I set a goal to read more this year and so far, I’ve stuck with it. In the past, I’ve always carved out two or three days to read a book. But since I started editing, I don’t have that kind of time. Instead, I’ve found a new reading schedule. At night, my brain spins for a good hour before I go to sleep. I’ve started reading instead of spinning. Reading a good book settles my mind and I go to sleep easier. Some nights, I’ll get a couple of hours in. Instead of finishing a book in two or three days though, it takes me a few weeks. It’s not how I really like to enjoy a book, but it works. It’s definitely better than not reading and I’m finding that I savor the story more by not rushing through it.
I know readers who can read two or three or more books at the same time. I’ve never been able to do that. I like focusing on one story, getting to know the characters, and delving deep into their fictional world. But with editing, I’ve found myself reading two books instead of one. By day, I edit a book, by night, I read another. With my editing, I read the whole book on my tablet, then I read it again, do my edits, and send it to the author. Once they implement my revisions, it comes back. I read it again, accept or veto the changes they made, make sure the story still makes sense and there’s nothing else I missed, then send
it on to the copy editor. I’ve managed this shuffle. But one day, I was editing my current project and read about the hero being a journalist. No, I thought. That’s not right, he owns an extreme sports business. Oops, I mixed up my plots.
I’ve gotten better at juggling books since I started my new reading schedule. Now when I’m in the final editing phase where I’m approving revisions, I don’t read at night and only focus on my editing project. After a few skipped nights of novel reading, I might have to go back a few pages and refresh where I was in the story, but for the most part this system works for me.
When I’m writing, especially on a deadline, I don’t read at all. I need all my focus for creating. But in between writing books, I still carve out my two to three days to read one. Since I’m almost finished with my editing jobs for the year, I’ll spend the rest of 2022 writing and reading in between projects. But maybe reading at night too.
I’m still puzzling too. When my brain starts crying from too much editing, I take a puzzle break and my 16-year-old cat loves to help. I’ve included the covers of a few of the books I’ve read this year.
What about you? Does your reading schedule change or stay on an even keel? Do you read more than one book at a time? If so, how do you keep your plots straight? Recently, I received a surprise in the mail, 3 of my books paired with other authors in the Mills and Boon Western collection to be released internationally. Answer to enter the drawing for a copy of Deb Kastner’s Their Unbroken Bond with my The Cowboy’s Missing Memory. Deadline: May 23rd. Since one of Deb’s books was one of the first Love Inspired titles I ever read, I’m sort of fangirl about her, and I’m honored to be in the same book. Yay me!
Award winning author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter writes contemporary Christian cowboy romance and has over a dozen published titles. A romance reader since her teens, she hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as she demonstrates that love doesn’t conquer all—Jesus does. She gleans fodder for her fiction in rural Arkansas where she spent her teenage summers working the concession stand with her rodeo announcing dad and married a Texan who morphed into a pastor. In her spare time, she loves hanging out with her husband and son, flea marketing, and doing craft projects.
I have read a Deb Kastner book yet.
I read one book at a time or I would get confused. I normally read during my lunch break and at night.
I read a novel and a non- fiction at the same time. In fact, because I love CCR so much, it’s really the only way I ever get myself to read non- fiction i.e. I make myself finish both concurrent books before I can move on to another book.
I can read a nonfiction and a fiction but not several fiction at the same time. It’s to confusing for me. I read less in the summer as I am busy gardening, yard work, etc. Reading at bedtime also relaxes me to sleep.
I usually read one book at a time, but on rare occasions will have two going. My reading schedule changes depending on what else I am doing. For instance, if I am working on a craft project, I tend to read less.
welcome today. thanks for sharing this wonderful post. I used to be able to read two books at the same time, but they were of different genres, so that was easy to keep them straight. Now it is one book at a time. Age seems to have also aged my brain. LOL. Change is something that is part of life, so yes I have had to adapt to not reading at the same time every day. Sigh. LOL oh well. I find that it actually makes the stories that I savor when I read that much more enjoyable.
