You have to love reading

If you write, then you have to love reading. There's no getting around it. If you write fiction, then you need to read fiction, and if you write non-fiction then you're likely going to have to look up and read some stuff!

Of course, for the most part, that's not an issue. It's a natural thing for us to want to devour as many books as possible and it's likely that, if you're anything like me, the To Be Read pile doesn't seem to get any smaller, no matter how much we read.

Finding the time to read is one issue that many of us struggle with. It's so easy to get swept along in the daily trundle of life, working, housework, the garden, that although you might get around to catching up on articles and news online, sometimes you look round and realise you haven't picked up a proper book in weeks!

I've now made a conscious effort to get a book off the shelf (and deciding which one can take its own share of the time - is it just me or do you have to be 'in the mood' for certain books too?) and then make another concerted effort to actually pick it up and read it. Now, whether that's in the bath, over breakfast, on the commute (if you go by train!) or in bed, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you do it.

So grab a book, switch off the goggle box and dive in!