Category: Reading to learn writing

Why I read so many books at a time

If you follow me on Goodreads, and you should, you might notice two things. One, I am seven books behind on my reading goal for the year. And two, I am currently reading (checks notes) four books.

Four different books.

This is not uncommon for me. I’m usually in the middle of at least two books at a time. Part of this is because of my Gemini nature. I am often in wildly different moods throughout the day, and some of those moods call for different reading experiences. Sometimes I’m just being fickle and can’t settle on one story. Sometimes I pick up a second book because the primary one isn’t doing it for me, but I’m not ready to admit that yet. And yes, sometimes it’s because a shiny new release comes out and my TBR just cannot compete.

All that being said, I have good reasons to read several books at a time as well. And, as some of these reasons might apply to you too, I thought I’d share them with you today. So if you’ve ever been made to feel guilty for having too many bookmarks in too many books, keep reading.

Some books I only want to read a little of each day

One of the four books I’m reading right now is Power of The Psalms by Anna Riva. It’s a lovely book that includes all 150 Biblical Psalms, and some magic to work with each one. Every morning, I read a single psalm to start my day. I don’t want to read more than that, as I’d like to think about this psalm throughout the day.

You might have any number of books you do this with. Spiritual devotionals, poetry books. Anything that you don’t want to consume huge chunks of at a time.

Some books come with activities

I enjoy reading witchcraft books. I also enjoy reading writing books. Sometimes I get lucky and find books that talk about both, like The Magical Writing Grimoire, Poetry as Spellcasting or Inspiring Creativity.

Books like this often have exercises. Meditations, writing prompts and rituals. And books like this don’t do much good if you don’t do the exercises. And I don’t know about you, but I often read in places where I can’t write. Much less light a candle and start mixing herbs. Sometimes I’m just too tired to do a writing exercise.

Now, I could just keep reading from there. But I know myself better than that. I will for sure not come back and do that exercise, no matter how sure I am that I will.

I won’t.

But if I mark the page and come back to the book after I do the ritual, then I’m good. This might mean that I put a book down for a few hours. Or until I have a quiet moment to write or light a candle. Or, if we’re talking about a witchcraft book, I might have to wait for a specific moon cycle. While I’m waiting, I might well have time to read. So, I’ll need to switch to another book.

Some books I read with others

Right now, I’m reading Out of This Furnace with the darling husband. It’s a fun activity, reading a book with someone else.

There are many reasons you might do this. Maybe you’re reading to a child, or a disabled loved one like me. Maybe you’re reading a book in tandem with a friend, and you don’t want to get too far ahead of them. Reading might not seem like a social activity. But it can be. And if you’re read voraciously (or try to), you might need a backup book you aren’t sharing with anyone else.

Some books I read specifically to review

Now, I don’t work as a professional critic anymore. At least, not right now. But when I did, I was often reading a book specifically to review it. Even now, I have a list of books I want to read so that I can talk about them on here.

When you make books a part of your job, sometimes you’ve got to read books you might not want to. Sometimes it’s an ARC. Sometimes it’s a contractual thing. Sometimes a book just pissed you off so badly that you need to tell the world.

Even if you’re reading a book to review and it’s good, and most of them are good, it’s work to review a book. You aren’t just reading. You’ve got to take notes and consider things like theme and cultural significance. I wrote a whole two-part post about what it takes to review things instead of just reading or watching them. And yes, it’s fun work. But it’s work.

Some books are too emotional to binge

There are some books that just throw you. Some books trigger you when you frankly don’t expect to be triggered. This has happened to me several times.

Sometimes it’s okay. I can handle a little emotional damage. But depending on the sort of damage, and the theme of said damage, and where I am emotionally, sometimes I’m just not able to keep reading.

And that’s okay. If a topic is too heavy, you can put it down and come back to it later. Or, maybe you know the story you’re reading is triggering you, and you’re having a bad day. It’s perfectly fine to say that this is too much, and you’ll come back to the story another time. Maybe it’ll be tomorrow. Maybe a week from now. Maybe a year. But it’s okay to tuck that rough story back in your TBR pile for another time.

Some books I read just for pleasure

This is the biggest thing I want you to take away from this post. Reading is fun. And yes, we might often find ourselves reading books for other reasons than pleasure. I didn’t even get into students who have to read assigned books, or people guilted into reading a book by their best friend.

