How do you combat 'readers block'? - Page 2

gmw · 07-25-2013, 01:25 AM

The Corn Flakes packet.

Plenty of people have suggested re-reading favourites, which sometimes works, but I also find that an ambivalent reading mood can be a great time for picking up something right outside your usual. Go literary or classic if you don't normally do them. Go kids or YA if you normally steer clear of them. Try some non-fiction. Whatever. Make it a time of discovery. If it doesn't work then you haven't lost anything, if it does you've opened new doors for future reading.

stop__dreaming · 07-25-2013, 06:17 AM

Thanks for the tips guys and glad to hear I'm not the only one.

I have been planning my wedding for the last year (4 weeks to go!) so have been feeling a little stressed and what with the heatwave we've had over here, I haven't been able to have much energy to do anything recently.

jmilica · 07-25-2013, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stop__dreaming

Thanks for the tips guys and glad to hear I'm not the only one.

I have been planning my wedding for the last year (4 weeks to go!) so have been feeling a little stressed and what with the heatwave we've had over here, I haven't been able to have much energy to do anything recently.

Congratulations on the wedding!
As for the heatwave, from a city which had around 47-48C for nearly a month, I can only say I feel your pain

stop__dreaming · 07-25-2013, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmilica

Congratulations on the wedding!
As for the heatwave, from a city which had around 47-48C for nearly a month, I can only say I feel your pain

Thank you

Urgh, my worst nightmare!! Cannot deal with the heat personally. I prefer the cold

Dr. Drib · 07-25-2013, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stop__dreaming

I have calibre, but the books use up too much storage on my computer so I don't bother storing everything on there.

I would locate the books and data on an external drive, as I just did about 2 weeks ago.

I've now freed up a number of gigs on my laptop's internal HD.

Don

Laine · 07-25-2013, 10:41 AM

As others have said, I swap genres or reread a favourite, but something else I do is listen to an audio book while knitting or embroidering.

Marrella · 07-28-2013, 08:36 AM

Like others have already said, non-fiction usually does the trick for me. If you still can't focus on anything, try listening to a podcast, preferably one that talks about your favorite book genre. There are some really good ones out there, at least for SF and fantasy.

jersysman · 07-28-2013, 12:58 PM

As Don said, try to use Calibre to its fullest. It is a great library management program. If you can pick up a flash drive and keep your library on it. Unless you have a huge amount of books, usually a 32 gb is more than enough.

speakingtohe · 07-28-2013, 08:24 PM

I go through period when I can only read for short periods at a time, and I think it may be stress related. Generally reading gets my mind of stress, but there are times when the greatest books become blah blah blah.

At these times I still read, but for much shorter periods and then do something else instead. Or sit like a lump and stress out

It always passes for me. One thing that seems to help is reading shorter books with a reasonable amount of action and witty dialogue. When I am a slump short stories leave me cold, but a 100-150 page book is likely to get finished and enjoyed in a day or two.

Helen

SouthernSun · 07-28-2013, 09:18 PM

The only type of reader's block I experience is more akin to post-book depression, in which I don't want to start anything new because I'm so attached to what I just finished. The only solution? Wallow in post-book misery until I can be interested in books again.

gmw · 07-29-2013, 01:48 AM

SouthernSun, I know that feeling very well. Some books are very hard to follow, especially when all you really want is to go back where you were.

vikarti · 07-29-2013, 06:53 AM

I usually switch genres and sometimes re-read old books / short stories

xg4bx · 07-29-2013, 07:17 AM

I pick something that sounds interesting in a genre that I don't normally read. Most of my reading slumps can probably be attributed to genre fatigue so I go outside my ''comfort zone'' for a new experience.

Crowl · 07-29-2013, 07:30 AM

This isn't really an issue for me as my TBR backlog is normally quite high, but one thing I do find quite handy even when I was buying epubs was to search for authors I liked on amazon as sometimes the 'customers who bought this also bought' suggestions have led me to some interesting books/authors.

DrNefario · 07-29-2013, 08:23 AM

I have a massive TBR and dozens of books I'm very keen to get to, so it's a bit tough for me to empathise. The two difficulties I occasionally hit are being paralysed by indecision - having too many things to choose from, and not wanting to make the wrong choice - and not being able to find something that fits my current mood.