I read one book at a time. My brain can’t handle more.
I read if I go lay down to rest and before bed.Right now I have more than one book started
Ps. Today is my 24th birthday
I technically read at least two books at time, if you count my Bible with the other book. Sometimes, though, it’s three at a time if I’m also proofreading one. I started a non-fiction book yesterday, so I’m reading it, a fiction, and my Bible, so it’s still three! I have yet to get the books mixed up, though I’m sure I will at some point!
Happy Birthday Kendra! I read one at a time but stop a book if I am not enjoying it.
I read that hour before sleep, too. Some authors go to bed thinking about their own stories and find they “magically” solve plot problems in their sleep. I just don’t sleep in that case, which is no fun for anyone! So reading someone else’s story frees up my brain.
I usually have only one fiction book on the go (and a nonfiction sometimes). If we’re traveling, I also often have something like a novella collection on my phone to pick up in those five minutes here and there, like when hubby is fueling up the truck or has run into a store for something.
My reading schedule changes constantly with work, school, and church ministry – always running of time :(
Do you read more than one book at a time? I usually read one book and listen to another :)
Hi Kim. The Christmas Groom was the first book I read of hers and one of my first LI reads. It really stuck with me because the hero was blond with spiky hair. The cover had him with dark hair, but I don’t think publishers worked as hard on covers back then. I like my heroes tall, dark, and handsome and no spiky hair. But she made me fall completely in love with the guy just through his personality and back story.
Back when my son was in elementary and middle school, I sat in the pick-up line for about 20 minutes every day. I kept a book in the car. And if my husband and I ever go on an errand or shopping trip where I know he’ll be in man stores, I take a book. Especially when we go to Bass Pro. I look at all the housewares, then I take my book and sit in front of the fish tank.
I might could do that, Jeannette. I’m not a nonfiction reader though. The only nonfiction I read is books on writing and the Bible. Other than that, I like my stories made up :)
I guess I read nonfiction and fiction at the same time. I read at least a chapter of my Bible every night before I do my novel reading. I should do the opposite, so I go to bed thinking about Bible verses. But I want my brain fresh during Bible reading. Most people do Bible reading in the morning, but I’m a night owl. My brain is way too cloudy when I get up.
That’s funny. I read more in the summer. I hate summer. I hate heat and humidity. And I hate bugs. While they love me. I hibernate under the air conditioner until Fall – my favorite season.
Hey Jessica, reading is something you definitely have to make time for and squeeze in when you can. I so totally do not understand nonreaders. Any more than they understand me, I guess. I went on trip with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, both nonreaders, several years ago. I took a book. They talked every time I tried to read, like I wasn’t doing anything. A few years later, I saw a funny video with Levar Burton trying to read and everyone interrupting him.
Hey Lori, I might could do different genres. But I read Contemporary Romance and Women’s Fiction. And that’s what I edit too. I’ve heard people say, they keep one book in the car, one by the bed, and one by their chair and read all three simultaneously. My brain doesn’t work like that.
Mine barely can, Linda. I understand completely.
Hi Kendra, I’m in awe. I don’t know how you keep up with more than one story. Happy Birthday!!!!!
Hey Trudy, I guess I’m reading 3 too, since I read the Bible every evening before my novel reading. So I’m currently reading a Contemporary Romance submission (to decide if my friend’s company will publish it), a Contemporary Romance novel, and the Bible. So far I haven’t gotten them mixed up.
Same here, Jcp. I used to finish books, whether I liked them or not. I kept thinking it might get better. But life is too short for forced, unenjoyable reading.
Same here Valerie. If I think about my book, I’m up for hours. Reading to edit or reading submissions for publication before bed makes me keep thinking and staying awake too. I need to read just for fun.
When I first started writing and learning about writing, I couldn’t read without editing in my mind, which ruined the book. Thankfully I got over that. Now I take those things I’ve read in other books where I thought, this would have been better if they’d done this, and put them in my books. So other books inspire my own.
