Hello, Readers! Welcome back to another article—or if you're new here, welcome to my blog! I'm Kait, the writer, and this is the Kait The Writer blog. If you'd like to learn more about me, click here.
Okay, let's dive into this week's topic, shall we? The other day I was sitting in front of my laptop, staring at the blank page on the screen, without a lick of ambition to write a blog. With my high school graduation coming up and trying to balance work and writing my new book—blogging just sounds stressful. I probably wouldn't be as stressed if I had an idea for every topic I wanted to write about, but my entire imagination is drained after writing my book. I guess that's something I need to work on this year? Balancing blog-writing and novel-writing. It doesn't sound like it should be that hard, but writing is something I need to feel motivated to do, and without a catchy topic, I absolutely can not write.
As I just mentioned, coming up with blog topics is quite difficult these days. The last article I wrote was about my new editing side-hustle, and the one before that was an idea from one of my followers on social media. I love to hear my readers' ideas on what I should write about. (If you'd like me to write about a particular topic, please share them in the Fan Request box below!)
I found out that when I don't feel inspired to write about something, it's pretty easy to write about me. Honestly, I don't like writing about myself, and I hate to come across as if I am bragging or tooting my own horn. But I decided to let go of my worries about how other people will perceive me because really, I am who I am, and my blog is named Kait The Writer, so why shouldn't I write about myself?
When I was trying to think about a semi-interesting topic to write about, all I could think of was how much I just wanted to shut my laptop and binge-read my current read (The Hawthorne Legacy by Jennifer Lynn Barnes). This longing was what struck the idea for this blog post.
My friends and family constantly point out how much I read and joke with me about it. They're right, though; I do read a lot, compared to a normal human being.
So, here's why:
I read for multiple reasons. The biggest reason is the same reason why people love to watch TV; for escapism and enjoyment. I love to read a good story that captivates my full attention. This is one of the reasons why I don't limit myself to just one genre.
I also read to learn. If I try different genres and read various works, from classics to the new popular books, I learn so much. Not just about the topics the author writes about but also about how to write. If you want to learn how to write and be a writer, the only true way you'll do that is by reading—a lot. By reading, I gain knowledge of what is grammatically correct and expand my vocabulary. Reading books helps me find my own style and voice in my writing.
It's like a win-win, really. I get the escapism you'd get from your favorite movie; plus, I'm constantly learning new things. For example, I don't know how many of you guys already knew this, but I didn't know what a governess did before reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. My current read is revolved around lawyers, wills, media training, and cracking mysteries, so I've learned a lot so far.
What do you like to read? Many of my friends stick to just one genre, but there are just so many stories out there to possibly settle on one genre. Like my music taste, my taste in books is all over the place. Last month I read a classic from the 1800s, a non-fiction novel, a collection of psychological short stories, and a YA mystery. And I thoroughly enjoyed each of them.
I'm going to be honest, I don't like all genres. I'm open to reading anything, but I definitely like some genres more than others. A genre that I typically don't choose for myself is fantasy. So many people suggest fantasy books to me, and I've never really been interested. I've tried to read it, but… I don't know. Maybe I haven't read the right fantasy books. If you're a fantasy reader, what book would you suggest?
Next, I want to share how I read so much. Finding time to read throughout your day is hard. And, let's be honest, sometimes pulling out your phone is easier than focusing on a book.
How I find time throughout my day to read is simple. I make time. If I see I'm busy all day, I'll find time to squeeze in a chapter or two. As an example, today, I had work in the morning, then school, then driving my sister to her skating lessons, and then shopping errands, and by the time I was done, it was time for dinner. This is when I bring my book with me. Even if I leave it in my truck. Turns out I had an extra hour of free time while my sister was in her lessons, so I got to read four chapters. It was nice.
On the weekend, finding time to read is a lot easier, and this is when I get most of my reading in. I always make Saturday the day I clean, do laundry, prepare for the new week—and leave Sunday for a sort of self-care day where I can just lazy-around and write my book or read.
I believe everyone should read everyday. Even if it's for ten minutes. Reading daily is super healthy for your mind. There are a lot of benefits that come with reading.
Thank you for reading this article! I appreciate it so much. What are you currently reading? Please share them in the comments below! Don't forget to hit that like button, and as always, come back for more! Have a great weekend! Happy Mothers Day!
Probably Reading Somewhere,
Kait The Writer
P.S. Did you know that I opened editing gigs on Fiverr? As of right now, my rate is ONLY $5 for 5000 words! Click here to learn more, or click here to contact me for any business inquiries.
LINKS:
FIVERR (Note: you have to be logged into Fiverr already for the link to work.)
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