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Join In: Ten Pages A Day

August 30, 2016

Sometimes I make time for book reading… and sometimes I am too busy making things (and WRITING books) to stop and turn the pages.

This is entirely of my own doing, of course. #MyBad

I’ve been merrily making and writing and not doing very much reading over the past month. Something must be done.

I’m setting myself a challenge for September (which is almost upon us!) I am enforcing ten pages a day. At least. Yep.

Okay. The word enforce? Yeah. Ugh. It’s a little hardcore, let’s be frank. The thing is, for ME, I NEED a bit of an enforcer type attitude at the moment.

I am a bit caught up with the ‘but I need to finish making this shopping bag that says ‘TATERS’ on it’ or ‘but I want to work on my year-long embroidery project’ or ‘there is a baby waiting for a blanket I have not even started’ sort of things.

And THAT is before I even think about the VERY VERY LOTS OF words I’ve been thwacking out on the keyboard, writing for myself and others.

Those are GOOD things to be sure… but the make and write should not stand in the way of taking time to read things that are a) offline and b) able to be held in your hands and c) wont to end up with dog-eared pages or accidental crinkles from the time you fell asleep with them clutched close to your dressing-gown festooned chest.

If that makes sense. Okay, you can’t festoon your chest with a dressing gown, but golly it felt good to write that.

What I am TRYING to say is that life should not get in the way of something as important as reading. But sometimes it really does. Dang.

Maybe your getting-in-the-way things are not writing and making stuff, like mine. Maybe your things are trying to keep small humans alive or trying not to get sacked from your job that you’d rather not be doing or trying to manage your health or trying to stop watching A LOT of really corny TV shows. I get it. I do.

The thing about being a human, though, is that it’s very, very important to be gobbling up words and ideas and dialogue and thoughts and views. This helps us make sense of our own stories, fuel our daydreams and find our place in the world.

I need to give myself a bigger dose of that sensing and fueling and finding. Maybe you do too?!

Or maybe YOU are a more evolved time-manager than I, and you are page-turning like it’s nobody’s business. GO YOU! (Maybe you’d like to take things up a notch?! See below!)

If you are a delinquent like me. If you are not turning as many pages as you would like, perhaps you would like to join me in my super-hardcore (except it’s not) ten pages a day reading reprogramming adventure. (Also see below!)

Here is how you can do that.

The Rules

Ugh. I hate rules. Here is a loose framework instead.

The Loose Framework

1. Beginning 1 September, read 10 pages a day of an actual hold-in-the-hands book. Or more. But 10 is the minimum we are going for.
2. If you already read more than that, ADD 10 EXTRA pages a day to your usual reading routine. Too easy.
3. Share your books and thoughts on Instagram or Twitter if you like via #tenpagesaday – or in the comments here.
4. Have fun reading!
5. That’s it!

 

We begin on the first of September! Let me know if you plan to join in! COME ON! Do eeeeet!

pip signature

 

21 Comments

  • Reply Jo September 15, 2016 at 1:20 PM

    I’m a little late to the party but have already been reading so…win! Reading Melina Marchetta’s Tell the Truth Shame the Devil .

  • Reply Alyson September 3, 2016 at 6:38 PM

    I love it! I love books, I love you! And I have an extra ace curated pile of bedside books that have been waiting my attention for ages! Plus, sometimes I need permission to read books because I feel guilty about how much I like to lose myself in a book. Go figure. Xxx

  • Reply Treena Muir September 2, 2016 at 9:07 AM

    Fab idea Pip, I have about 5 books that I have started and am slowly plowing through them. The one that take a little brain power like “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg are my train reading, 2 mornings a week on the way to work. Then there’s the before bed reading, I am on book 3 Game of Thrones, but only if I have the stamina to get through the kids books and then mine before my eye lids defy me and shut tight! So count me in.
    Ps. Your book is also on my bedside table and I really enjoyed every line 🙂

  • Reply Shelley September 1, 2016 at 9:07 PM

    I’m used to reading off my e-reader so I’ll give a real book a try…its been a while…LOL.