The solution, usually, is just to start reading. I'll get into it, in which case, great, or I won't, in which case, so what? Pick something else and try again.

07-25-2013, 10:41 AM	#21
Laine Addict Posts: 341 Karma: 1162396 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cabramatta, Sydney, Australia Device: Aura H2O, Voyage	As others have said, I swap genres or reread a favourite, but something else I do is listen to an audio book while knitting or embroidering. Last edited by Laine; 07-25-2013 at 10:42 AM. Reason: Spelling

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07-25-2013, 01:25 AM	#16
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	The Corn Flakes packet. Plenty of people have suggested re-reading favourites, which sometimes works, but I also find that an ambivalent reading mood can be a great time for picking up something right outside your usual. Go literary or classic if you don't normally do them. Go kids or YA if you normally steer clear of them. Try some non-fiction. Whatever. Make it a time of discovery. If it doesn't work then you haven't lost anything, if it does you've opened new doors for future reading.

07-25-2013, 06:17 AM	#17
stop__dreaming Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 1211098 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol, England Device: Kindle 3	Thanks for the tips guys and glad to hear I'm not the only one. I have been planning my wedding for the last year (4 weeks to go!) so have been feeling a little stressed and what with the heatwave we've had over here, I haven't been able to have much energy to do anything recently.

07-28-2013, 08:36 AM	#22
Marrella Cambrian crab Posts: 2,929 Karma: 3229927 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Germany Device: Kindle, Pocket Book, Kobo, Sony	Like others have already said, non-fiction usually does the trick for me. If you still can't focus on anything, try listening to a podcast, preferably one that talks about your favorite book genre. There are some really good ones out there, at least for SF and fantasy.

07-28-2013, 12:58 PM	#23
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	As Don said, try to use Calibre to its fullest. It is a great library management program. If you can pick up a flash drive and keep your library on it. Unless you have a huge amount of books, usually a 32 gb is more than enough.

07-28-2013, 08:24 PM	#24
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I go through period when I can only read for short periods at a time, and I think it may be stress related. Generally reading gets my mind of stress, but there are times when the greatest books become blah blah blah. At these times I still read, but for much shorter periods and then do something else instead. Or sit like a lump and stress out It always passes for me. One thing that seems to help is reading shorter books with a reasonable amount of action and witty dialogue. When I am a slump short stories leave me cold, but a 100-150 page book is likely to get finished and enjoyed in a day or two. Helen

07-28-2013, 09:18 PM	#25
SouthernSun Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 166452 Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Keyboard	The only type of reader's block I experience is more akin to post-book depression, in which I don't want to start anything new because I'm so attached to what I just finished. The only solution? Wallow in post-book misery until I can be interested in books again.

07-29-2013, 01:48 AM	#26
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	SouthernSun, I know that feeling very well. Some books are very hard to follow, especially when all you really want is to go back where you were.

07-29-2013, 06:53 AM	#27
vikarti Groupie Posts: 185 Karma: 1004974 Join Date: May 2013 Location: Solar system, Earth Device: none	I usually switch genres and sometimes re-read old books / short stories

07-29-2013, 07:17 AM	#28
xg4bx Are you gonna eat that? Posts: 1,633 Karma: 23215128 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Phillipsburg, NJ Device: Kindle 3, Nook STG	I pick something that sounds interesting in a genre that I don't normally read. Most of my reading slumps can probably be attributed to genre fatigue so I go outside my ''comfort zone'' for a new experience.

07-29-2013, 07:30 AM	#29
Crowl Wizard Posts: 1,340 Karma: 1160346 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Southport, GB Device: Kindle Voyage, PW Signature edition	This isn't really an issue for me as my TBR backlog is normally quite high, but one thing I do find quite handy even when I was buying epubs was to search for authors I liked on amazon as sometimes the 'customers who bought this also bought' suggestions have led me to some interesting books/authors.

07-29-2013, 08:23 AM	#30
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,227 Karma: 12029046 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I have a massive TBR and dozens of books I'm very keen to get to, so it's a bit tough for me to empathise. The two difficulties I occasionally hit are being paralysed by indecision - having too many things to choose from, and not wanting to make the wrong choice - and not being able to find something that fits my current mood. The solution, usually, is just to start reading. I'll get into it, in which case, great, or I won't, in which case, so what? Pick something else and try again.