Why and How I Read a Bit of EVERYTHING and You Should Too
And by everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Read today’s post, then leave a comment to join this dialogue. And don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to check out today’s writing prompt.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you already know that I read a bit of anything and everything. But you may not know why or how I do it, and why you might want to do the same.
Why Read a Bit of EVERYTHING?
Stay Curious and Open-Minded
Listen, I read a lot of philosophy, studied philosophy and literature at the collegiate level for nearly a decade, and I have an intensely analytical mind. However, the regurgitation of the same ideas by the (primarily) same dead white men (or any group of people), albeit applied in various scenarios via various fields, over and over and over again can be… well, boring and intellectually limiting (I know, the irony!). I realize that was a bold statement to make but I don’t want to sway too far away from today’s topic, so please suffice it to say that I will likely elaborate on that statement some other day and remain open-minded. For now, I will say that I read everything from books on economics and translated literature to contemporary romance and beat poetry, etc., because doing so is the only thing that keeps me intellectually stimulated on a rolling basis. If I only read philosophy, I will only ever think like a philosopher. If I only read poetry, I will only ever think like a poet. If I only read pulp fiction, I will only ever think about the drama in everything. And while none of that is inherently bad, of course, I do think long stretches (I’m talking months and years here) of siloed reading can limit one’s perspective and reading experiences in detrimental ways. Besides, I don’t know how anyone can study philosophy without being infinitely curious about nearly everything, so why would I want to limit myself and my life via siloed reading habits? Sure, I tend to gravitate toward intellectually stimulating literary fiction written by women from diverse backgrounds most, but I don’t want to read only that forever, as that would destroy my ability to remain curious and open-minded.
Avoid Reading Ruts
I also read a bit of anything and everything to avoid reading ruts. If you don’t expand your reading repertoire, you will inevitably get bored with what you’re reading and might even stop reading altogether at some point. There is, of course, absolutely nothing wrong with reading mostly within the genre you love, especially if you write work within that genre yourself. However, if you only read mystery novels, they might become boring once you become intimately familiar with their structures and tropes and typical formats, etc., even if you only do so subconsciously. You also risk becoming overly critical of what you typically enjoy reading because not much surprises you anymore when you read nothing else, which has its pros and cons but does make reading for pleasure a bit more challenging, especially when you want and need to read for pleasure. Not to mention that even if you enjoy mysteries, for example, there might be times when you’re not actually in the mood to read a mystery but want something more straightforward and uplifting instead. I would even venture to guess that most people who experience reading ruts— which also includes those times when you just can’t seem to find something good to read and everything seems terrible or boring or cliché or like a slog to get through— are not reading the things they really want or need to read when they really want or need to read them, or are desperately craving some type of intellectual or emotional variety in what they’re reading, though they may not be consciously aware of this.
Find Interesting and Helpful Trends
This section also offers information on HOW you can read a bit of EVERYTHING too.
Publishing Trends
If you read widely, you’ll be able to stay on top of publishing trends, which is ideal for those readers like me, who are also interested in publishing and selling books themselves. I know a lot of genre writers, indie authors, and literary types who snub their noses at following publishing trends, but I think that’s a mistake. Publishing trends will tell you not only what trends are currently selling but what trends are on their way out of circulation, as well as those trends that resurface every few years (e.g. vampires, detectives). If there is a particular trope or trend that’s hot now, it may not be within the next six months to a year, but might be in another few years, so use this information to your advantage if you’re writing a book you want to publish. And if you’re not writing or publishing a book, you can still use these trends to explore new things to read to diversify your own reading list, especially if you want to start talking to others about books. For example, I never in a million years thought I could get into romantasy, but The Daevabad Trilogy and Empyrean series changed my mind, as well as Alchemised, and many other standalones that have been trending. I’m also not a huge fan of domestic thrillers and memoirs or major book club books (e.g. Reese, Jenna, Oprah) but have been pleasantly surprised by many books in those categories when others are reading them and recommending them and discussing them in real time as they’re trending.
Reading Trends
In my opinion reading trends are not always the same as publishing trends— not in the twenty-first century anyway, thanks to social media influencers. Due to communities like BookTok and Bookstagram, many books have grown unexpected popularity overnight. Sure, there are plenty of smut books and genre books trending in those communities, but there are also plenty of people reading more historically banned books and classics because of these communities too. Examples: Earlier this year East of Eden by John Steinbeck (published in 1952) was trending, and before that, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and many others, as well as more obscure literature like I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman (published in 1995) which also trended for a while and was our Egalitarian Book Club pick for March. Publishing trends will inform you more generally about what people are reading and what sells. Reading trends, however, can let you know what people are reading right now and why, as well as what they want to read more of tomorrow. More banned books will be read when more books are being banned and challenged. More classics and older books will be read when their movie adaptations are being released, and vice versa— we saw this earlier this year with Wuthering Heights, and too many other adapted series for streaming to count. And readers from any group will continue to search for books and discuss books and recommend books that speak to the state of the world as it is and how they’re feeling about it. It is no coincidence that we have seen an uptick in domestic thrillers and true crime thrillers about missing women and girls and stories centered around rage and revenge in the wake of the MeToo Movement and in the midst of unprecedented social and financial inequality across the globe, for instance.
