Reading Challenges

I'm not doing well in my reading challenges for 2026 at all.

Part of the problem--and I'm not sure it is a problem--is how much writing I'm doing. I feel like every minute where my brain isn't shut down for the night, is spent creating new words or editing existing words.

And the part of my brain I use for writing is apparently the same part that reads. Once I'm done writing for the day, I don't feel like reading.

Also the library ebooks stress me out because I feel like I'm under the gun to read them. Possibly I need that spur? Because like I said, I usually don't feel like reading after writing. But also when I feel stressed, it makes it hard to enjoy what I'm reading.

Like right now? I have a library ebook due back in three days and I haven't started it yet. I also spent last night power reading another library ebook that had 15 people behind me on the waiting list.

This month, one of the reading challenges I'm doing has a read-a-thon where the idea is to read a lot of books in 31 days. Last year? I kicked butt, but last year my book was with my editor for a couple of rounds of revisions for most of that month, and I had a lot of downtime. This year? Book was with my editor in March, so no downtime.

The one thing that might impel me to read more--my book journal--has been sitting untouched for months.

I'm failing 2026 reading intentions. By a lot.