I guess life is a series of changes, Natalya. I’ve never listened to a book. I bought one I thought my husband would enjoy several years ago. He’s not a fiction reader, so I thought maybe he’d listen to it. He never has. I’m thinking we should take it on our next road trip. If I can still find it.
Like my marriage, I’m a one-at-a-time book person. I don’t know how my husband can have two or three going at the same time! I’d get my plots & characters all mixed up for sure :-)
My reading schedule is about the same as always. I’m no longer reviewing books for authors or on launch/street teams, so I can leisurely take my time reading a good book and not feel rushed because I need to review it. I’ve found I do NOT have to feel guilty for taking 3-5 days finishing a story. It means I can savor every page! And I’ve read what I WANT to read when I WANT to read it. So refreshing. It’s like I got my love of a good book back.
I set a goal of 100 books a year and I’m still about 6 books ahead of schedule, so I don’t see any reason why I won’t make my goal. Mostly, I exceed it by a few books with all the Christmas novellas I like to end the year with reading. Those definitely pad my book count, lol!
I agree 100%! I love having company in the “hating the heat club”! Starting to read digital books & editing have changed my reading habits so much. It can’t be just age… 😊 I never used to read more than one book at a time, except Bible studies/non-fiction and fiction. When editing I generally listen to the book as I read along. I’ve found my eyes catch things my ears don’t, a very helpful tool. I have an author I do Beta work for who sends her manuscript back after each revision & I love seeing the changes as they progress. I usually have a fiction and non-fiction physical book going at once, one Kindle book on my phone, one on my Kindle & often a ‘pleasure’ book on my computer. When editing I use Google Docs or read/listen on my computer program. I had just told my brother-in-law a few years ago that I couldn’t see how he could possibly read 5 books at once–I could NEVER do that! Yeah, I had to eat my words! I usually work on books during the day & when my concentration starts to break (usually guided by pain) I will change to more pleasure reading or ARC books. By early evenings I will move to all pleasure books. I am up very late at night but I can’t concentrate anymore. So I listen to my favorite TV show (from season one through the last, continually rotating) while I do jigsaw puzzles on the computer, my winddown from the day! I guess when you have a good schedule for your day it’s easy to stick to it!
Thanks for the article showing we have some fun things in common!
That’s a good analogy on marriage, Trixi.
That’s exactly how I felt after I started studying how to write. It kind of ruined my reading enjoyment for a while because I’d notice all the mistakes the writer had made. I’d wonder why they were published and I wasn’t. I finally learned to turn my critique off and just enjoy it.
Wow. Thatscz lot of books. My mom reads 20 to 40 every two weeks.
We have a lot in common, Deb. But you make me feel like an under achiever. I stay up til 2 am and get up at 10. If I’m editing, I’ll usually work from 11 til 5, then spend the evening with my family. I’ll do some more editing from 11 to 1, then read til bedtime. I can’t handle more than reading one book, editing one book, and nightly Bible reading. Same with writing. I can’t edit and write, but I can write one book and read another. I juggle according to deadlines and somehow pull it off.
it changes when I have time to read
I guess most people have a schedule that changes and we weave reading time in where we can.
I only read one book at a time as I struggle to keep things straight. I tend to read in the evening more than any other time depending on how tired I am. It doesn’t take much to really tire me and at night I am likely to all asleep watching tv. (I can read and watch tv).
I have a hard time keeping things straight too. Reading and watching TV is a talent. If my husband is watching something I’m not interested in, I can read while he watches tv.
I often read two or three books at a time. I often have a fiction book and a non fiction book going at the same time. I like to read Love Inspired suspense during the day, if I read it befroe bed my dreams would not be so sweet.
I enjoy suspense, but it keys me up. That’s why I love romance. It relaxes me. But I understand. I used to love Unsolved Mysteries. But I could never watch it during the evening. It creeped me out so I’d record it and watch it during the day.
