End of summer reading :)

Read, read, read!

Writers hear this all the time, “If you want to be a better writer, you need to be a better reader.” This is very true, but, what is also true is that we need to read effectively. See, reading effectively can help make a huge difference in the quality of work we produce.

Below are simple tips to ensure you’re getting the most out of your reading experience this year:

1) Be sure to read books you enjoy.

This may seem logical, but many a time we may feel as if we have to read ‘certain types’ of books because it is expected of us as writers. But, really, reading should be fun so reading mandatory books (e.g. poetry, Shakespeare, etc.) is counter-intuitive. Read what you enjoy and you’re likely to read more, simple.

2) Read the type of material you aspire to produce.

If you wish to be a best-selling author, you should be reading books written by best-selling authors. So, find an author you admire and read as much of his/her work as possible.

3) Keep a log of the books you’ve read.

Keep an online journal for reference. Sites such as Goodreads are fantastic for record-keeping. If you’re ‘old school’, however, keeping a paper journal works just as well.

In case you're interested, below are the last three books I've rated 5 / 4.5 on Goodreads:

5.0 stars >>> Hidden by Rebecca Zanetti

4.5 stars >>>The Marriage Clock by Zara Raheem

4.5 stars >>>The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Happy reading!

Maria