But it’s okay to read something just because you like it. Hell, given the state of the world, a good book might be exactly what you need to save your sanity on any given day.

A book is not a meal. You don’t have to finish your vegetables before you have dessert.

Paper Beats World is a labor of love. If you love what I do here, please consider liking and sharing this post and leaving a comment. You can also support me financially on Ko-fi.

Spooky season is coming, and it’s time for some creepy reads. Check out my horror novel Quiet Apocalypse, about a witch trapped in her apartment during a dark winter storm with a demon devoted to ending the world.

Or check out my horror short, The Man In The Woods. A man tries desperately to protect his granddaughter from the mysterious man in the woods. But his fear only grows when a new housing complex is built too close to the woods.

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I didn’t raise my 2025 Goodreads Goal

I think I mentioned this in my first post of the year. And when I did, I promised more information to come. Well, here it is.

After surpassing my Goodreads goal for the last four years in a row, I’ve decided that for 2025, I’m not going to increase it. My goal last year was to read 50 books, and my goal this year is to read 50 books. Every year I’ve read more books than the year before, and now I’m done increasing this goal. Let’s talk about why, and why you might consider doing the same thing.

I reached a number I like

50 is a good number of books. It’s almost a book a week. It’s also kind of a hard number to reach, while also being reachable. Like, I’ll have to put some effort into it, but not so much that it stresses me out and feels unattainable. At least at this point in my life, I can read 50 books and it feels like a challenge, but not an unachievable one.

I will eventually hit a number I can’t reach and that’s upsetting

There is a limit to how many books anyone can read in a year. Especially someone like me, who frankly has too much going on to read a lot of days. Reading takes time. Time I don’t always have between hospital visits, working and writing. And I swear, the older I get the less time I have to read.

Even if that weren’t the case, no one is adding more time to my day. I will continue to have the same number of working hours, the same number of writing goals, the same house to clean and a husband to care for. There isn’t anything that should make me think I’ll have more reading time.

But if I keep increasing that goal every year, reading will become more and more stressful. I’ll struggle more and more with the goal, intentionally taking shortcuts or just getting overwhelmed by the whole thing and tossing it away altogether. And no matter how many times in a row I reach my yearly goal, you can sure as shit believe that what will stick with me is the year I don’t make it. Let’s not forget the time I failed to reach my Nanowrimo goal and bitched about it for a year.

I want to be able to read longer books without fear

Books I like vary in size. Horror tends to be short, but then I also read Stephen King who writes super long. I also just got the new Grady Hendrix book, and she’s a big girl. Not the biggest I’ve read by far, but at 476 pages it’s no novella. It’s certainly longer than any novel I’ve written.

I like a long book. I need the space and ability to luxuriate in a good long book. I want to read things that take me some time to get through because they’re good stories that are full of detail and depth.

That isn’t to say that short books can’t be deep. Brevity has its perks. But I don’t want to be scared of getting into a long book for fear that it will endanger my Goodreads goal for the year.

All that being said, why am I still doing a Goodreads goal at all? It would seem much easier to just not do one, right? Then I wouldn’t have to worry about stressing myself out, taking the fun out of my reading or fearing to get involved with a long novel.

Well, aside from the fact that I like a challenge, I need a reading goal. At least, if I’m going to read a book for pleasure.

I read a lot of books for very adult reasons. I read books to review here and on Haunted MTL. I read books to learn things. Sometimes I read books because I’m an asshole who can’t keep my eyes on my own work. (I’ll be reviewing The House of My Mother on Haunted MTL soon.)

But I also read for pleasure. For something fun that I enjoy that isn’t productive or efficient. I read to relax. Except, well, in the society we live in relaxing is hard. While hustle culture is becoming less and less acceptable, the effects linger. And reading when there are a thousand other things I could be doing is often hard. What am I wasting time on this book for? The dishes need washing, I’ve got to scrub the salt marks from my boots off the floor, Oliver would like to go outside, and I could always be working on marketing.

I could spend all day working on marketing and still not feel done with that particular project.

So giving myself a reading goal helps to shut up the part of me that needs to be productive all the time. It gives me a pass to read not for any productive reason but a joyful one. Someday, I hope to heal that part of myself and just be able to rest and savor the joys of life. Until I get there, I’ll make reading goals.

So what about you? Are you making a Goodreads goal for 2025? And what books are you most looking forward to reading this year? Let us know in the comments.

If you want to support Paper Beats World, you can do so on Ko-fi and gain my undying love.

