Getting out of a reading slump

[Adanys Wynterwulf]

I've had enough. I'm done. I want to read again.

But the urge is not there. There's just an urge to discover the urge.

I've got so many books waiting for me. I do listen to audio books here and there, but physical books are my real love.

Does anyone have any techniques for getting out of slumps?
Read light books? Just hunker down and do it? Or just wait? It's come back before, but I don't want to just wait around

 

[Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum]

I'm right there with ya. I love that I can experience stories again with audiobooks, but I do miss actually holding a book.

 

[Cahalan Sothron]

I go through this slump a lot. For me, I find switching formats helps. I flip around from actual books to ebooks to graphic novels (on paper or device) as needed. I also ask for lots of recommendations especially for genres that don't usually appeal to me, and check out books that my favorite authors like to recommend (Stephen King is a goldmine for this!).

 

[Elania al'Manir]

I pick up one of my favorite easy to read books, like Dresden Files or Harry Potter. Granted, those are series and make me want to pick up the next one, so a standalone might be better.

 

[Adanys Wynterwulf]

My next to read is a biography and I don't do well with non fiction, but at the same time I want to read this book. I just..don't feel like it right now.

I've got a bunch of small books that I could turn to for now, maybe The Hotel Between. That one looks super cute

 

[Theolyn Maryash]

I never thought I'd come to this point, but yup, same here.

I don't really have a good advice here because I'm still arguing with myself ("You want to read the book, why aren't you reading it adsajfhasjrh") buuut I plan to make some sort of a reading routine. I used to have a book by the bed and read every night before sleep, no exception, even if it was only a few pages, so I'm trying that out again. What makes it a little difficult these days is that my current nightstand is tiny and my cats take revenge on everything if I wake up a second later than they want me to

The Hotel Between looks very interesting, Adanys - I think I'll add it to my neverending TBR list. :P

 

[Adanys Wynterwulf]

I used to have a book by the bed and read every night before sleep, no exception, even if it was only a few pages, so I'm trying that out again.

Oooh, this sounds like a good idea.
I'll have to see if I can start doing this. To ease myself into it and remind myself I love reading

The Hotel Between looks very interesting, Adanys -

Right!? I bought solely because of the colors on the cover. It's beautiful

 

[Jarl Lewin]

Maybe revisit old favourites? That might help reignite the reading fire.

 

[Catt Walburga de Wiltz]

^What Jarl said. I will often go back and reread favorites like the Brontes, Susan Cooper, Madeleine L'Engle, Diane Duane, etc.

 

[Juliya Karisu]

I get stressed when I think of my to-read list sometimes because it's so long. Also there are books on it that I know I probably won't enjoy but feel like I should read ... so sometimes when I don't feel like reading I read a lot of manga Try finding a friend to read the same book so you can talk about it together? Also I've said this before but the best way for me to read is to pick up my book after my kids are in bed instead of turning on the TV. I read in the evenings a lot. It cuts down on my TV show time, but reading is a hobby that I have to make time for. To me it's one or the other and hard to do both.

I recently joined a book club - this was a great way to get out of a reading slump as well as read some things I would never have picked up on my own. Plus the few days before the meeting I'm reading like crazy. Last time I finished my book, went out the door, and drove there.

 

[Loraella Melodie]

I always pick up a favourite (or two) and do a reread and that usually gets me out of the slump.

 

[Adanys Wynterwulf]

I picked up a book yesterday and read a few chapters :joy

Today I took some books to work and hopefully I'll read one of them on my lunch break

 

[Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum]

I got back into reading the Dresden Files, and I finished two books on audiobook over the long weekend. (They're pretty short, considering how long WoT books are. )

Anyways, I ran out of credits for Audible, so I bought the next book at Barnes & Noble. Like, the actual, physical book.

I read two chapters last night. Granted, they were short, but it still put a smile on my face.

 

[Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum]

I'm still mostly reading audiobooks, but I did notice lately that I'm juggling books, like I did a few years ago. I'm currently reading three books right now, but one captured my attention more than the other two.

 

[Leira Galene]

Cozy mysteries and random YA fantasy are my usual slump breakers, something that will hold your attention but doesn't require a lot of concentration. Kids books are another good one, because those are basically written to keep the focus of a short attention span.

 

[Leala ni al'Dareis t'al'Caleum]

I've been reading the Dresden Files in physical book form, and that's been helping. I'm not quite back to where I was, but my attention hasn't flitted away yet.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

I'll pick up a graphic novel, or a YA favorite (Harry Potter, Wrinkle in Time, Hunger Games), or some other comfort read (any Stephen King, or Jean Auel).

If that doesn't work, I just...don't read. I'll catch up on TV or podcasts, and get my story fix that way. Everything is cyclical for me, and sometimes I'm reading for hours at night, but other times I'm listening to a podcast and painting or doing cross stitch, and I've just come to be ok with that.

 

[Adanys Wynterwulf]

If that doesn't work, I just...don't read. I'll catch up on TV or podcasts, and get my story fix that way. Everything is cyclical for me, and sometimes I'm reading for hours at night, but other times I'm listening to a podcast and painting or doing cross stitch, and I've just come to be ok with that.

This ^ is important to remember. Especially at the end of the year when your unfinished goals are looming before you and you just don't. want. to read. Reading then begins to feel like a chore and all the joy is just sucked right out.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Also: You're no less of a reader if you're in a reading slump.

 

[Almira ni'Caldazare]

I love books I can just fall into but it takes time to find the right one sometimes...