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I write most of my notes with pen and paper, unless it's a specific idea on a project I've started. Arok Manok Send a noteboard - 04/03/2011 06:57:59 PM
Myself, growing up I would read constantly. I typically spent my entire Sunday reading (when not finishing homework). It was mostly fantasy and scifi, and some various kids books when younger.

I read all the Pern books, all the Star Wars books, all the Dragonlance and D&D books. I moved on to some bigger series (mainly WoT, Coldfire, and later, the Wars of Light and Shadow, and I'm multiple books behind in both WoT and WoLaS now). Briefly in high school I found my interest decreasing due to required reading taking up a lot of my time, and thus I didn't want to read for fun as much. But then I found my way back for a time before required reading in college caused the same problem.


Yes, that was where the trouble started for me, too. I started reading things because they were relevant, not for pleasure.

Now 6-7 years out of college, I've discovered that it takes me months to read a book. The reasons are chiefly as follows.


Wow. That is a long time. I got over it in about 4 months, mainly because Roh sent me a book I was not meant to analyse, only to enjoy.

1) My reading speed decreased dramatically. Partially due to being out of practice and partially due to focusing more on in-depth analytical reading in school. This made reading for fun feel more arduous and time-consuming.


Yes. This is why you should pick up something light. Like David Lodge. Or Pratchett.

2) My attention span and focus have decreased dramatically. I rarely feel like sitting down and reading when I can just mindlessly watch a rerun of Criminal Minds of How I Met Your Mother (or waste hours online at Reddit, University of KY sports fansites, etc). Those also allow me to mindlessly multitask at my computer, while when I read, I just read. I believe this problem was chiefly born of too much video games and tv, i.e. the hypothetical gamers brain. Also having roommates in college who always had the tv on as background. I don't feel less intelligent, but I know my operational vocabulary has suffered and my focus is scattershot. I also lose interest in things much more quickly now. (This also killed my interest in tabletop roleplaying games.)

3) I get ideas. Ideas I have to write down. This is probably the biggest reason I don't read much, and it consistently stops me from reading even the books I'm most interested in (my queue is dozens of books long and includes modern classics and must-read epics alike). As a non-practicing aspiring writer, I get ideas, or make observations about tropes and themes and all manner of literary tidbits whenever I watch a movie or read a book (watching a 2 hour movie at home often takes me several hours when I pause and then get distracted). I feel compelled to write down these notes (I'm a bit OCD about writing notes to myself) and if I try to ignore this urge, I inevitably give in and go back the page or two to write myself a note. I feel I simply must remember not to do "this" or to write like "that" when describing a tavern. I have an idea for a story or plot or character I need to write down (3 or 13 pages of notes in Word later, I've put the book down for good). Reading for fun now feels like work, and what's worst about it is that I never use any of those ideas or observations. I literally have hundreds, if not thousands of little notes.

Anyone had similar problems? Any advice?


Your problem seem slightly to the side of mine. I had trouble because I started analysing everything, so forcing myself to read a succession of light books fixed it. I still always make sure I read light books, and certainly a lot of books that have nothing to do with my degree.

Perhaps writing down your notes with pen and paper, rather than a computer would help? That way you would not become as detached from the book.
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Who else has (regretfully) lost much of their joy for reading, and what are your reasons? - 04/03/2011 04:01:48 AM 1145 Views
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I had that problem when I finished my Master's thesis. - 04/03/2011 08:28:42 AM 766 Views
I write most of my notes with pen and paper, unless it's a specific idea on a project I've started. - 04/03/2011 06:57:59 PM 746 Views
I still think the best solution is to just sit down with some Wodehouse. *NM* - 06/03/2011 01:06:01 PM 314 Views
I still think the best solution is to just sit down with some Glenlivet. *NM* - 08/03/2011 12:20:39 AM 288 Views
The two are not mutually exclusive. *NM* - 08/03/2011 12:21:50 AM 279 Views
It's more likely the internet, and, to a lesser extent, TV than it is games. - 04/03/2011 02:43:59 PM 787 Views
I have. - 04/03/2011 05:27:24 PM 778 Views
try reading different books - 04/03/2011 07:20:22 PM 611 Views
I'm the exact opposite right now - 06/03/2011 09:13:50 AM 802 Views
Me too - 06/03/2011 01:00:27 PM 703 Views
School - 08/03/2011 12:16:28 AM 582 Views

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