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What I’m reading this Spring

Spring is upon us! Time for gardening, picnics, egg-themed holidays and lots of rain. At least, here in Western PA.

A new season brings a new reading list. Because at heart, I miss parts of elementary school.

Not all of it, just the structured creative and leisure activities. I would kill for someone to mandate afternoon recess for grownups, art and music classes and weekly library trips. Timed multiplication tests and state capital quizzes I could do without.

Sadly, I didn’t get to all the books I wanted to read during the Winter. I still read a lot of books, eleven in total. They just weren’t the ones I planned to read. So, some of these are repeats.

As always these are in no particular order. Some are fiction, some are nonfiction. The books on this list represent me as a speculative fiction fan, as a witch, and as a professional writer. So hopefully you’ll find some suggestions for your own TBR.

Coal Region Hoodoo by Maxim W. Furek

This is a nonfiction book about the horrors of Western Pennsylvania. Things like Centralia, the eternally burning city. And it includes stories about Ed and Lorraine Warren. So, super excited about that.

Ghost Hunters by Ed Warren

This is a book of firsthand accounts of spiritual battles fought by Ed and Lorraine Warren. Do I need to explain why I want to read this book?

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

I know, this is a classic. I should have read it years ago. I should have read it in high school. But I can’t go back in time and fix it. I can just make time this spring to read it.

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty

I love Mur Lafferty for her work on Ditch Diggers. I’ve been wanting to read Six Wakes for years, and I am finally going to do it.

Let The Whole Thundering World Come Home by Natalie Goldberg

Goldberg is one of my writing heroes. To find out she has another memoir that I haven’t read yet feels like a personal gift.

Where The Gods Left Off by Sara Raztresen

If you happen to be of the witchy persuasion and also happen to be Christian, Raztresen’s YouTube channel is a good place to go for answers. Or if you’re just wondering how those two things can exist in the same person. I’m eager to see what she has to say in print.

New Moon Magic by Risa Dickens and Amy Torok

I love some good moon magic. I love it even more when it’s anti-capitalist.

Welcome to Nightvale by Joseph Fink

I’d be very surprised if you’ve never heard of this insanely popular podcast. I haven’t listened to many episodes, just because there are so many episodes that it seems daunting. So I thought starting with the book might help.

Self Publisher’s Legal Handbook by Helen Sedwick

I’m not in any legal trouble. And I would like very, very much to keep it that way.

Save The Cat Writes A Novel by Jessica Brody

I’ve always wanted to read this book. Everyone raves about it. I just haven’t gotten around to it. But 2024 is my year of intention. And I will intentionally read the books I’ve been meaning to read.

Rainbow Magic by Molly Roberts

I’ve mentioned Roberts before as someone you just have to look up if you’re an artsy or witchy person. She has a new book coming out all about color magic, and I am so excited.

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

Stephen King is publishing a new short story collection. I love him.

Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine

I have yet to read a book by Valentine that I haven’t loved. Her book, Delicate Condition, is the inspiration for the latest season of American Horror Story.

So that’s it. That’s what I’ll be reading this Spring unless something else comes along and distracts me.

I do want to make this suggestion, though. If you make your list, but are distracted by another book, that’s okay. Reading is supposed to be a pleasure. We aren’t in elementary school anymore, thank goodness. We aren’t giving ourselves homework. We are keeping lists of experiences we want to have and things we want to learn.

Keep it casual. And please let me know in the comments what you want to read this Spring.

Paper Beats World is a labor of love. If you want to support us financially, you can do so on Ko-fi. Or, you can like and share this post.

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The best books of 2023

Christmas is over. 2023 is basically over. And it has been a hell of a year. There have been some wonderful moments. Book launches, conventions, birthdays and holidays. But there have been some not-so-great things as well. Mostly the world is still on fire.

But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. Today, we’re here to talk about the best books I’ve read this year.

And it’s been a good year for books, let me tell you. I’ve discovered several new authors that I am in love with. And I can’t wait to share my list with you.

Some of these books I reviewed on Haunted MTL. If you’re interested in reading them, I’ll include links.

Dread Nation/Deathless Divide by Justina Ireland

I talked about these books in my mid-year check-in, and I’m still just not over how good they are. If you like historical fiction, zombies, or just great storytelling, you should read these books.

Cord Magic by Brandy Williams

This is the only nonfiction book to make it onto my list. But it deserves the position. I learned so much from this book about magic. It is wonderful.

