Now that summer is upon us, it’s the perfect time of year to spend more time reading, and becoming a better reader isn’t just about reading more books. Focusing on bettering your reading skill is about identifying the types of books you do and don’t like to read, learning not to force yourself to read books you know you won’t like, and finding ways to socialize in a way that involves books, such as book clubs and #bookstagram on social media. Here are 10 ways you can become a better reader: 1. Set aside a designated time to read…
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Self-publishing has come a long way in the past decade both in terms of the process, as well as the finished product. If you’re new to self-publishing, however, it may still feel a bit confusing at times. To make it as simple as possible, we break down the publishing process into three parts: pre-production, production, and postproduction. There are countless other steps to self-publishing that begin way before the pre-production process, but most of those steps, such as outlining and writing your book and securing beta readers should take place before you begin preproduction. Let’s look at the publishing process…
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When it comes to writing, time is often the biggest enemy. Sometimes we all need a little competition (even if it’s with ourselves) to kick a task into high gear. We think we’re too busy to write because other tasks and responsibilities fill our time. Or we squander away the time we do have to write by allowing our minds to wander when we should be focused. This is where the Pomodoro Technique can be very helpful. If you fall into either of these time issues, grab yourself a good old-fashioned kitchen timer, put your phone away, and close yourself off…
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The benefits of reading go far beyond the ability they provide to escape your reality. Reading — even for just 20 minutes a day — can do wonders for your mood, sleep health, memory retention, and much more. Reading doesn’t just apply to books either; taking a few minutes every day to read an in-depth article about something new or reading a few blog articles centered on one of your favorite hobbies can have the same effect as reading a book. As it turns out, the simple act of reading is all that’s important, and it’s less about what you…