How to Get Into Fiction and Get the Most Out of It

Do you want to start reading fiction? Have an inkling to read some short stories or even maybe a little bit of poetry? Have all these friends who read novels and you kinda twiddle your thumbs during conversations because you don’t have any input? Well I’m here to tell you that sitting your ass down and reading a good novel is well within your reach.

There seems to be people out there who struggle reading fiction. They prefer non-fiction books because they “make you think” or self-help books because “they rather being learning when they read.” However, fiction is a great way to learn, develop empathy, expand your vocabulary, build your brain muscles and find insights that you may not have stumbled upon if you had chosen to opt out of reading a novel.

With that said, here’s how to start reading fiction along with some tips to getting more out of your reading experience.

Start small.

No need to plow through a Stephen King or Brandon Sanderson novel in one afternoon. You can start with a novel less than 200 pages or even less than that. Classics like The Time Machine by H.G Wells or We Have Always Lived in a Castle by Shirley Jackson are both under 200 pages! Start even smaller with some short stories. Check out some short story collections from different authors like Edgard Allan Poe.

Set aside time.

Better Than Yesterday has a great video on using the two minute rule to build better habits. Start as little as two minutes a day in order to develop a habit. Do it everyday. Next thing you know you will have finished reading an entire novel!

Try audio books!

Audio books count! Find an audio book, put your headphones on and go on a walk or doing some chorese while listening to Your local library most likely has audio books that you can check out. There are also other services like Audible where you can get audio books. Sometimes you can find some audio books on Spotify or Youtube.

Be social about it.

Join a book club! Follow #bookstgram on Instagram. Get a Goodreads account and discuss discuss discuss! A good book is a good way to bond with others.

Read something that interests you.

Don’t force yourself to read high brow literature or the classics in order to consider yourself a reader. There are plenty of book snobs out there that will make you feel bad for not reading Infinite Jest but remember that there is something for everyone out there in the world of novels. Like teenage romance? Hit television shows that were based off a beloved fantasy series? Stories about children turning into animals? Then you will find something for you in the world of novels.

Highlight.

It’s okay to writing in your books(if you own them). Highlight(or write down in a seperate notebook) all the phrases that you find insightful or sticks out to you. Many of those motivational quotes you find on the internet or some Instgrammer’s quote page are from fictional works. You’ll expand your mind and impress your friends at parties with thoughful quotes.

Write down words you don’t know the definition of and look them up.

The english language has many words. Too many but I had no say in creating it. Writing down words you don't know while you read is a great way to build your vocabulary and it does a better job than any of those “How to Build Your Vocabulary” books.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself. Books are there to add positive things to your life, It's hard to build up a habit of reading anything let alone fiction if you aren't enjoying yourself.

Now get to reading!