Hone your craft through reading

I genuinely believe that finding the time to read will help develop writing skills. The problem is I've got about zero patience for books that don't entertain me. This isn't just reserved for the world of literature but annoyingly applies to movies, series, video games, board games, and artwork, among other things. I say annoyingly because that's what it is.

When I watch something, I turn off whatever does not entertain me within the first few minutes. It's the same with books. Although reading offers a great source of learning, it's a struggle to give something a chance when my dwindling patience is already reaching for the next book. It's not made better by the fact my reading list is about a mile long.

I don't have time to read books I don't want to be immersed in.

Still, finding out what works is almost as important as finding out what doesn't. So why is something selling truckloads where I can barely get past the first page? Why is an author's work raised to the skies when I can't wrap my head around the characters?

It's not about trying to copy something that sells but about learning how I work as an artist. What do I like and why? What don't I like and why? Why does this other author's work speak to so many people? Learning the why's can help develop the toolbox.

It doesn't mean I force myself to sludge through a book I don't connect with, far from it. But I've learned to try and give some books, movies, series, video games, board games, and artwork a second chance if I think something the story can teach me.

Learning can sometimes be about eating those greens so you can get to the desert at the end.