After viewing several other blogs, I can see I’m not alone with my short attention span. I’ve bought several new books lately and haven’t been able to pick any of them up. Are the books bad? Absolutely not! I just can’t seem to get into any of them. I’m not sure what’s going on. I’ve even tried switching to different subgenres to see if that would help. It didn’t. :-/ So I ask myself, what’s happening? Why isn’t anything (ie any romance) holding my interest?
To be honest, I’m not sure. It may be because I’m so submersed in working on my partial that I don’t want to read anything else. It might be because I just finished a book for EC. I REALLY don’t know, but I HATE it. My TBR pile continues to grow with books I want to read, yet can’t seem to get past the first page or two.
I’ve managed to read a few things on my e-book reader, but they’ve mainly been old favorites from my keeper shelf. The only other books I’ve been able to get into are action adventure books like ‘Link’ by Walt Becker and ‘Meg’ by Steve Alten.
If you’ve been stuck with your reading, how did you get out of the ‘nothing sounds good’ rut? Help! I’m about to be swallowed by my TBR pile.
For anyone who wants to know what being a writer is like go to Vanessa’s blog and watch the cartoon in the latest entry.
July 16th, 2005
Welcome to my world. It sounds like you have finally become one of “us”…those people who have trouble reading romances because they are writing it all day long. The bad news is it’s a mean affliction. The good news is it typically passes in a year or 2, though you’ll never read it as voraciously as you once did. I’ve read 3 romances in 2 years and 50 true crime books. I’d love to feel that fire again, but it just won’t come back. Ah well, back to writing
by Jaid Black July 16th, 2005 at 10:00 amHi Jaid!!! Way to go on the Montel Williams’ show.
A year or two? Gulp! Are you kidding me? My TBR pile will crush me in that time period. Sigh. The scary thing is I read so slow that you’d NEVER be able to use the word voracious and me in the same sentence. I have no doubt what you’re saying is true. That probably explains the changes in my writing and the types of stories I’m coming up with lately. Crap! This sucks.
by Jordan July 16th, 2005 at 10:15 amThanks re: Montel
He was a sweet man which made it a lot easier.
Yeah, your writing can change too. You might want to write darker or lighter or switch genres from time to time. Then you weigh desire against the reality that readers don’t like you to leave your little niche. (Let us all recall the “what was he thinking?!” negative reviews Grisham took with Bleachers lol)
Still, don’t be afraid to write them. It expands your reader base
by Jaid Black July 16th, 2005 at 11:45 amI’ve been having this problem for a while. I think it’s the combination of not being able to read what I write while I’m writing it and feeling guilty if I take a break from writing to read. *sighs* Hopefully, like Jaid says, it will pass. In the meantime, I’m going to try and learn how to relax a little. Right after I write a few more pages. *ggg*
by Steph T. July 16th, 2005 at 12:19 pmMontel? I want details! How cool!
Jordan I think its partly due to being so used to critting when I read that when I DO read I’m very critical LOL. Part of it is nothing holds my interest. I just blogged about one I got excerpts of that was really fun so I’ll definitely pick it up when it comes out. I just hate buying stuff and not finishing it though!
by Cece July 16th, 2005 at 12:25 pmSometimes I can’t concentrate on reading. Usually it’s when my mind is too occupied with my own book.
by Suzanne July 16th, 2005 at 2:06 pmJaid, I’m not afraid that I’ll lose readers, mainly because I don’t think I’m established in anything yet. *ggg* If you look at my writing history, you’ll see that I’ve taken the shotgun approach to career management. LOL!
The paranormals I’m coming up with are darker. They are hot when it’s called for, but nothing near my EC work. I hope when they’re published that I have fans follow and new ones join. We’ll have to see. All I know is that these are the types of books I need to write for now.
by Jordan July 16th, 2005 at 6:07 pmSteph, If you figure out that whole relaxation thing, could you let me know?
by Jordan July 16th, 2005 at 6:08 pmCece, Jaid was on the Montel show a couple of days ago. She presented him with a check for $10,000 to go to his MS foundation. She talked about how she went from poor single mom to millionare. It was short, but great.
As for being a critical reader, I pinch myself every time I catch myself doing that.
by Jordan July 16th, 2005 at 6:12 pmSuzanne, That might be it. I just finished one book and then went right to work on a partial. I’ve thought of nothing else, but the plot of this latest story. Hmm… By George I think she’s got it.
by Jordan July 16th, 2005 at 6:13 pmWow that is so cool about Montel!
and jordan I have all the faith in the world you’ll do great with the new stuff!
by Cece July 16th, 2005 at 8:21 pmLOVED the cartoon, LOLOL …
by Jill July 16th, 2005 at 10:17 pmThanks Cece! (((hugs)))
by Jordan July 16th, 2005 at 11:42 pmJill, Isn’t it classic? LOL! I go into tears every time I watch it. I’m pretty sure that’s happened to me before. (wg)
by Jordan July 16th, 2005 at 11:42 pmI’ve been having the same problem with finding something to read–with one notable, recent, exception.
Someone said, if they’re into their writing, then they have problems reading? Or they can’t read what they’re writing? I’m the exact opposite, if I’m immersed in my own writing, I find it much easier to lose myself in the magic another writer has created in their book. When I’m not ‘feelin’ my own writing, chances are nothing in the tbr pile is going to appeal.
There’s a lot of ‘possible’ reasons why I’ve been ’stuck’ lately, but ‘changing’ how & what I write could be at the root of it all.
Going back to look a cartoon…
by jaq July 17th, 2005 at 12:06 amif you’re looking for a non-romance suggestion, I just finished Bujold’s latest (The Hallowed Hunt). My God that woman can write. Hunt is the 3rd book in the Chalion series, beginning with Curse of Chalion. Fantasy, and each book has a strong romance element, too. I just keep reading the books that appeal to me; there’s always something that does.
by Charlene July 17th, 2005 at 2:14 amJaq, I think what Suzanne said really applies to me at the current moment. I’m reading Meg by Steve Alten because of my love/fear relationship (I love to fear them.;) with sharks it’s keeping my attention. Other than that, nada. Has it stopped me from buying new books? Hell no! I’m sick, I tell you. Enjoy the cartoon. Goodness knows I do.
by Jordan July 17th, 2005 at 11:11 amThanks Charlene! I’ll check it out. I do have books that cover just about EVERY genre on my shelves. Nothing seems to help. I do think it’s because MY book is so firmly entrenched in my head.
by Jordan July 17th, 2005 at 11:16 amI just broke my ADD streak!!! I’m so excited. I had to totally break outside the genre to do it, but I finally got hooked on a book! It’s a medieval mystery by Sharon Kay Penman, and I can’t put it down. I’m hoping that this will officially end my non-reading streak.
by Larissa July 18th, 2005 at 7:21 amI think my problem right now is that 1000 page book I’m only 400 pages into. It’s not an easy read like a Harry Potter book, it’s small print and you know the story isn’t going to end with this one, you have to continue on to the next book to get more resolution. It’s kind of un-motivating. I would ditch it if it wasn’t so dang good! Grumble grumble. I’m going to strangle Susan when I get ahold of her for getting me started on this series!
by Cheyenne McCray July 18th, 2005 at 7:41 amThat’s wonderful, Larissa!!! You’re the second or third person to say you had to ‘leave’ the genre to get back into reading. Sigh. It’s not looking good for my TBR pile.
by Jordan July 18th, 2005 at 12:38 pmChey, I’d strangle Susan too, if she got me hooked on 1000 page books. That would take me a year to read. (I’m not kidding.) Snort.
by Jordan July 18th, 2005 at 12:39 pm