Not so fast!!

[Rachael]

I’m not a fast reader and I have set my year challenge to 12 books, I’m currently on my 11th and think I will pass my goal!

Have you guys any tips on how to read faster?
I normally like to read when there’s no distractions (tv, radio or fiancé talking lol)

Xx

[Keri]

How to read faster? Not really. The only thing I can say is that it seems to get easier the more consistent you read. If I haven't read in awhile, it can take me a few days to get back into the groove of sitting still long enough to get into a book. But I don't know if it actually helps me read faster..

[Lisa]

Hmmm... Can I ask you, why you want to read faster? Is it speed-reading you're interested in or increasing your general reading speed?

I'm not a huge advocate for speed-reading so the following tips do not include any speed-reading techniques. However, if that's what you're interested in, there are tons of videos and articles on that :)
Either way, I think it's really important to keep in mind that, how many books you read, or how fast you read them, isn't as important as finding the action of reading itself enjoyable :)
At least I find that if I try to speed through books, then it stresses me, which negates the experience I am trying to achieve altogether.

The main tip I do have is: read books that interest you!
I know we're all wanting to expand our horizons and try out different genres, and so on and so forth, but why waste your time with something that you don't think you'll like? You're more likely enjoy a book more and by extension read it faster when it's a topic or genre you enjoy.
For instance, I am 100% aware that certain non-fiction subjects simply take me longer to get into. So if I'm trying to read faster (whatever the reason may be) I'll stay clear of books that use technical terminology or that deal with topics that I don't have the slightest interest in. In the same sense, if I'm trying to meet a reading goal or something like that, I will gravitate towards authors I'm already familiar with, instead of trying to get into the writing style of a new author.

Another thing is: set a goal for yourself!
This may be to read 30 pages a day or 30 minutes a day or to finish x-number-of-chapters a day. However you operate best, and however long you have, setting a little goal you want to reach in a limited period of time might be helpful.
Now, for me this depends on the book. But say I have 10 minutes to spare, I will set a goal of 3 pages in those 10 minutes and then I'll try to read up to that point. A little competition with yourself is always healthy :)

My final tip is going to sound banal but: practice, practice, practice!
Increasing your reading speed is all about training. The more you are reading, the more you're expanding your vocabulary, which means you're understanding more. Eventually overtime you will naturally increase your reading speed.

Finally, take it easy and have fun! Make sure you don't preoccupy yourself so much with reading quickly that it becomes a chore but push yourself a little more every day and be patient :) Before you know it, you'll be reading much faster than you even realized you ever could :)

[Sheila]

I set a modest reading goal last year and surpassed it easily so I upped my goal for this year and I know I will meet it. However, next year I'm not sure I will set a goal at all. I have been frustrated with finding books with quality content that I find interesting. I feel that I have pressured myself into meeting the goal and find that I am not fully concentrating on the content of the story.

I would prefer to take my time with a book and choose books for my enjoyment and not for the sake of a goal.