We do have a lot in common. I generally go to bed around 3 and get up about 8 or 9. I start my day with devotions and don’t always have that many books going at once, I tend to go in waves. I am also kind of ruled by pain. Some days I don’t manage to accomplish much of anything. It always seems like all the authors release the books in lumps too, how does that always work? Last year in May I had 3 or 4 ARC authors I always review for that were participating in a box set. I had always wanted to read an entire box set to review and decided to try this one. Naturally that was when all the other authors I do work for lumped within the same period too. I put my regular authors first but still managed to get all the books done. There were a handful I just reviewed for and 3 or 4 were just Novellas. Through the month of May I got to read 28 books! I have to say that I am a disabled widow with very little family so all I had besides reading were 15 medical appointments-and several were only physical therapy. So I don’t do much besides read, really. If I had a family or a life, to speak of, I wouldn’t go through the number of books I do, I am very sure! I figure that if I can have some small part in the outreach of the Gospel message through books I feel my life can still have a positive meaning to replace the volunteer jobs I used to take part is. These books and some of the new friends I’ve met were the most awesome blessing from God!
Hi Shannon,
Congrats on your newest book! And it’s always so interesting to learn about the reading habits of others. :) I’ve also been trying the reading a book (paperback) at night, but it’s evolved to whenever I have the time. I still read ebooks and listen to audiobooks, and yes, I can have a couple of each going at the same time. How it works in my brain, I don’t have a clue, but I think it may have started with my signing up for too many ARCs with close release dates at one time (I’ve tried to learn from that mistake and not repeat it, but apparently the skill remained). That and the saying “so many books, so little time.” ;)
You require less sleep than I do, Deb. I need my 8 hours. And if I have a long day with lots going on, I need 10 to recover. Like yesterday, we had church and two graduations. I went to bed at midnight and still slept til 10.
I don’t know why all the books release at once. Each publisher has their own editorial calendar. The one I work for usually releases 3 or 4 books a month. But a lot of bigger publishers release a lot more than that. It does seem like my favorite authors always have a book releasing about the same time and they all have different publishers.
Wow, 28 books and May isn’t over yet. I’m glad reading keeps you company and it is a ministry.
Thanks Priscila. When I have book deadlines, it gets kind of crazy sometimes. I’ll be writing one book and I get the editorial revisions for the last one. So I have to stop writing, work on revisions on the previous book, then get back to writing the current one. And when I finish a book and start a new one, I type the wrong names for a few days.
I’m usually on a regular schedule just may stop when camping. I read one book at a time but I read a lot of books due to how fast I read.
I don’t regularly read just when in the mood but on my speed
I do better when watching the news, or sport, where I can listen but don’t need to take much notice. In other shows its mainly in the adds.
I’ve never been camping, Amy. I’m not the rough it type. I would go if I had a nice motorhome with air conditioning and plumbing.
I guess I’m always in the mood to read. I just don’t have that much time.
I can crochet and watch TV, but not read and watch. Unless it’s sports, then I’m not listening.
My reading schedule stays the same. I read multiple books at a time. I have five devotionals, one Bible study (sometimes two) and at least one fictional book. I am able to keep them all straight. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
Wow, Debra. I’m impressed. That’s probably really good for your brain and memory. Do you ever read more than one fiction book at the same time?
Sorry, I didn’t explain well, that was May of last year. I used to sleep more but now I sleep for an hour & a half at the most before waking up from pain. After 3 or 4 rounds I give up and get up. It’s not a very restful way to sleep but you adapt when you have to. I think it has made the enjoyment of reading and helping with good books even more of a blessing. I believe it just happens that books come out together. I read several genres, using different publishers, and the individual authors allow varying turn around times for ARCs . Maybe God just knows when I need to be sidetracked from my life!
I can’t even imagine reading more than one book at a time! When I am reading, I really get “into” the plot and characters and don’t want to get confused!
I agree, Linda. I’d rather read one at a time.