I'm not reading as much as I used to. And it's mostly because I feel like reading has become an aspect of my part-time work--freelance editing--rather than a recreational activity. When I'm thick into a fiction job, my desire to read fiction dwindles. Naturally then, I start watching more movies and searching out clever point and click adventure games on the webz. When I have a memoir to edit, the nonfiction on the stack is the least enticing.
The sad part is that when I do have a lovely book on my lap just for me, like In the Woods that I recently scored from the library's waiting list, I can't bring myself to finish it because...I should be reading something more relevant to my work. How stupid is that?
Anyone else have periods where they see recreation as a "should"?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Oh, yeah. "Writers read," I kept hearing. So I obediently began to read last year. Fortunately, I remembered how much I love it, so now it's less of a "should" and I've built it into my life the way I have writing, though the twain don't often meet.
I don't know how to relax, is my problem. It's very very hard for me to be "in the moment" as when I'm lying down with the kids at night (doing nothing) or attempting to play with them, or something. Always the mind is going....
When I have "free time" from my day job, which isn't as much as I'd like, I have this problem. When I'm reading I think I should be writing, and when I'm writing I sometimes think about a book I want to finish.
I can't figure out a way to do both at the same time. :)
Jeff, can you please invent the reading/writing-at-the-same-time machine?
Christa, teach me how to build things into my life. I have NO discipline when it comes to anything besides taking care of the family. I remember to eat, but that's about the only thing I can mention that I do consistently at least once every 24 hours.
Post a Comment