When I try and split my time between reading or writing, I cannot do both for very long. Whenever I’m reading a book, the story makes everything else fade away. If I’m writing, the story is what I’m pouring my energy into. In the latter case, reading a book becomes secondary or even put off to the side until I finish writing. I can only focus on one or the other.
Even when I try to do both, such as read part of the day and write the latter half of the day, this won’t last long. One of the two will win over me, depending on where my interest lies. I might stick to the half and half schedule for a week, but the following week, either I’ll be entirely focused on reading or writing.
I’m sure there are authors that have found a balance, where they’ve disciplined themselves to give each their due. So perhaps I’m speaking more for myself–this “all in” approach to reading or writing. I do find that the “all in” approach works for me to finish something quickly. If I’m “all in” in reading, I can finish a book in a day or two, which might’ve taken me two or more weeks if I took my time.
Conversely, a story that might’ve taken months or over a year to write, I’ll finish it in half the time. Because I’m giving it full my attention, thinking about it day and night, I can work on it uninterrupted.
For authors that like to write at a slower pace, reading and writing works for them because they’re not trying to finish their story at a face paced. Rather, they’re taking their time with each, allowing the story they’re reading to unfold chapter by chapter, and letting the ideas for their story to build overtime.
But for me, when an idea takes ahold of me, I like to run with it–even sprint with it. I write feverishly until I finish.
Fallton Havenstonne 