Getting Into Reading: How To Start Your Reading Journey.
A Guide From Someone Who Initially Found It Tricky.
Growing up, we are constantly told to read; it is often forced upon us at school, preventing us from wanting to do it as it is almost classed as homework. When I was young, I loved reading and creating stories, but as I grew older, I was put off reading because of having it forced upon me at school. As a young adult, I have reclaimed my love of reading and writing, but this wasn’t easy as I am dyslexic, and this type of activity is much harder for someone like me. However, I didn’t let that stop me; in fact, reading helped me to become a better writer, and the more I read, the better my reading skills became. If you are someone like me, who may be dyslexic or totally put off reading, maybe I can change your mind.
Where To Start.
When beginning your reading journey, the best place to start is to work out what you want to read. By this, consider a variety of factors: what genre interests you, the style of writing, the difficulty of the book, the length, etc. Of course, if you are a new reader, you may not know what genre or style of writing you like, but the best way to figure this out is trial and error. I know this sounds like a lot of effort but stay with me. You could take inspiration from movies or TV shows that appeal to you, finding books of a similar genre to what you watch. This can be done via a simple internet browse or by asking around; if you know any readers, ask them for recommendations. I would also recommend starting with a book on the shorter side; I’m taking two hundred words or less. This is because, at the start of your reading journey, you will likely be a slower reader, and starting with a large book can be highly intimidating. Not only this but sometimes it can be a little demotivating, making you feel as though you haven’t achieved much, even if you’ve been reading your book for a while.
My main advice is to read about what interests you, whether this be a crime novel or a rom-com! There’s no shame in what you read as long as you’re giving it a chance, and if you hate it, you can always put it down and switch books. However, motivation and persistence are key to reading, which I will discuss next time! So, now that you’ve reached the end of this part of my getting into reading guide, see what books you can find that interest you. (Go on, you’ve got this!)
~ By: Gracie Jones ~
Image Credit: Pillai, A. (2017) Live the Life Like an Open Book, Available at: https://medium.com/@rarjunpillai/live-the-life-like-an-open-book-b88128b28800 (Accessed 13th Jan 2025)
Growing up I didn't liked reading much because it was presented to me as punishment and or work. In addition I have ADD to it was tough for me to follow along since my mind would be everywhere else but focusing on what I was reading. Overtime I learned how to be focus by reading things that interests me. What you wrote is full of facts and good advice.
I for one, do not a read higher than exactly 300 pages. I find it so intimidating especially when I'm trying to get used to ebooks/ soft copies.
Recently, it dawned on me that I'm into psychological thriller movies, so I'm going for those kind of books ( and other genres) too.
Thank you for sharing, Gracie.❤️