I’m a lifelong reader. My first love was romance books and, though I read many subgenres, they all have that happily ever after in common. I love them so much that I wanted to write my own. Twelve years later, I write my own romances…and I don’t read nearly as much.

This was brought home to me over the last few weeks as I’ve been judging entries to Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest. It’s rare that I take enough time off to read a whole book. I usually only do it between projects, or during revisions, so that I don’t adopt the other author’s voice or characteristics as my own.

The good thing about this is I have to read these books by the judging deadline—so its a great excuse to give myself permission to read. I’m enjoying the chance to do this without the guilt of these words floating through my mind…you should be working.

Reading reminds me why I started writing in the first place. And the joy of losing myself in a fictional world without all the work of having to create it.  🙂

Takeaway: Give yourself permission to do something you enjoy!

How many books do you read in a week?

Dani