Reading in Public No. 72: 6 styles of reading slumps
And how to bust them
Because of my work and how much I read, I’m often asked what advice I have for getting out of a reading slump It is truly a terrible feeling to want to be reading and somehow not be able to! I understand why I get this question so often, yet I often struggle to answer. My go-to is usually, just wait. Do other things, give yourself a break, and your reading will return. I stand by that, but I know it’s not particularly satisfying or helpful for people who just don’t feel like themselves when they’re not in the midst of a book.
Recently, I was mulling over my own reading slump and thinking about how I was going to get back on track, and I realized that the reason it can be hard to give advice on this is that, at least for me, there are several different types of reading slumps. And I find that each reading slump style calls for a slightly different solution.
Today, I’m finally thoroughly answering the how-to-bust-a-reading-slump question by sharing some of the reasons I find myself in reading slumps and my strategies for busting each type of slump.
Six styles of reading slumps and how to bust them:
The Problem: I’m reading too many books at once.
The Fix: This happens to me a lot, especially when I’m in the midst of reading for a guide. Like many readers, I do best when I am only in the middle of 1-2 books at a time. For me, that often means one book on audio and one in print1. But often, despite my best efforts, I find myself in the middle of 4, 5, 6+ books and completely floundering. My preemptive piece of advice here is to know your ideal number of books to be reading and stick to it. But that’s easier said than done. When I find that I’ve reached—or surpassed—my tipping point, I go all in on one book. I’ll choose the book I’m most invested in or, quite honestly, the shortest of the batch. I’ll make sure I have it in both a print and audio format so that I can devote all of my reading and listening time to it, and I finish it before I let myself pick up or think about the other books that have stalled out. I often find that finishing just one book is clarifying. After I do, I can prioritize the rest of the books I’m reading or perhaps even decide to clear the slate, meaning put all of them aside for now and start something new that I’m excited to devour.
The Problem: I’m worried nothing will live up to my last read.
The Fix: After finishing a truly spectacular book, it can be hard to wade into something new. Often, I’ll actually give myself a bit of a reading break during these times because if I rush right into the next thing, I end up feeling cheated out of the opportunity to savor a truly wonderful literary experience. But basking in the close of a great book for too long can bring on a slump, so there are a few ways I go about choosing my next read:
Select something completely different so there’s little opportunity to compare. Often the books that wow me are literary fiction and classics, so I tend to dive into genre fiction next, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes reading something different might just mean choosing a slim novella after an epic tome, or trying a book with a warmer tone if I’ve recently loved something dark.
Go back to my reading “why’s” to help me select my next book. Not every book has to be a favorite. Maybe I’ll select my next book as something intended to challenge me or a classic I think will help build my literary foundation. If I go in with a distinct purpose, I avoid building up my expectations or comparing my current read with a recent favorite.
The Problem: Nothing sounds good.
The Fix: It’s quite the pickle when I want to be reading but nothing sounds good to me. During these times, I’ll read a book I have to read. Every month, I have at least two books that I’ve assigned to myself: the FictionMatters Book Club selection and our Buzzy Book of the Month. Sometimes there are also advanced copies I need to get to or books I’m reading for Novel Pairings, but generally there’s always something on my lis that I need to read. It might seem like this doesn’t translate outside of the professional reading sphere, but I think a lot of us have “have to” books on our lists. Maybe it’s a book club selection, a book you want to read before an author event, or the last book your friend loaned you that you need to get back to her. Often finishing a book—any book—helps me figure out what I want to read next because I’ll crave something different or in the same vein as what I have read recently.
The Problem: Everything sounds good.
The Fix: More often for me, I struggle to choose a book not because nothing sounds good, but because everything sounds good. Sometimes, the same fix can be applied: I’ll read something I have to. But this has also backfired. I’ll start a book I need to read, but because so many books are calling my name, I stall out in the middle of something I need to finish and find myself a) in a slump and b) not wanting to read the books I need to. A better option, for me, in these cases is to write a short list of priority books and (somewhat) methodically make my way through them. Often I will diverge from the list before I complete it, but having a next up takes out the decision paralysis that can occur between books.
It can also be helpful to do a bit of a TBR reset. What books are crowding my physical and mental space that I actually don’t care to read? What’s been lingering on my TBR that no longer interests me? What are the books I acquired out of FOMO or a feeling of “should” that I can now pass on? Sometimes I need a reminder that I don’t actually want to read every book that exists in the world or even on my shelves.
The Problem: Life is getting in the way.
The Fix: Business, grief, a major life change; there are infinite reasons why life can get in the way of reading. Sometimes there’s just nothing to be done about this, and that’s okay. If and when I’m ready to try to squeeze reading back into a hectic season, I have a couple of strategies I turn to.
I’ll try to bundle reading with another activity I’m prioritizing or required to do. Often this means audiobooks. I’ll listen to a book while going for a walk, driving to pick my daughter up from school, cooking dinner, organizing toys, etc. But it can work with print reading as well. The Louise bedtime routine happens every night so I’ll add reading for 20 minutes immediately after as part of my evening routine. Fitting this in before doing the nightly cleaning means I’m more likely to pick my book back up rather than turn on the TV or scrolling my phone after the tidying.
Speaking of TV and scrolling, in busy seasons I also evaluate what I can cut back on to make more room for reading. For me, this is primarily screen time. I’ll use my Brick or take social media apps off my phone for a few days and all of a sudden find pockets of time for reading.
I might also look at my self-imposed content calendar and shuffle some things around. If I can justify pushing back a more time-intensive essay or book list for something I can compose quickly, I’ll do that and make reading a bigger part of my work time that week.
The Problem: I actually don’t feel like reading.
The Fix: While it’s rare, it’s inevitable that sometimes I’ll be in a reading slump because I genuinely don’t want to read. The fix is always the same: get outside, plan fun things to do with my daughter, watch a movie, engage with other forms of media and entertainment. Most importantly, don’t freak out. The reading really is sure to return.
Tell me your thoughts! What tends to send you into a reading slump? What are your best strategies for getting yourself out and reading again?
For questions, comments, or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by emailing fictionmattersbooks@gmail.com or responding directly to this newsletter. I love hearing from you!
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Happy reading!
Sara
I count both digital and physical books in the print category. I used to think having three books (one in each format) in rotation was ideal for me, but I would often struggle to decide what to read in bed at night—paper or ebook—so now I aim for two.
This is me. All of these at once 😂😂😂
Great post! I tend to slump in the "everything sounds good" direction, when I'm reading a string of new releases that are just meh, or when I'm reading a string of books that seem too similar.
Actually, a good slump-buster for me has been reading non-fiction, like narrative non-fiction, investigative journalism, memoir, or honestly any non-fiction about a topic that appeals to my taste. Similar to reading a fast-paced thriller, I find that turning to non-fiction brings a different vibe and more straightforward language that can be really helpful to me when I've read too much fiction in a row. With non-fiction, I can tell much earlier on if I'm going to like it or not - like even by the end of the introduction, and doesn't require the patience that fiction can require sometimes.