one week and read three mysteries by Michael Connelly in five days.
Who cares how we do it? Writers read and when we get a dry spell, it’s like a chocolate addiction, sooner or later we have to break open the next treat
“It’s like a chocolate addiction, sooner or later we have to break open the next treat.” Love that analogy, Florence. Very appropo.
You read way more than I can … and such a variety. Nice.
*waving to Florence* Thank you!!
Liz, I’ve gone through periods when I haven’t read much of anything. Often, when I’m stressed out about some aspect of my life, fiction will become a perfect escape. But there are times when that just doesn’t work. When I can’t seem to relax enough to suspend disbelief the way I’d need to in order to read a novel. That’s when I have to just wait it out…and, eventually, the right book to break the spell will find me.
As for what I’m reading right now? RITA books!!
Marilyn Brant`s last blog was …I Got My First Real Six-String…
Good idea, Marilyn. Hopefully I won’t go through another dry spell like this. Doesn’t sit well with me.
Liz, you’re not alone. I have reading funks that rise and fall with my busy life. Usually a good book is a vacation from real life and I dive right in. Other times, I can’t find the energy or motivation to pick one up, no matter how much I enjoy the author.
So I switch off. If a book doesn’t interest me, I watch a movie or listen to music. Sometimes taking a walk or knitting or working a puzzle is easier and more fun. Before I know it, I’m ready to open the cover and start reading again.
That’s true, Misty. I noticed that I’d been watching more movies and even more television while I was in my reading funk. Wonder if it was just a matter of exchanging one form of entertainment for another. Possible. Either way, I generally find television to be a massive waste of time, and most of the movies out there right now don’t interest me.
I’ve gone through dry spells, too–actually, I go through a lot of them. When I’m writing a story, I don’t usually read at all. I save up the books as reward reads for when I’m done.
Cynthia Eden`s last blog was …BOUND IN SIN–Available for the Nook
Wish I had the self-control to do that, Cyn. I’m more of an instant gratification sorta person.
If a book comes out that I’ve been waiting for … I usually crack that puppy open immediately. I should try the bribe and reward method. I might get more writing done.
I’ve gone through dry spells Liz. Usually when what I’m reading doesn’t appeal to me and I’m like “How did this get pubbed?” and I’m frustrated I’m still unpubbed.
I try to read one book a week.
All I read is Young Adult, since that’s what I’m writing. I’m just starting Where She Went by Gayle Forman. I’m very excited to read it. I read her book If I Stay and really liked it. Then reading Chime which has been get great reviews. And then The Replacement. I have several airplane flights coming up so I should get them all read in the next two weeks.
Happy reading!
I noticed that there are a TON of YAs out there, Beth. When I was at the Mayfair B&N, I was amazed on how many there were. Good for those of you who write that genre. Means the market is strong and the teens are buyin’ and readin’. A win/win situation.
I’m pretty much stuck on UFs right now as far as my reading for pleasure goes. Although I will admit to reading a historical not all that long ago. I sorta burned out on them several years ago, but occasionally go back to see what era seems to be popular with writers and readers.
I just finished reading Cinder, which was terrific, but frustrating because it’s part of a trilogy and it ended on a cliffhanger. I’m now reading The Duke is Mine by Elosia James, which, as usual, is great fun.
Gotta be patient with those cliffhangers, Maria. Particularly if the author is a slow writer. Robert Jordan did that for years. He’d take over two years to get a book out. Frustrating as hell. Then he went and died! Not that he planned to do that, but his series wasn’t done. Fortunately, his widow commissioned a well known fantasy author to complete the series. Still haven’t had a chance to read it (although I have the remaining books), but I understand the new author did a nice job with it.
I’m so under read!!! I never seem to have time. MUST. MAKE. TIME!
Karin* Tabke aka Harlow!`s last blog was …National Bestseller
When the hell do you have time to read, Karin? I think you must be one of the busiest people that I know.
I’ve been going through a dry spell with Fiction. I haven’t read much, maybe because I write so much of it? But I’ve been reading a lot of nonfiction.
At least you’re reading something, Lori … even if it isn’t fiction. I think I went through a spell once where I read nothing but non-fiction. Didn’t last long since fiction is preferable as far as I’m concerned.
Hope your slump passes soon.