  • Reply Kim September 1, 2016 at 6:14 PM

    I am in… absolutely. But I am already going to acknowledge cheating. I read everything now on ipad, it so convenient. Your picture has inspired me, going to find A wrinkle in time and reread that, its been years.

  • Reply Libby September 1, 2016 at 11:38 AM

    Oh goody this is just the impetus I need to “get my read on!” My pile of bedside books has been steadily growing for some time & yet I continue to waste time playing an electronic game I seem to have fallen for (curse you Gummy Drop). First cab off the rank….Denise Scott “All that happened @ number 26”. Tks Pip

  • Reply Cindy September 1, 2016 at 11:28 AM

    Hm, well, I don’t normally join along in online challenges, but this one seems very timely, not to mention lovely. Not only do I want to stop watching shows every night, but I have a few books that I’ve been meaning to start reading and they’ve been on that ‘to start’ list for way too long. So perfect! Stop watching and start reading 10 pages an evening. Love the suggestion of tea and a biccie! Perhaps I’ll begin by finishing Craft for the Soul!

  • Reply Joanna September 1, 2016 at 10:27 AM

    I’m in! I usually read just before bed and always fall asleep after the first couple of pages. I am reading The Little Friend by Donna Tartt, which I love, but there is so much detail, it is not a cruisy read. So am going to read 10 pages a day, but earlier in the day!

  • Reply Kate September 1, 2016 at 8:26 AM

    I’m in. Brilliant idea. I’m so falling behind in the reading I want to do.

  • Reply Carla August 31, 2016 at 11:40 PM

    Aww Pip, love it. I’m been a terrible reader of late. I’ve had books by my nightstand for ages but end up snoring before a page is turned. I’m going to join you, thank you for your little reminder, it really is most important. Happy Spring x

  • Reply Kate August 31, 2016 at 7:20 PM

    I’m in. I always read in bed at night, but I don’t often get through 10 pages before I fall asleep. I like Kathryn’s idea of including tea and cake.

  • Reply Gina August 31, 2016 at 6:09 PM

    I’m in. I read 20 pages last night. That’s the first pages I’ve read in ages!

  • Reply Kathryn August 31, 2016 at 7:44 AM

    I’m in! Might add a cup of tea in and even allow myself a biscuit! Or cake! Mmmmmm, cake……????????????

    • Reply Shelley September 1, 2016 at 9:08 PM

      I will definitely add the tea! Great idea.

  • Reply Camille August 31, 2016 at 1:48 AM

    Love this! I have gotten off track with my reading too, 10 pages a day is a great goal!

  • Reply Clare August 30, 2016 at 11:36 PM

    Nice one Pip! I am reading ‘Harmony’ by Carolyn Parkhurst and it is very good. I am a ridiculously slow reader so a loose framework might help me read a little more and finish some more books. I never get around to non fiction which is something I want to read, maybe I should enforce a ‘read 10 pages of non fiction’ a day rule.
    Thanks for the push x

  • Reply Peta August 30, 2016 at 11:25 PM

    I’m in! I read so many ebooks and audiobooks I really need to remind myself what an actual book is like to read.

  • Reply Cindy Rush August 30, 2016 at 10:41 PM

    OK I’m joining…and here’s why. A few months ago a friend loaned me three books to read. I have only read one of them and I really feel like I need to return them. I MIGHT read a page a day because truthfully, and it hurts me to say this, I take my phone to bed and peruse facebook and IG instead of reading. So starting Sept. 1…..I’m reading books. Thank you!

    Cindy Bee

  • Reply Reannon August 30, 2016 at 10:18 PM

    For me reading has taken the place of crochet & TV watching lately. A few months back I started a little book club with some mates so now I’m all about the books & my other fun pastimes are getting left behind. It’s REALLY hard to fit all the good things into the days isn’t it???

  • Reply Cass August 30, 2016 at 9:24 PM

    Oh I’m the first to join, I’ll do it, I’m going to finish reading the Obernewtyn series again. Thanks Pip I needed this.

  • Reply Carolyn August 30, 2016 at 7:01 PM

    I’m up for it! My reading has slipped a little as we’ve been navigating the stresses of year 12 but I want to get back to filling my mind with words!

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