As creative writers, we share a common habit, one that drives us into untold worlds, dimensions, and adventures. It’s a ritual shared by many for generations.

Reading.

It makes us what we are.

A writer friend was curious about her own reading habits and started a questionnaire. I decided to do the same. For me, reading is a pleasant pastime. It has its charms and can easily draw me in. I can’t go a day without reading, in fact! Anyway, onto the questions.

1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

Not particularly, though I prefer outdoors in the sun, my bare feet dug into the earth.

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I use a taro card. The taro are imbued with mystical properties—the one I use associates with abundance and wisdom. I find it’s ether helpful in my reading journeys.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter / a certain amount of pages?

I prefer end of chapters or scenes. It’s convenient. Sometimes I stop midway through a scene, but rarely.

4. Do you eat or drink while reading?

Heavens, no! I prefer to separate the two rituals. For me, food time is sacred, as is reading time. Mixing the two dilutes the experience of both—although some water is fine.

5. Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?

Sometimes I play music to suit the tone of the chapter. Otherwise, I avoid it; see my above response.

6. One book at a time or several at once?

I prefer one book at a time, but I’ve done up to three at once. Again, I’m not much of a multitasker, as it dilutes the experience.

7. Reading at home or everywhere?

Anywhere. Reading is a portal, transporting you away from reality, so it doesn’t matter for me.

8. Reading out lout or silently in your head?

Silent and sweet to myself; it adds the sugar on top, so to speak.

9. Do you read ahead or even skip pages?

Never. Should a hero or heroine dodge a quest and rush for the ending? The richness, the nectar, is found in the journey itself.

10. Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?

I try to keep my books as neat as possible, but my hand often bends them anyway.

11. Do you write in your books?

Only in non-fiction. The notations are helpful for future reads to highlight specific details. For fiction, I wouldn’t dare.

12. When do you find yourself reading? Morning, afternoon, evening, whenever you get the chance or all the time?

Afternoons and evenings. My mornings are reserved for meditation, yoga, and juicing.

13. What is your best setting to read in?

Quiet, peaceful, relaxed. This puts me in a zen-like state to absorb the book best.

14. What do you do first – Read or Watch? 

Either or.

15. What form do you prefer? Audiobook, E-book or physical book?

Physical books, followed by e-books, and then audio books. I’m more visual, so physical novels work best.

16. Do you have a unique habit when you read?

Popping my right thumb, afflicted with Gamer’s Thumb. I blame it on too many video games in preceding years.

17. Do book series have to match?

Yes. I follow series chronologically to make the best sense of it all.

18. Favorite Genre? (added in some questions of my own)

Fantasy and Sci-fi for fiction. New Age and health for non-fiction.

19. Sub-genres?

Romance mixes well in Fantasy and Sci-fi for me. Epic Fantasy is wonderful too.

20. How often do you read? How many books, on average, a year?

I read everyday, aiming for one to two hours. Sometimes, when I’m busy, I only do 30 minutes. I’m not an avid reader, averaging 20 to 30 books a year, in addition to dozens of articles online. Many of the books I read tend to be 500+ pages due to my love of epic fantasy.

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There you have it. Have about you, dear reader? Any reading habits or quirks? When do you find time to read or study? I’d love to hear in the comment section below. Also, if you’re blogger, consider yourself tagged!

Thanks for reading.

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Aspectä rey’lief, fair reader, and thanks for reading!
—Ed R. White