It’s the first Wednesday of the month again, time for a post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
JANUARY QUESTION: Do you have a word of the year? Is there one word that sums up what you need to work on or change in the coming year?
MY ANSWER: I think my 2022 word of the year was READ. I read a lot. Perhaps, this year, my word should be WRITE. I want to write more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In compliance with this month’s question, I think it is time to look back on my reading during the previous year. Recently, I saw a statistical report that an average American reads 13 books a year. A discouraging count. I guess an average Canadian (I’m Canadian) would boast a similar number. But what does a statistical average mean?
In mathematical terms, it means that in a pool of 10 people, if nine of them read 1 book a year, and the tenth one read 121 books during the same year, the average would come to 13. To no one’s surprise, I’m the number 10 in this equation. I think most writers are. We need to read in order to write well. Furthermore, personally, I need to read in order to feel comfortable. If I don’t have a pile of books ready for me on my dresser every day of the week, I get antsy. I need to read less than I need to breathe, but only a little.
According to the stats page of my GoodReads account, I’ve read 140 books during the year 2022. That would translate to approximately one book every 2.6 days. Most of my reading comes in two genres: speculative fiction and romance. In general, I’m not a speedy reader, but my 2021 stats show an even higher figure – 166. And those numbers are only new reads. They don’t include re-reads of the old favorites, which I regularly do.
What about you? Do you keep track of your reading? Are your personal reading statistics important to you? Care to share the numbers? What genres are the most common in your reading? Tell me in the comments.
Olga Godim writing 
I don’t keep track of my reading stats, but I’m sure I’m a #10 like you. Happy New Year!
I read a lot. And from a variety of genres. Fiction/non fiction are both grist to my mill. I list the books I read in my sidebar (and do include rereads).
I need to mark my reads at Goodreads but I always forget. However, it would be nowhere near as many as you a year. Wow! Very impressive.
I have no idea how much I read in a year. Only that I read a lot. Once at school I wrote that if books had not been invented, I’d have to invent and write them in order to have something to read. I am still like this. But I do not do stats.
I don’t keep stats anymore on what I read or how many – it became a chore. I read fiction and a lot more non-fiction these past few years, so I’m reading multiple books at a time, currently I’m on 3 non-fiction, 1 English fantasy and 1 French manga series.
Olga, that’s a fabulous number of books you’re managing to read. I’d LOVE to read more, but time and having so many other things I want to do is a limitation. I average a book a week and read predominantly literary fiction, but with lots of other genres in between. All the best with writing more during 2023!
Debs posting today from Fiction Can Be Fun
Also found at Debs Despatches
I also keep track via Goodreads. My reading volume has decreased over the years. This is due to the demands of the full-time day job. *sigh* When I was working part-time, I had more time to read.
Happy New Year!
I wish I could count all the submissions I read. Your total books read is incredible.
It’s difficult to find the balance.
Make time to read, write, review, use social media, blog, keep up with relationships on and offline, make money, travel, see to your soul, experience life, support others, take care of oneself, etc etc etc
“Without having a goal, it’s difficult to score.” Paul Arden
I hope 2023 will become everything you need it to be.
I read about 100 a year most years. I can’t imagine not reading regularly.
I mostly read romance these days – mostly romantic suspense and contemporary romance. And nonfiction craft books.
No, I don’t track my reading. I do read a lot though. A book or two a week, depending on the word count. I can’t imagine my life without it. 🙂
Anna from elements of emaginette
Happy New Year Olga! I’m in a Psychological Thriller reading group and they seem very focussed on the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I did it once to keep track of the books I read and I read over 100. I’m a speed reader and take time most days to read. But writing more is always a good thing.
My reading statistics are terrible. I am so ashamed!
That’s many books, Olga. I am inspired. I read a lot last year but on average only 5 books a month. So way behind. I don’t keep many records. I had a goodreads account and something happened, so I have a new one now that I have to update. But anyway, you gave me a good reason to read more than what I usually do. Writers must invest a lot of time reading.
Happy New Year, Olga! To write more is a worthy goal. I have to say I’m really impressed by your book count. I thought I was doing really well reading 13 or 14 books a year – now, I know that that’s only a baseline average and a poor one at that! LOL.
As a writer it would totally make no sense for me not to read avidly. I dont keep track of the number of books I read but maybe I should. For sure, I read a book often as many as three a day (although I dont necessarily finish them in one day.
My main genres in both reading and writing are science fiction and horror. But I make sure I read outside my genre at least every now and then to broaden my knowledge.
Reading is a huge part of my life. I’m not sure I could remain sane without a line up of books at the ready. I think you’ve chosen a great word for this year.
I’m terrible at staying consistent with any sort of tracking, so I didn’t even attempt to record what I finished. I listen to audiobooks because that’s the best way I absorb and retain information–by hearing it. Most were in the 14 hour range, though a couple were up in the 30s. I’d reckon I finished at least 30 books, about two or three a month, though I went through Gideon the Ninth twice. Love the narrator and the voice for that one so much that I’ll probably give the first three books another listen once the fourth one comes out.
I keep track of my reading on my blog year-round and always do an annual review. It’s so exciting to see others’ lists and stats! One book every 2.6 days sounds like a great average to me 🙂