How to Read Better (Article 1)

I’ve been reading a lot of books lately, and I’m currently on my third novel (or first draft). Reading has become an important part of my writing process, and I’ve decided to share some of the things I’ve learned along the way.

1. Read More

My advice is to read more. There’s no magic number, but it’s best to try to read about 10 pages every day. If you have any difficulty keeping your attention on one book, try reading two or three.

2. Read Differently

The first step to reading better is reading different kinds of books. The main problem with most people when it comes to reading is that they simply read too much. They pick up a book, start reading, and then go through it in a very linear fashion. This is a recipe for not reading very well, because you can only read so many words before you get bored. Instead, read for different reasons. Choose books that interest you, and try to find books that are interesting for more than one reason. You’ll be amazed at how much more you enjoy reading this way.

3. Read Faster

If you’re reading the same book multiple times, you’re probably reading it too slowly. When you read a book, you want to be able to understand what’s going on without stopping every 5-10 pages to reread a paragraph. This doesn’t mean you have to speed read. Instead, read at a comfortable pace.

4. Find Books You Enjoy Reading

I’m a big fan of audiobooks. I listen to books while driving, while exercising, or when I’m working out at home. For me, listening to books is an excellent way to learn new vocabulary. If you don’t enjoy reading, you might consider trying audiobooks.

5. Get Up Early

This is the most important piece of advice I can give you. Getting up early helps with reading because you’re more likely to have time to read before work. If you get up early, you can usually squeeze in a few pages before heading to work. If you start reading later, you’ll likely find yourself reading a lot of words that are going to be difficult to remember later on.

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

You should always be asking questions about books you read. I recommend starting conversations with friends and family when you read a book. Ask them what they thought of the book, or ask them if there’s anything else you could learn from it. You’ll learn a lot by talking about books you’ve read, and it will make you much better at reading in the future.

7. Write It Down

I know this sounds like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how often people forget the most important advice of all: Write down what you’ve read. You don’t have to write a book report, but you should write down everything you think about when you’re reading a book. This will help you remember key ideas and concepts you didn’t understand when you first read the book. Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out via this link if you’d like to sign up for my coaching program.