Let’s Talk About Reading Slumps andWhat To Do When You’ve Fallen Into One?
I’ve been blogging now for 7(!) years. And in those 7 years I’ve had little reading slumps here and there.
I’ve also commented on other people’s slump posts with all my cheerful, helpful suggestions, like “re-read a favorite book” or “switch up genres.”
But over the past few months I’ve fallen into a BIG reading slump of my own. And my helpful suggestions have not turned out to be so helpful (to me, personally.)
Factors that contribute to a reading slump:
Being online seems way more stressful than it used to be, at least to me. The news seems relentlessly depressing. Bookish social media used to feel like a fun escape from real world problems, but it feels like a lot of people are pulling back from being online.
Book blogging is a LOT different than when I started. That is probably a topic long enough for another post, but to me it feels like the overall energy in the YA book blogging community is down. My in-box is quieter. I have less to read, which is less pressure. But I also feel less of a sense of purpose.
Personal stuff. I’ve had some stressful stuff going on over the past six months that is (finally!) pretty much resolved. In the past, I’ve found blogging a good distraction for personal issues, but lately that hasn’t been the case.
How to Break out of a Reading Slump:
Peeking at endings – I’ve always liked dark books, but I just can’t take depressing books right now. I was messaging with Karen at For What It’s Worth, and confessing to her that I have become a shameless peeker. I need romances with happy endings and mysteries that are solved. Wishy-washy, unresolved endings are not working for me right now. I need closure.
Not beating myself up about not reading or posting. Maybe you haven’t noticed! Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I do enjoy commenting, so I’ve been trying to keep up with that.
Doing things outside of blogging that I enjoy. The summer here was long and hot and then wet and humid. Finally we’re getting nice fall weather, so I’ve been taking the dog for walks and even reading outside. I’ve been doing some (paid!) freelance writing. I’m watching probably too much TV (another upcoming post!)
If you have slump suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
I’m excited about a few of the books I have coming up in my queue. Crossing my fingers that I have some great books to share with you soon!
I’m happy that your family stuff has been resolved! I’m just now getting getting out of a blogging slump (I hope)! I agree that the blogging community is different and a lot of people are either moving away from blogging or cutting out a lot of interactions which is a bummer.
My 2019 goal is to request a lot less!
Thanks! Some medical stuff which doesn’t directly involve me but was stressful through the entire summer. Yeah, so many of the bloggers I started out with are gone. Karen and I are always, hey are you still hanging in there? My answer was always yes, but now I’m wondering!
Sometimes I’m just YA/Middle grade fatigued. I take a timeout and read an adult novel that peers have been raving about or that has been on my TBR list awhile.
I definitely think that is a part of it. I’ve read so much YA that every book starts to feel familiar. I have a bunch of adult stuff on request at the library so hoping that helps! Will let you know!
Yeah I have gone through slumps. I think just time solves it for me. That and some good Netflix binges always help. Glad your personal stuff is getting resolved. Also, I hardly get approved for YA books anymore. It is so weird. Hope you break out of the slump!!!
I feel like I’m escaping into Netflix and that could be a bad thing, but I’m also picky on there. Will do a streaming post soon and curious about what you are watching. Time has solved it in the past, but this has been months now. *cries* Hoping that now that I’m less distracted, I can get more excited about reading.
Yeah… I always post with the same “re-read” and “switch-up” tips, so that’s not going to work.
But I’m just glad to read something that I can relate to at this point in my life. I just crawled out of my reading slump and I did it by just reading…
I didn’t turn my back on books, I just read a bit less for maybe 2 months and I wasn’t beating myself up over it, and now I’m back again… 🙂
So maybe that will work? Just do what you love is the most important thing I guess?
You and I have discussed this OFTEN. I think it’s all the negativity that comes with it these days. You can’t just hop on Twitter and have fun discussing books anymore. You know I’m all muted and zipped up but the negativity still creeps in. Then a lot of new bloggers realized how much WORK this is, or have had big life changes and don’t have time to do this anymore. There’s just a core group of left. Or so it seems to me.
I was in a really bad reading (& blogging) slump a few years ago. I followed all the helpful tips and it didn’t work.
Ultimately, I just stopped reading and went and lived life. Then, after about 6 months – yikes!, I finally wanted to read again. But for almost a year I only read happy, happy books that I never even blogged about. And I started blogging about non-bookish things.
I also only follow & visit bloggers that have the same attitude as me. I don’t care about hits and follows anymore – so I look for like minded people who just enjoy reading and sharing their thoughts.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
And….I LOVE the title of this post lol
Haha you are old enough to appreciate it
I went on a cozy mystery bend to end my slump. Try a completely new genre, maybe? I’m glad you’re still around.
Aw, thanks. I miss those early blogging days with you. Remember the St Vlad’s summer school? lolol
I’ve been in a weird reading funk lately myself. September didn’t start well at all and it’s been lingering ever since. And it’s translated to my blogging a bit as well.
What I’ve been doing is just putting down those books ASAP if they aren’t catching my attention. It gets a little demoralizing when you DNF a few a row (that’s what happened in September) but I felt better at least attempting something else and eventually I found that great book. I always find novellas are a great way to break my slumps. They don’t take up as much of my time; they get to the point; and they often leave me wanting more so I get my reading mojo back.
Yes to the quick DNF. Sticking with a book you don’t like when you’re already slumpy saps your reading energy. Novellas are an interesting idea – at least you get the satisfaction of finishing. Thanks so much!
Sorry about the slump (and the past six months too). Being online can be tough. I never go on my Facebook any longer, because I don’t need all the negativity, but I have done a pretty good job curating my Twitter feed to be things I want to see (muting, a LOT of muting), and whatever people think, animal videos are always a good thing (and cake, but I’ve already told you that).
I think it’s a well known fact, that I need an HEA like I need air to breathe. That’s probably why I have been reading a lot more contemporary romance. They are guaranteed HEAs, and well, sometimes I really need that.
I hope you get your mojo back soon.
I didn’t know that about you (the HEA). I wasn’t usually like that but lately, yes!
I’ve always thought the re-read and go back to something you love stuff worked, too. It doesn’t. Being online doesn’t help me either. It’s hard to even engage in a conversation these days!
Honestly for me, just setting back entirely helped me. Granted my slump was 14 months long, but you know. LOL
Ahhh you’re scaring me. I think I’m a few months into my slump!