People have discussed the ins and out of writer’s block forever… but what about reader’s block?
I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember and we raised our kids to be big readers too. But sometimes, there are seasons in life when a reading slump hits.
Books you’d typically sink into with glee aren’t doing the trick. A favorite author just isn’t the distraction your mind needs.
It’s frustrating, but it happens.
Recently, my daughter–who normally reads a few books every week–found herself unable to get into books she’d been anticipating just a few months earlier.
Part of her hang-up might’ve been an overload on a particular genre, or maybe her mind was overloaded with other concerns. For whatever reason reading, her primary escape and relaxation habit, failed to do the trick.
But how to shake it off?
Just open the book! Any book!
Well, that obvious solution that falls short when you can’t find a relatable moment with a character or the storyline doesn’t resonate. Or even when it does and up against a serious distraction that leaves you irritible over reading the same paragraph over and over.
My advice?
If you just cannot get into a new book, give yourself a break and go back to a book you loved. A book that gave you all the feels. A story that made you laugh out loud or cry quietly. Or dive into the world of an author who has a prized place on your keeper shelf.
Escaping into a story you trust, one that’s delivered the nail-biting mystery or the swoony romance in the past is a great way to reignite the joy in your reading time.
The more you read, the more you’ll understand your moods and seasons of reading. I’ve been known to go on a Christmas-in-July bender or sink into complex mystery novels during the winter months.
I hear the doubters, “But re-reading? Really? There are so many books I haven’t read.”
Yes, re-reading. Especially for kicking a reading slump to the curb. Because chances are good that the slump is more about emotions you to untangle rather than the current bookshelf situation.
There will always be more books in our to-be-read stacks than we can get to in any given year. That’s the ultimate beauty of being a life-long voracious reader. And those books will be waiting for you when you’re on the other side of your slump.
Live the adventure!
Wishing for a later-in-life romance? Check out the Never Too Late for Love series.
In the mood for an exciting friends-to-lovers read? Try Melody’s Six.
Love romantic suspense with an undercover twist? Then Undercover Guardian is a great place to start.