Silver Nitrate By Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Moreno-Garcia is one of my favorite authors, but I wasn’t as thrilled with her last book, The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. So the fact that Silver Nitrate was such a fantastic book was honestly a relief.

It’s also got sort of a Christmas vibe. So if you’re not done with egg nog and fruit cake yet, it’s not a bad time to read it.

Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

This book was so much fun. Again, I did a whole review on Haunted MTL. As a fan of slasher flicks who also understands that they’re a bit shallow and exploitative, this book felt tailor-made for me.

Holly by Stephen King

I was looking forward to this book before it was even written, I’m pretty sure. Holly is such a pure, wonderful character. And this book was super fun.

The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White

If you loved Frankenstein, but always felt like Victor’s story was a little suspicious, this is the story for you. It’s dark, it’s thought-provoking, and it’s terrific.

Hide by Kiersten White

I picked up this book because I wanted a fun, scary romp through an abandoned amusement park. And I got that. But I also got a deep look at the terrors of inheritance and the lengths people will go to for privilege. This book is a wild ride, is what I’m saying.

Kind of like an amusement park ride.

Delicate Condition by Danielle Valentine

I did not shut up about this book on Haunted MTL. I talked about it when I reviewed it. I talked about it when I was looking forward to the next season of American Horror Story. I talked about it the whole time I was reviewing American Horror Story. And I’ll probably still be talking about it when I review the second part of the latest American Horror Story season.

Go read this book, it’s awesome.

How to sell a haunted house by Grady Hendrix

I read this book in one day. It was amazing and sent me seeking every other book I could get my hands on by this author.

Again, I thought this book was going to be funny. I thought it was going to be a light romp through a haunted house while a haggard person tried to sell it. I was not expecting an introspective look at how we can pass down emotional trauma in a family while never even talking about it.

The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

I told my therapist about this book because I was literally crying over this book and kind of being mean to my husband about it. I was angry at the male gender reading this book. But it was fantastic.

I loved this book more than most books I’ve read in the last five years. It was funny. It was sad. It hit every one of my real-world fear buttons before we even got to the vampire antagonist. This book was, in short, perfect.

So that’s the top ten best books I read in 2023. Now I want to hear what you think. What were your favorite reads this year? What are you looking forward to reading next year? Let us know in the comments. And I’ll see you next year.

If you want to support Paper Beats World, you can do so on Ko-fi.

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My Fall reading list

I used to do this every season, posting a list of books I planned to read. I got away from it because I’m as fickle as the wind and more rebellious against myself than anyone else. Putting a book on a reading list seemed to be a sure sign that I’d be reading anything except that book including the backs of Monster drink cans. 

But I really want to give it a try again. Maybe because Fall feels like back to school, and I love a good reading list. 

Also, there are some events in Fall that will dictate my reading to a point. Banned Books Week is in October, so I want to read certain things for that. Then there’s Halloween and Nanowrimo. As such, much of what I read for the rest of the year will be horror and writing related.

Oh darn, my two favorite things. 

So here’s what I plan to read this Fall. The list might be a bit aspirational, since we just got a new family member who’s taking up an awful lot of my time and attention.

I’m not including my holiday books, because that’s just five books I read every year. Some of these books are new, some are new to me. Some are old favorites. And of course, if something comes out or I get offered an ARC this might get adjusted. But as of right now, here’s the plan for Fall reading.

The Roots Grow Into The Earth by Bert S. Lechner 

I should already have finished this book by the time you’re reading this. I should in fact have a review of it up on Haunted MTL. It’s a pretty chilling read so far. 

Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

This is a no-brainer. I might not have loved Daughter of Dr. Moreau, but I have adored every other one of her books I’ve gotten my hands on. 

Holly by Stephen King

Dad wrote another book, of course I’m gonna read it. And, it’s about my favorite character from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy and The Outsider. It’s like this book was made for me. 

The ruin of all witches by Malcom Gaskill

This is a nonfiction book about a witch hunt in Springfield Massachusetts in 1651. I don’t think I need to explain why I want to read this one.

Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey

I just thought this would be a really fun book to read for Halloween. I’m a sucker for a good historical ghost story. 

Gather Together in My Name by Maya Angelou

I really love reading a Maya Angelou book for Banned Books Week. Which is in October this year, by the way. No idea why they moved it, except the current state of banned books in America is scary. 

