15 Creative Ways To Spice Up Your Reading Experience
Make reading enjoyable again
Earlier this summer, you eagerly created a goal to read 10 books. You’ve prepared a list of all the books you want to read. You’re excited to get started.
Fast forward a few weeks, you can’t remember the last time you picked up a book. Has it been three, or five, days? It’s hard to get back into reading. You never feel in the mood to read. You feel guilty.
If this describes your situation, you are not alone. I find myself currently in the middle of two books, not making any significant progress.
The good news is, there’s a way out. It’s not too late to get back into the habit of reading and crush your goals. Here are 15 creative ways you can spice up your reading experience.
1. Make a Quotes Collage
2. Pretend You’re Making an Audiobook
3. Read With People
4. Dress/Act Like a Character for a Day
5. Challenge Yourself
6. Increase the Stakes
7. Make a Short Film/Act Out a Scene
8. Redesign the Book Cover
9. Go to the Library
10. Multitask With Audiobooks
11. Be a Meme
12. Reference Quotes in Conversations
13. Start a Conversation Using the First Line of the Book
14. Take a Shot Every Time a Character Says Their Catchphrase
15. Make a Special Drink to Drink While Reading the Book1. Make a Quotes Collage
Have you seen those aesthetic wall collages made of torn-out pages and snippets of poetry? I’m not suggesting you tear out your books, but you could highlight quotes that resonate with you as you read.
To take it to the next level, you could handwrite or type out those quotes on paper and paste them on the wall to make a Pinterest-worthy collage. It’s time to bust out that old handy typewriter, or simply good ol’ Microsoft Word!
Not only are you getting through your book in search of interesting quotes, you’re also doing room decorations. Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
2. Pretend You’re Making an Audiobook
I’ve found myself zoning out sometimes when I read in my head. So I tried reading aloud to wake myself up.
This is extremely helpful if you’ve got a short attention span, or are an auditory learner.
Pretend you’re making an audiobook, or imagine you’re going to give a talk about the stuff you just read. You’re naturally going to want to pay attention to the material.
Have some fun and make up different voices for each character!
3. Read With People
I’m not just referring to joining a book club. Book clubs often pick a book collectively before everyone goes off to read individually.
It’s easy to let life take over and before you know it, you’re coming up with an excuse why you haven’t finished the book.
So, go on a reading date with someone. Meet at the park, a cafe or a bookstore. Find a spot, read.
You’ll have interesting conversations about each of your books after the reading session. Hurray for socialising and reading progress!
4. Dress/Act Like a Character for a Day
You might not like this if you’re an introvert or someone who doesn’t like to draw attention to yourself. Don’t worry, you don’t have to leave your house if you don’t want to.
Dress like a fictional character and be as scrappy as you’d like! Throw together an outfit from clothes you already have, or make an entirely new one.
Fashionistas would love this. Don’t miss out on that photoshoot!
To complete the transformation, say a few words in character! Act how your character (within legal and moral boundaries, of course) would in your situation.
You’ll not forget this book anytime soon.
5. Challenge Yourself
There is nothing more motivating than a challenge and nothing more satisfying than an ‘I told you so’.
Make a deal with yourself, or with someone else. They bet you can’t finish the book in two days? You’ll prove them wrong.
And that’s another book read.
6. Increase the Stakes
If a verbal challenge is not enough, why not put something on the line?
Announce to everyone the book you’re currently reading. You probably don’t want to still be on the same book after a month.
Productivity gurus understand the power of accountability. It could be giving $10 to your friend if you fail, paying for their next meals, or surrendering your phone until you’ve finished the book.
Or maybe it’s a reward. Ordering your favourite food, getting tickets for a movie, or simply getting to shelf the book as ‘read’ on Goodreads.
7. Make a Short Film/Act Out a Scene
Have a particular part of the book that’s resonating strongly with you? Or is it a funny dialogue? Recreate it.
Involve friends and family, if you’d like. It can be as simple and as elaborate as you wish it to be.
