Breaking Out of a Reading Funk
Lately, I've been in a reading funk re: fiction. Nothing serious but a nagging one just the same. My brain has shut down. Enough! Enough, it screams. My attention wanders off like minnows do in a stream.
So: what to do? How do you recharge the old batteries and get on with it?
One trick I try is to switch up genres. Read Westerns instead of crime fiction. Or I'll branch off to nonfiction and just skip the fiction for a while. At one time, I listened to audio books while I did other stuff.
For me, the size of a book matters when I'm in a funk. So, if it's as big and daunting as a cinderblock, then it'd better be a GOOD book. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was the last honker I read, and I liked it well enough to finish.
Let yourself be an impatient reader. If a book doesn't click in the first 50 pages, chuck it aside. (I got the 50 Page Rule from the 4-MA Yahoo group.)
So, my reading funk will soon pass. It always does. What is your best technique to break out of one?
By Ed Lynskey
Twitter: @edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Nice addition to anyone’s summer beach reading schedule."
Florida Times-Union
So: what to do? How do you recharge the old batteries and get on with it?
One trick I try is to switch up genres. Read Westerns instead of crime fiction. Or I'll branch off to nonfiction and just skip the fiction for a while. At one time, I listened to audio books while I did other stuff.
For me, the size of a book matters when I'm in a funk. So, if it's as big and daunting as a cinderblock, then it'd better be a GOOD book. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was the last honker I read, and I liked it well enough to finish.
Let yourself be an impatient reader. If a book doesn't click in the first 50 pages, chuck it aside. (I got the 50 Page Rule from the 4-MA Yahoo group.)
So, my reading funk will soon pass. It always does. What is your best technique to break out of one?
By Ed Lynskey
Twitter: @edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"Nice addition to anyone’s summer beach reading schedule."
Florida Times-Union
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Alan wrote: "I'm in a bit of a can't read funk at the moment. I've tried a few different books over the last few weeks, but none have clicked, so have been sticking to graphic novels, and writing my own!That..."
Graphic novels. Right, that's an idea. I read one of the Parker novels done as a graphic novel. It was fun. Thanks for the comments.
Funny, me too. Just looking for that next great read!
80% of the books I read I borrow from the library. I try to mix genres (never less than 6 books per trip and frequently more) but when I am in a reading funk, I turn to non-fiction, either biography or history. Usually does the trick.
Michele wrote: "80% of the books I read I borrow from the library. I try to mix genres (never less than 6 books per trip and frequently more) but when I am in a reading funk, I turn to non-fiction, either biograph..."Right, bio. and history are my favorite nonfiction topics, too. I like to borrow a lot from library. I don't want the local politicos to think it's not being used enough to slice it from the budget. Thanks for the comments.
The library is the where I get most of my books too. I pick up a few at thrift shops and garage sales in case I get snowed in. I would be broke without the library to feed my habit!
Alan wrote: "and writing my own!"Hey, good luck with it!
Ed wrote: "Alan wrote: "and writing my own!"Hey, good luck with it!"
Thanks :)
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That tends to be what happens. I'll get in the funk, and there doesn't seem to be anything that will shift it, so I retreat into graphic novels. I would like to get back to reading "proper" books again soon though, as graphics feel a little like I'm cheating.