How do you combat 'readers block'?

stop__dreaming · 07-24-2013, 11:32 AM

Am struggling to know what I'd like to read next.

Mike L · 07-24-2013, 11:38 AM

Why struggle? If there's nothing you feel compelled to read, don't bother. Do something else instead.

Reading should be a pleasure, not an obligation.

Mike

jgaiser · 07-24-2013, 11:47 AM

When I get into reading slumps, I try something light and somewhat mindless. Terry Pratchett usually works for me.

But as Mike says, reading should be for enjoyment. Don't work too hard at it.

stop__dreaming · 07-24-2013, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike L

Why struggle? If there's nothing you feel compelled to read, don't bother. Do something else instead.

Reading should be a pleasure, not an obligation.

Mike

Very true, but I like to read on my commute to and from work and on my lunch hour. Definitely not working through my lunch

Oh, don't get me wrong guys, I love reading and it is a pleasure but nothing's jumping out at me at the moment if you know what I mean.

mewmartigan · 07-24-2013, 11:58 AM

when i have reader's block i will usually go in for a shorter, stand alone novel or maybe even a short story (Brandon Sanderson's Emperor's Soul will be my next).

This way, its a shorter story and maybe it will either put me in a fantasy mood after i finish it, or maybe i'll want to go back to hard scifi, etc.

Graham · 07-24-2013, 12:05 PM

Switch genre.

And pick something reasonably short.

Graham

AnemicOak · 07-24-2013, 12:14 PM

I either read a short story or re-read a favorite.

Apache · 07-24-2013, 12:20 PM

If nothing new strikes my fancy I go back through my collection and read something great again. Before eBooks that was my home library that is still crammed with books.

Apache

jmilica · 07-24-2013, 12:33 PM

I read a hard-boiled novel, either of an author I like or from series I know is good (like recently discounted Hard Case Crime).

Dr. Drib · 07-24-2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stop__dreaming

Am struggling to know what I'd like to read next.

If you used calibre, you wouldn't have this problem.

Calibre can choose random reads, as an option.

Don

usuallee · 07-24-2013, 01:33 PM

Yeah as a voracious reader I usually read every chance I get, but often I'll just not feel like reading for a day or two, so I don't. Sometimes it is aided by having a less than compelling book in progress. I will abandon books, but sometimes it is hard to let go if they started out well. Usually after such mini-sabbaticals I'm chomping at the bit to do some reading.

Then sometimes I want to read but have a hard time settling in on a particular book. Those are good times for catching up on perusing some downloaded samples.

stop__dreaming · 07-24-2013, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

If you used calibre, you wouldn't have this problem.

Calibre can choose random reads, as an option.

Don

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

icallaci · 07-24-2013, 11:37 PM

If I have been reading a lot of fiction, I will switch to non-fiction, and vice versa.

cromag · 07-24-2013, 11:49 PM

Take a break. If you don't have anything that grabs you, don't read. It shouldn't be a job (unless it is your job).

Dazrin · 07-25-2013, 12:15 AM

Like you, I generally read on my commute and during my lunch break. Times when there isn't much else I can really do. To get back in the groove, I generally read an old favorite or something I know I will like (more Discworld, etc.) Sometimes I really need to take a break from reading and on those times I tend to play a couple mindless games on my phone or print out some sudoku for my commute.

07-24-2013, 11:32 AM	#1
stop__dreaming Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 1211098 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bristol, England Device: Kindle 3	How do you combat 'readers block'? Am struggling to know what I'd like to read next. Last edited by Alexander Turcic; 07-29-2013 at 03:00 AM. Reason: added to frontpage

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07-24-2013, 11:38 AM	#2
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	Why struggle? If there's nothing you feel compelled to read, don't bother. Do something else instead. Reading should be a pleasure, not an obligation. Mike

07-24-2013, 11:47 AM	#3
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	When I get into reading slumps, I try something light and somewhat mindless. Terry Pratchett usually works for me. But as Mike says, reading should be for enjoyment. Don't work too hard at it.

07-24-2013, 11:58 AM	#5
mewmartigan Guru Posts: 852 Karma: 8242060 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: Kindle Oasis (2019)	when i have reader's block i will usually go in for a shorter, stand alone novel or maybe even a short story (Brandon Sanderson's Emperor's Soul will be my next). This way, its a shorter story and maybe it will either put me in a fantasy mood after i finish it, or maybe i'll want to go back to hard scifi, etc.

07-24-2013, 12:05 PM	#6
Graham Wizard Posts: 2,742 Karma: 32912427 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North Yorkshire, UK Device: Kobo H20, Pixel 2, Samsung Chromebook Plus	Switch genre. And pick something reasonably short. Graham

07-24-2013, 12:14 PM	#7
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	I either read a short story or re-read a favorite.

07-24-2013, 12:20 PM	#8
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	If nothing new strikes my fancy I go back through my collection and read something great again. Before eBooks that was my home library that is still crammed with books. Apache

07-24-2013, 12:33 PM	#9
jmilica Banned Posts: 335 Karma: 1545924 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: India Device: Kindle KB, Kindle PW	I read a hard-boiled novel, either of an author I like or from series I know is good (like recently discounted Hard Case Crime).

07-24-2013, 01:33 PM	#11
usuallee Media Junkie Posts: 278 Karma: 2039392 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Device: Kobo Libra H20, Kindle PW	Yeah as a voracious reader I usually read every chance I get, but often I'll just not feel like reading for a day or two, so I don't. Sometimes it is aided by having a less than compelling book in progress. I will abandon books, but sometimes it is hard to let go if they started out well. Usually after such mini-sabbaticals I'm chomping at the bit to do some reading. Then sometimes I want to read but have a hard time settling in on a particular book. Those are good times for catching up on perusing some downloaded samples.

07-24-2013, 11:37 PM	#13
icallaci Guru Posts: 817 Karma: 6528026 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kobo Elipsa	If I have been reading a lot of fiction, I will switch to non-fiction, and vice versa.

07-24-2013, 11:49 PM	#14
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,290 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Take a break. If you don't have anything that grabs you, don't read. It shouldn't be a job (unless it is your job).

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07-25-2013, 12:15 AM	#15
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,729 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	Like you, I generally read on my commute and during my lunch break. Times when there isn't much else I can really do. To get back in the groove, I generally read an old favorite or something I know I will like (more Discworld, etc.) Sometimes I really need to take a break from reading and on those times I tend to play a couple mindless games on my phone or print out some sudoku for my commute.