Short and Sweet Advice for Writers – Stealing Time to Read

Life moves fast. Your days are busy, and by the time the sun sets you’re pretty damn near to exhausted. Finding time to read for leisure can be a challenge. Sometimes, it can feel like an impossible task. But, it isn’t.

Almost five years ago, I wrote a post here called Audio Books Are Not Cheating. Just this past weekend, I shared a new “bite-sized” reading app called tapas. Audio books and mobile reading are two ways easily to fit more reading into the nooks and crannies of your day.

Don’t get me wrong, I love curling up on the sofa with a “real” book and a steaming mug of herbal tea laced with honey (and sometimes something a little stronger). As someone who works from home, I often find myself looking longingly at my favorite corner among the cushions and pillows as I walk from desk to kitchen and back again. I would love to spend a few hours lost in the pages of a good read.

BUT … my Real Life has been a little too hectic to accommodate such pleasures lately. It’s all good. I’m not complaining. I know I’ll enjoy long reads again soon, but for now I have to make do with “snackable” reads like Audible and tapas. The truth is, your day is filled with opportunities to read a little of this or a little of that. Here are just a few of the times that I “steal” to feed my reading habit:

I read on tapas while:

• My computer is booting up
• My computer recovers from the spinning pinwheel of death
• I’m on hold, waiting for a conference call to begin
• I’m waiting in the car to pick my daughter up from school/dance/any other location
• I’m standing in line at the bank
• I’m waiting for a drawbridge to close

I listen on Audible while I:

• Vacuum
• Unload groceries
• Walk
• Drive
• Shower
• Make dinner
• Fold laundry
• Feed the cats

You get the idea. Any pinch of time can be reading time. You don’t need the couch or the tea or even to be sitting down. You can make any time storytime. And although I won’t deny that there’s something especially delicious about carving out large chunks of a day to hide away with a book, stealing your story in bits and pieces can also be quite pleasurable. Give it a try. Or, if you have your own tips for stealing reading time, let us know in the comments – we’re always looking for new ways to fit more reading in!

Author Note: As Simon pointed out in the comments, Audible is not a free service. I happen to love owning my audio books so I don’t have to rush to get through them and so I can re-listen. I do know, however, that many libraries now offer audio books as part of their lending collection. It’s something I’ve been meaning to look into myself. 

S.
Jamie Lee Wallace Hi. I’m Jamie. I am a content writer and branding consultant, columnist, sometime feature writer, prolific blogger, and aspiring fiction writer. I’m a mom, a student of equestrian arts, and a nature lover. I believe in small kindnesses, daily chocolate, and happy endings. Join me each Saturday for the Weekend Edition – a long-form post on writing and the writing life – and/or introduce yourself on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest. I don’t bite … usually.
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Photo Credit: Darwin Bell via Compfight cc