Friday Fun is a group post from the writers of the NHWN blog. Each week, we’ll pose and answer a different, writing-related question. We hope you’ll join in by providing your answer in the comments.
QUESTION: We know that reading is nearly as important as writing when it comes to honing our craft. We’ve talked about favorite books, but what is your favorite time of day to read – early in the morning, at the end of the day, lunchtime?
Jamie Wallace: Though I grew up reading in bed (both in the morning and in the evening), my favorite time to read now is in the middle of the day. There is something extra decadent and just a little rebellious about forsaking the day’s responsibilities to stretch out with a book on the couch or the lawn. I enjoy my reading more when I’m not cramming it into the corners at either end of my day. I like it to take a more prominent place in my day. This rarely happens, but when it does – oh, what a treat!
Susan Nye: Anytime. Every time. Especially rainy Sunday afternoons (when I don’t have a deadline to chase).
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Deborah Lee Luskin: I’m in transition. I used to always read in bed before lights out. Now, I just fall asleep – with the lights on – so I’m figuring out when I can read and stay awake. When I was teaching literature and reviewing books regularly, I could justify spending my mornings on the couch by the fire, with cats to supervise. But now that I’m writing full time, I’m reading less – usually a little bit at breakfast and lunch, and when I can, for an hour or so in the late afternoon.
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Julie Hennrikus: Whenever I go on vacation, I read as much as I can. And it reminds me how much I love it. So new goal is to read more, and more regularly. I read fiction at night, and I also try and read when I am commuting on the train, but needing reading glasses makes that tough. My favorite thing–grabbing an afternoon, making a pot of tea, and lying on the couch with a good book. Nothing better.
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Lisa J. Jackson: I love reading in the evenings during the week, as a way to wind down the day. It might not shut my brain off, but at least it gets me out of business mode. And then anytime on a weekend. Every month or so I can spend an entire Saturday reading, and I love it. Usually it’s a few hours just after lunch.
Wendy Thomas - well the short answer is anytime. Seriously if I have a few free minutes, it’s a good time to read. But my absolute favorite? Early Sunday morning before the rest of the household begins to stir – with my dog Pippin, and a hot cup of coffee by my side.
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I read blogs periodically throughout the day whenever I’m online. I read books right after I get them from the library — I usually walk home with them and settle down to read for awhile. I’ll take a rare day to stay in bed and read — maybe once or twice a month. I read more and more short things online — mostly political stuff — but I wouldn’t read a novel or memoir off a device of any kind. I sometimes read or write when I take buses. These days I am reading less and playing music more — I’ll practice music any time but if I haven’t done it before then I play right before I go to bed.
I read mostly in the evening and sometimes in the afternoon. My husband has wireless headphones so I don”t have the TV blaring. I order my books online from the library and usually have 10 to 15 available to choose from. I’ve always loved to read and find it easy to make time for it.
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Love to read in bed at night–and love to read “take-along” magazine articles in coffee shops when surrounded by contentious friends!
I read every minute I can. My profession requires me to do a lot of reading as well so I am constantly turning pages, skimming and scanning information. But I read for pleasure when I can sit in a comfy chair and read to my heart’s content.
hi…i am indonesian…
hmm..if reading becomes a hobby, in any condition we always have a chance to read, everywhere…..
Anywhere, anytime, but especially during a rainstorm, sitting next to a cracked window so I can hear and see the rain OR during a snowstorm, where I can look up every now and then and think about what I’m reading and let my thoughts wander, sipping my tea or coffee. The rain and snow are like a visual and auditory meditation happening simultaneously with what I’m reading. Oh, and (this is the integral part) while the house is QUIET. Very calming, immersive way to read.
Laura, when are you going to start that blog?
I’m working on it. Decided it would be best to try and blog a book. Have idea, honing general outline and drafting some posts…in between everything else of course! Now, if I didn’t need to sleep….
For me it all depends on what kind of book I’m reading. If I’m reading a horror story or Thriller, I like reading in the dark by a low light to up the suspense. If I’m reading a romance novel, I love to read in the middle of a sunny day. I like to read adventure epics in the rain, and sad stories with mildly happy endings in the evening.
I love reading anywhere and any time, but when the weather matches my genre, there’s really no comparison.
Normally I read after my heavy work is over.(for me it’s preparing lunch!) I relax in the most comfortable chair in the household(first come first serve) and indulge the luxury. but sometimes I have the glory of being alone in my home.Oh, how I treasure those rare moments! Then it’s only reading and reading until I am fatigued with slow starvation.
i don’t have any set time of day or night to read but i read mostly whenever i sit down with a cup of tea. i find most sections of chapters in fiction are just about the right length to go with a cup of tea.
My favourite time to read is definitely at noon, if I can afford to save some time for myself, sit down on the couch, lay on my bed and relax, diving into the elaborate words of a great story, with a cup of tea, and my beautiful cat on my lap
Worst time = afternoon, especially early afternoon.
Best times = (a) when you really ought to be doing something else; (b) autumn evenings.