On Writing (affiliate link). Most creatives have read it, heard of it, or covered it with a million sticky tabs (What, just me?). Stephen King‘s masterful book is a must-have for several reasons. But one of those reasons is his famous quote (on page 145 in the hardcover; you’re welcome 😉 ) . . .
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others:
read a lot and write a lot.”
Simple. Straightforward. Certain. No additional flourishes or rules. Simply read and write. Not only for inspiration but also as research for our own personal practice.
Caveat: Similar to the post on authentic writing, the following exercise might seem “woo-woo” and highly philosophical. But to the open-minded folk, let’s get this party started.
But first, take a moment to mentally or physically list your most ideal conditions for your reading practice. You can use the following as a guide:
- How would you describe your favorite reading spot?
- What places inspire your inner book dragon to come to life?
- When in the day are you most likely to drop everything to read?
- What season / weather condition gives you the bookworm-y vibes?
- Which words or phrases automatically draw up images of reading time?
As we go through the techniques of finding your ideal practice, keep this list in mind.
Although we don’t need to recreate these exact situations every time we pick up a book, knowing what they are can help us find those places more efficiently or mold our surroundings to fit the description. So how do we find our best reading time and space?
Seek Peace
I’m not saying you need to climb the top of a mountain to sit in meditation to seek inner peace. Unless that’s your thing, then I say you should definitely go for it.
However, what I am saying is to search for situations where you can be undisturbed. If that means silence, find an area where there is silence. If that isn’t an option, then make your surroundings sound-free by putting on noise-reducing ear/headphones or listening to brown noise to block out the commotion around you.
Or maybe your peace-seeking is in the opposite end of the spectrum. Maybe you need a bit of stimulation to find your centeredness. Go to a coffee shop at noontime or after work. Put on some epic music. Head to the park when the wind runs through the leaves while everyone’s walking their dog(s).
Find where you feel the most centered and balanced.
Clear the Right Time
How does she read more than 4 hours in a day with work, school, and a million obligations? Audiobooks, my friend. But even if you prefer physical books or ebooks, look for the times when you know you could wedge reading in.
Depending on your personality and lifestyle, this might entail scheduling a block of reading time. If you’re busy in the morning and are a night owl (me me me!), then evening might be perfect. If you’re exhausted after work and are an early riser, then the morning it is!
Or maybe you’re a “seize the moment” kind of person. Steal time from chores, commute, or exercise. This could look like cracking open a book on the train or playing an audiobook while driving to school / running on the treadmill.
Another consideration is to determine if you need a certain amount of time to fully grasp the story. For me, I know my mind won’t be able to catch anything if I smash in a reading session between back-to-back classes. So I allocate my in-between reading times during my lunch break where I have at least 30 minutes to enjoy the story while stewing over the images in my mind. You might be the total opposite, liking short bursts of mental imagery to spark fireworks in your brain. Do what suits you!
Track Comfort & Alertness
This section combines the first two concepts and may require the most flexibility. Be aware when a book requires comfort, attention, or both from you.
You might dress in your favorite pajama pants huddled in your favorite comforter while nursing a warm cup of cocoa in hand with a romantic comedy. Or you might be sitting at your desk reading Heather Sellers’s Chapter after Chapter (affiliate link) with your notebook open, pen at the ready. Or perhaps you’re lying in bed, reading Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys (affiliate link) while typing in the techniques you found effective into your Evernote.
Comfort, attention, or both.
Comfort may come in the form of your favorite season. For example, maybe springtime is when your inner book dragon awakens, but it’s currently October. What reminds you of spring? The smell of flowers, the softness of clean sheets, and the sound of brooks. Go to your reading space, spritz on your favorite flower-scented body spray (sweet pea, anyone?), wrap yourself in a linen blanket, and play nature sounds over the speakers. BOOM.
Attention might take the form of a time of day. Perhaps afternoons are your most attentive times, but you’re on the clock. Instead, when you get home at night, make your surroundings like the afternoon. Turn on a warm, bright light with an iced drink to complete the vibes.
Each has their own space and time. Know when you need to adjust to a particular story. Just like you need a spoon for soup, chopsticks for ramen, and spoon with fork for sinigang (Where my kababayan at?), we should know how to position ourselves for the most rewarding reading absorption. And if you aren’t able to go to your ideal reading condition, make them happen.
You might already be doing these things without knowing it. That’s great! But identifying these tendencies means you can consciously adjust your surroundings to best suit the time you set aside to embrace your inner book dragon.
Here’s to many, many more hours filled with the devouring of scrumptious pages! *Raises coffee cup, then returns to The Raven King (affiliate link)*
Write Time
If you’re planning to attentively seek your ideal reading conditions, comment below with “Excelsior!” (Overdoing The Raven Cycle [affiliate link] references in this post? I think not. 😉 ) If you already know what your ideal reading conditions are, let me know in the comments below, lovely. I’d love to see our similarities and uniqueness.