You could even rewrite the story. Let’s say I didn’t love the ending of The Atlas Six. I could write an alternate ending and have it captured digitally, forever.
8. Redesign the Book Cover
Similarly, if you didn’t like the book cover or simply want to come up with your own one, redesign it!
This will motivate you to read it because you’ll need to get an overall feel for what the book is about.
9. Go to the Library
Going to the (physical or digital) library is a great way to read more books for free.
If getting a membership to borrow books costs you money, you can read the book in the library itself. You’ll have fellow readers reading alongside you (remember #3: read with people)!
Libraries often run programmes to encourage reading and discussions about books. Immerse yourself in your library’s book club, or reading sessions.
No better way to read more books than putting yourself in an environment that fosters that.
10. Multitask With Audiobooks
Sometimes, when I’m brushing my teeth or washing the dishes, my mind goes to bored-land. I’m not really thinking about what I’m doing, because I’ve done them so many times it’s become muscle memory.
This is a great opportunity for multitasking.
Re-energise your mind with an audiobook. This was how I got through Awakenings by Oliversacks in 19 days. I don’t think I would have finished it if I hadn’t multitasked with it.
I find listening to certain non-fiction books more effective than reading the physical versions. The Cuckoo’s Egg by Cliff Stoll is another example.
Technology is advancing to allow us to ‘highlight’ audiobooks and sync your audiobook with the ebook so you can switch seamlessly between the two mediums. This switching is called ‘hybrid reading’.
We can now reap the benefits of audiobooks without sacrificing so much of what we love about physical books. Find a genre that works for you to listen to in audio form.
11. Be a Meme
Books are not just treasure chests of knowledge, they can sometimes also be comedic props, whether intentionally or by accident (the link leads to a meme).
Get yourself an ironic/questionable/funny/strange book title and read it in public. Watch people be amused.
12. Reference Quotes in Conversations
You’ve probably heard of the quote ‘I don’t feel so good’ from Avengers: Infinity War being referenced over and over. Here are some book quotes you could use to spice up your next conversation.
On love:
Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. — Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
If I know what love is, it is because of you. — Narcissus and Goldmund, Hermann Hesse
If you remember me, then I don’t care if everyone else forgets.” — Kafka on the Shore, Haruki Murakami
Insults:
If ever I read Satan’s signature upon a face, it is on that of [insert person’s name]. — The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson
What, you egg! — Macbeth, William Shakespeare
If you will forgive me for being personal, I do not like your face. — Murder on the Orient Express, Agatha Christie
13. Start a Conversation Using the First Line of the Book
Without providing context, text someone: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” And see how the conversation ensues.
This can often be a laugh or a challenge, which is what makes it fun. Here are some first lines to get you started.
The circus arrives without warning. —The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
The average human lifespan is absurdly, terrifyingly, insultingly short. — Four Thousand Weeks, Oliver Burkeman
I felt her fear before I heard her screams. — Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead
And here are more first lines that you can use.
14. Take a Shot Every Time a Character Says Their Catchphrase
This could be a fun group activity. Read a book together and every time a character says their catchphrase, everyone takes a shot.
For example, “old sport” (Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald), or “Big Brother is watching you” (from 1984 by George Orwell).
15. Make a Special Drink to Drink While Reading the Book
My personal favourite. Make yourself a cup of tea, a shake, smoothie, or juice and get comfy on the couch. Read your book until you finish your drink. (Maybe don’t gulp it down…)
It’s simple but effective, and you can get as creative on your drink as you like.
How Will You Motivate Yourself To Read More Books?
It’s hard to maintain a reading habit. It can get boring as not every book will be up to your taste.
The quickest way to get yourself motivated to read more books is to make a special drink to drink while reading (#15) and set a challenge for yourself (#5).
If you want to take your reading experience to the next level, try making a quotes collage (#1) or even dressing up/acting as a character in your book (#4).
Let me know if you have done any of these before, and which ones you’ll be trying. And remember — it doesn’t matter how you motivate yourself, the most important thing to reading more books is to read the book itself!
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