5 Simple Ways to Read More

     We all know that reading itself is pretty important, but with how busy some days can be, it's hard to get even a few pages read. It's even more annoying when you've been sucked into a book that you don't want to put down. So here's just a few little things that could help you get that book finished a week sooner.

     1. Transit.  While not everyone has public transit in their area, but it doesn't mean that you can't use that time to your advantage. While it's fairly easy to read while you're on a bus or train, you can't drive a car and read. (At least not in a safe way.) However, with audio books being fairly easy to get a hold of, use those to your advantage.

     2. Cooking. Well, with how busy we are, we normally try to make meals as simple as we can. Even something as simple as a microwave dinner. Even in those 5 minutes of cooking and cooling time, can get you in a few more pages over a week.

     3. T.V. time. How often do you find yourself flipping through channels? At least once a week, for those 20 minutes, shut it off and get a chapter in. On the next hour or half past (when most shows start) go find something to watch. If nothing is on, go back to your book.

     4. Eating. Again sometimes this isn't as easy as it could be for others, but even with a family. Get a book and while you are eating dinner have everyone read a page. It's a great way to slow down the meal (that's great for digestion!) and a way to get everyone involved and at least talking.

     5. Bedtime. Take those extra few moments before you go to bed and get some reading in. When you're last TV show goes off, go read for a bit until you feel tired, then do your normal bed time ritual.


     There you go, it's short and sweet and maybe you can get an extra little bit of reading done.

Finding Time to Write

     Some people want to write, other's just do it. There is no true excuse for why you don't write. I am guilty of this sometimes myself but then when I really look at myself, I realize I'm a lie.

     Now you might be saying "Hey now, I work and have kids, I don't have time to write!"

     Yes you do. Don't lie to me. You can only lie to yourself. Do things like that make it harder, yes, but not impossible. Okay so you have kids, writing at home is hard, I'm guessing they have a bed time. Tell them a story, lights out. Gather your thoughts for a bit and then get at least 20 minutes of writing in. I'm also guessing that they like to sleep in as long as they can. Get up just 20-30 minutes earlier, and right there you have almost an hour of writing (on average I can type almost 1,500+ words in that time easy).

     Now you say you work, I'll bet to support that family you work full time, normally that's an 8 hour day or more. Those normally come with a 30 minute lunch. Eat while you write and get another 300+ words done.

     So now, at the end of that busy week you can have a total of at least 3,000 words just by writing on that lunch break alone. If you ride a train or bus, you can even take that time to start mapping out your story with notes so that when you do have time to type,  you can just crank it out.

     Even if you only write one word a day, you are getting closer to finishing that book that you want to write. So no excuses, just take that first step and start writing!

~Skadia, the word pushing panther