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For as long as I can remember, I have been a voracious reader. If I sit back and think, my love of reading reading is where my love of writing also began. However, as an adult, it has become increasingly difficult to find the time to read. Luckily I found a solution that has been working well for me over the last few months.
Why Reading Helps You Become a Better Writer
I have always stood by the fact that reading makes you a better writer. Here are a couple of reasons why:
Reading helps you develop your own writing style. Each time you read a book, you will either like or dislike the author’s style, which will only serve you to hone in on your writing style. While a book may be excellent, I will sometimes put it down if I do not like the way the author writes (more on this later).
Reading expands your vocabulary. You will be exposed to new words, and may learn different ways to use words you use all the time. Every once in a while, I read some of my older stuff and see myself using the same words over and over again, which is why it is important to get exposed to new words and usages all the time.
Reading makes writing dialogue easier. Ask any writer, and they will all agree. Writing dialogue can be difficult at first, and one of the best ways to get better at it is to keep reading it! This applies to both book authors and blog writers. After all, as a blogger, aren’t you having a dialogue with your reader?
Making Time to Read Can Be Hard!
- Books are expensive. I cannot remember the last time I read a book that cost less then 10 dollars. This brings me to my next point. I would agonize over if I really needed to spend that money on a book.
- Sometimes, you just do not pick the right book. Books are expensive, and sometimes, no matter how much research you do, you cannot like a book. This leaves you with two choices. You can read it anyway, and be miserable, and not enjoy it, or you can stop reading it, and feel like you have wasted what you spend on it. Neither of these are good for your reading habit.
- Finding books can be hard. Since you have to spend money on a book, sometimes it can be hard to find one that clicks. This ties back to my first two points, I found myself wasting time researching books to read, and then sometimes wasting money on them anyway, and getting stuck in this cycle.
- Making the time to read after spending all that time finding a book! After I finally found a book I wanted to read, I had problems making time to actually read it, since there were so many other things I needed to do.
Ready to learn how I solved this problem?
Kindle Unlimited Makes Reading Easier!
Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited makes reading easier, and solved each of my problems above. For $9.99 a month, USD, you gain access to a library of over a million books. You can also buy a plan for 6, 12, or 24 months, which is what I prefer to do since I try to keep subscriptions to a minimum. Realistically, you are paying less for Kindle Unlimited than you are if you bought a single book every month.
Now, with Kindle Unlimited, I can pick any book I want and give it a go.
If I do not like it, I just move on to something else, without feeling guilty.
I also do not need to spend as much time trying to figure out what to read next, since I just pick something that looks interesting at first glance! Kindle Unlimited will also send you suggestions of things you might like, and it is quick and easy to browse the library.
There are more reasons why I love Kindle Unlimited, like:
The 30 day free trial. Don’t like it? Just cancel it!
With Kindle Unlimited, you can read on any device. People do not often know this, but you do not need to have a Amazon Kindle device to use Kindle Unlimited. You can use the Amazon Kindle app on your iPhone, iPad, Android Phone, Android Table, on the Web, or on your computer! You can even sync your devices, and have access to your Amazon Kindle library anytime, anyplace, which is key to finding time to read, even if it is only five to ten minutes a day.
More than just books. Kindle Unlimited also includes access to both magazines and audiobooks. Audiobooks are a great way to slip in some learning while you work around the house, are in the car, or if you just prefer to listen than to read. Magazines can be a great solution when you want to dive into something lighter than a full blown book.
Reading New Keeps You Fresh
Besides the fact that reading blog posts and books makes you a better writer, reading keeps you fresh. While I do spend a lot of time reading blog posts for research and to learn, sometimes it is fun to pick up a book on a completely new topic. Kindle Unlimited makes this easy to do, and remember, if you do not like it, it is easy to find something else off of your virtually unlimited bookshelf.
Finding the time to read, as we all know, can be difficult. I have found a couple of ways to beat this, which have been working well.
I read as part of my successful blogging morning routine. Sometimes, it leads to new inspiration when I take a look at my blog idea list.
I read when to beat writer’s block, and when I do not feel like writing. I am still being productive, but I get to relax and take a look at something new. With Kindle Unlimited, I can pick a random topic, pick a book, and be reading something completely different than I normally do in mere minutes.
Kindle Unlimited also boats a huge number of children’s books for the littlest readers in your life. There are also fun categories for adults like Comics and Graphic Novels, Travel, Cookbooks, and Hobbies. Kindle Unlimited makes it easier than ever to expand your horizons.
All in all, I do not have enough good things to say about Kindle Unlimited, and how it has made me a better writer, and most importantly, helped me relax. Remember, Kindle Unlimited comes with a 30 day free trial, so there is nothing to lose! Get started with Kindle Unlimited today, and get reading!