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

I read this every year for Halloween. It’s cute, the artwork is delightful, and it doesn’t feel like Halloween without it. If you’ve never read it yourself, I cannot suggest it enough. 

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix

I am a sucker for a good horror comedy. This book is basically about a haunted Ikea. I am stoked to read this one by the fireplace with some apple cider. 

Wild Mind and Thunder and Lighting by Natalie Goldberg

In November I crave inspiration from my favorite writers. Rereading some of my favorite Natalie Goldberg books will help me get inspired for Nanowrimo. 

The Magical Writing Grimoire by Lisa Marie Basile

Lisa Marie Basile is easily my favorite witchy writer. And this book has so many great practices for writers and witches. I plan to work through it in November and December. 

Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

We’ll finish up November with Christmas and Yule, which means I’ll be starting with my favorite Christmas book of all time. 

If you don’t already read this book every holiday season, I cannot suggest it enough. It’s the best way for a literary lover to get into the holiday spirit. 

So that’s it. I’ll be checking back in December to see how many of these books I actually read. And now it’s your turn! What do you plan to read this Fall? Let us know in the comments below. 

My Preptober planner is available now! And it’s full of new pages for character creation and world building. Check it out in my Ko-fi store.

 

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The Writing Life- Reading to Learn

There is a ton of things that go into being a good writer, as we’ve discussed here. You’re not just writing, or just editing, or just revising. You’re also learning all the time. This business changes all the time, and you’ve got to keep on top f things. The good thing is, you’re keeping on top of something really fun, reading. That’s right, you’re best tool in writing is to read and read and read.

You’ve got to read in your field and out of it. You’ve got to read short stories and long novels. Read good books and bad. Banned books and socially acceptable ones. There is so much to be learned from reading.

When Reading Good Books–

Soak up grammar rules. A lot of our rules are confusing and hard to remember. But if you’re accustomed to looking at our language for long periods of time, really hearing it in your head as you read, you’ll find yourself knowing when it’s right and when it’s wrong. You might not know the rule something’s breaking when it’s wrong, but you will know that it is wrong.

By the way, if you are interested in learning some grammar, read Elements of Style. It’s short, but madly useful.

You’ll also develop an ear for good storytelling. You know when you read something, and it resonates, because it’s honest, or because a part of your heart just jumps out at it? You learn to spot that, and with luck, you can learn to write it.

Another reason you want to read, especially your own genre, is to know what other people are doing. It’s not to mimic what they’re doing. It’s to know. You can’t know if you’re doing the same thing as everyone’s doing if you have no idea. You can’t know what’s already been done a million times, and what might actually be cutting edge. After all, everything is new if you’re not reading those kinds of books.

When Reading Bad Books–

And you should read bad books. (Maybe not Twilight, though. Just saying.) I make a point of picking up random books in the horror and fantasy genres. Some are great, some are really bad. I learn a lot from the bad books. For instance, I learn what doesn’t work. When I read a bad book, and I say, “Wow, that blows,” I then take it a step further than that. Why does it suck? Is the story line poor? Is the dialog bad? Do the characters fall flat? These are things to avoid.

I also like to ask myself, why did this get published, if it’s so bad. There’s a book that’s going to be made into a movie this year, that a lot of people really liked. I did not. But it’s being made into a movie anyway. So, I ask myself why. There’s something in this bad story that was so good that it was published even though it was really bad. What might happen if I learned how to do that, and put it in a good book? I’ll tell you what, best seller!

There’s also a big dose of optimism in a bad book. After all, if this trash got published, surely I’ll be eventually. You too, I bet. I mean, Twilight was published, after all. So was Ann Rice. Just all of her books. They were bad, and I thought they were bad when I was a creepy goth chick in high school.

If you learn nothing else from this blog, learn to fit reading into your everyday life. I read every night, at least a half an hour. I read in the bath, and on the way to work. I love my tablet because I’ve always got a handful of books with me. My love of reading is something that has always been with me, and it’s something that I share with every person in my life. If I’ve got nothing else to talk about, I talk about books. Someday, people are going to be talking about mine.

What book have you read that you’ve learned the most from?

This week’s affiliate sponsor is Shutterfly. I got a great calendar for my mother in law last Christmas, and it’s how I get all of my pictures published. They’re fast, great quality, and really inexpensive. Especially if you collect Coke caps. I generally get my prints for the price of shipping.  Oh, and if you click on this link, you can get a special deal.

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