Award Winning Trends
As someone who studied literary criticism in depth at the collegiate level, I do like knowing what professional literary critics are reading and awarding now and then, while keeping in mind that they are an extremely small niche subset of readers with their own highly subjective tastes and experiences that are mainly influenced by the intellectual and literary elite class, which can often lead to intellectually incestuous and myopic opinions. (Do I even need to get into why it’s problematic that we still need separate yet ‘less prestigious’ awards for women authors and authors of color, as if… You know what, I will write more about that in a separate post someday…) Keeping tabs on the next Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Prize, and Booker Prize winners can be fun and introduce readers to all types of internationally acclaimed literature, which is amazing. They can also introduce readers to a vast array of literature that is pushing the boundaries of what literature can do or should do, structurally and linguistically speaking, which is fascinating and could and or should inform future literary works. Books that earn a Goodreads Choice Award or genre-specific awards like the Hugo, Nebula, Edgar, etc. can also clue readers into what books are standing out to their award givers and why, which can lead to interesting reads added to their TBR book stacks.
Uncover Tips and Tools for Writing
Reading a variety of books can keep your own writing engaging and interesting. It also prevents you from encountering writer’s block or getting into a writing rut where you feel like you’re simply copy-pasting others’ writing formulas and tropes and plots, even when you aren’t, which isn’t authentic or all that fun. Yes, you should 100% read tons of books related to your own writing to learn how writers in your field do what they do, especially those writers you admire and want to emulate. But you should also try to use what you learn from what you read in other fields to understand where and how to bend, not necessarily break, the writing rules that are already established and working in your own field so that you are better equipped to challenge and expand how you view and write within your own field. Examples: Reading philosophy could help you unpack fictional character arcs in the sci-fi you write in ways you may not anticipate. Reading psychology books could help you write more compelling characters in the romance novels you write. Reading romance novels can help political spy thriller authors write more compelling and believable love interests and subplots centered around them. Reading memoirs might help historical fiction writers consider how their characters might be viewed by a future or current audience. And reading fiction of all types can help nonfiction writers present their material in more interesting and compelling ways that are centered around storytelling instead of obscure facts and lists. And so on… More on this in: What to Read if You’re a Writer.
How to Read a Bit of EVERYTHING?
Again, you can and probably should have your go-to genres and reading tastes, especially if you’re an author or writer who wants to learn everything you can about the types of things you write yourself. And yet, as highlighted above, reading a bit of everything is beneficial in so many ways. There is no hard science to this, and you can and should read whatever you want, especially if it keeps you reading. But personally, I would say at least 15-20% of what you read should be something different from what you typically gravitate toward if you want to be connected to the world and the people in it, as well as remain open-minded and emotionally aware and astute. For instance, if you read 10 books a month, at least one or two of them should be something different from what you typically gravitate toward. If you only read bestsellers, read a classic or something a literary magazine recommends. If you only read about the American Revolutionary War, read a thriller. And so on. You get the point by now.
So, HOW can you read a bit of EVERYTHING? In addition to following publishing, reading, and award-giving trends, I would recommend doing the following.
Join a Book Club
If you read a lot of classics, join a book club that chooses new releases. If you read a lot of romance novels, join a book club that reads thrillers. Etc. You can also follow a multitude of book clubs online and read what they’re reading. Book clubs are essential to community building. Read: The Significance of Book Clubs for more insight into this.
I started my own online book club, the Egalitarian Book Club during the pandemic, as well.
Here’s how you know the Egalitarian Book Club, hosted on Storygraph, will be a good fit for you:
🎯You believe that reading is fundamental to changing minds, expanding hearts, and building meaningful connections with other humans.
🎯You enjoy reading a variety of genres and books or are at least interested in trying to do so.
🎯You read works by authors who have diverse backgrounds that are different from your own or are at least interested in seeking them out.
We’re currently picking out our May book — vote here!
I’m also looking to join other book clubs that read a variety of different books. Leave a comment if you know of one or run one!
Alternate Between Nonfiction and Fiction and Genres
As a general rule of thumb try to read a different type of book at least every sixth to tenth book you read. This will keep you reading different books and keep you reading more overall. You can have your go-to recommendation sources as well, whether it be a column compiled by literary critics or your friends on Goodreads. Outsource recommendations when you’re unsure, but don’t be afraid to just pick up a random book either. What’s the worst thing that could happen? You get 50 pages in and don’t like it, so put it down and move on to the next book.
Follow More Indie Authors and Publishers
Reading books from bestseller lists is easy because they’re everywhere and easy to find. However, if you want to expand your reading horizons, follow and engage with more indie authors and publishers. If you are an indie author or publisher, leave a comment with your information so we can follow you and your work.
Ask a Librarian or Bookseller
One of the best ways to diversify what you read is to ask your local librarian or bookseller what they recommend. Tell them what your hobbies are or a topic you’re interested in exploring more and they’ll help you find something to read. Or just tell them what you typically read and that you’re trying to branch out and they’ll help you find something tailored to your interests. I can’t tell you how many times a librarian or bookseller has steered me toward a book I didn’t know about but ended up loving.
What would you add to this dialogue? Do you read a bit of everything? Why or why not? And what influences your reading selections most?
Leave a comment to join this dialogue, and don’t forget to share this post with others so they can join this dialogue too.
© This work is not available for artificial intelligence (AI) training. All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC.
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Today’s Writing Prompt
Writing Prompt: Reading Habits
Write a journal entry about your reading habits and what you like and don’t like about them. Or write a fictional dialogue two characters are having about what they read and why.
