Solicit suggestions from friends and family. You can also visit your public library, and speak to a trustworthy librarian. Whatever book you choose, make sure it is suitable for your preferences and reading ability. Be realistic. Do not choose a book that is difficult to get through, or one that you find boring. If you don’t get to choose your book, find a way to get excited about the book you have been assigned. Try to connect with a character or the setting. Let yourself be transported to the time and place described in the book. Imagine what you would do in the protagonist’s shoes.
As you become a faster and more focused reader, you will be able to begin reading longer, more challenging novels in a day as well.
Don’t read in a place where you’ll be too relaxed. Beds, hammocks, and the like make poor reading environments because you are likely to fall asleep in them. Your reading area should be arranged to facilitate concentration on your novel. [5] X Research source Let your family or housemates know you’re trying to focus on your reading. Kindly ask them not to distract or interrupt you.
Wherever you are, maintain an upright posture with both feet on the ground. This ensures adequate blood flow and even breathing. [6] X Research source Ensure your reading space is well-lit to avoid straining your eyes.
Junk food is a poor choice for a reading snack. Chips, soda, and candy don’t have the nutrients you need to keep your brain refreshed and alert. They also make you crave more snacks and leave you feeling empty. [8] X Research source
Telling other people your intentions makes you more likely to follow through on them. Share your reading goal with a friend or family member.
Trackers (sometimes called pacers) will help you precisely follow a line of text. For instance, following a line of text with a pen or your finger as you read can help you maintain your position in the novel. [10] X Research source Taking notes is a good way to eliminate regression too. Making notes on your reactions to the novel’s events or characters will help you stay focused. If you have questions about the text, write these down too. The novel’s atmosphere or the author’s tone may also deserve attention. Read an entire paragraph or page before taking notes to limit the disruption. [11] X Research source You can write notes in the margins of the book or on a separate notepad.
Look at more than one word at a time. The eye can be trained to absorb whole lines or paragraphs of text as well as single words. Don’t stop to look up unfamiliar words. It is likely that the word in question will have only a small impact on the overall meaning of the text. Try to use context clues to reason out the definition of the unknown word. [13] X Research source Visualize everything in detail. The more clearly you can see the characters, locations, and events of your novel, the easier they will be to recall. This is because you will be reading with the part of your brain which manages visual information, as well as the part which processes linguistic information. [14] X Research source
While some people are attached to the physical form of the book, if you own an e-book reader you can use it to read more easily on the go. Take your e-book with you when you have to go out. It takes up less space in your backpack or bag than a regular book. Listen to audiobooks. Bring a copy of the audio edition of your novel with you when you leave your reading nook. Listening to your novel as you drive or walk is a great way to continue making progress on it when you can’t sit down for quality reading time. [15] X Research source Don’t try to substitute the audiobook for the real deal. “Reading” an audiobook to completion takes far longer than does reading through the text of your novel.
The amount of time spent reading before taking a break will vary with the individual. A seasoned reader may go an hour or more before taking a break; a slower reader might want to take a rest after just 30 minutes. Since you want to finish your novel in just one day, the longer you can go without taking a break, the better. If you find yourself staring blankly at the page, re-reading large portions of the text, or feeling generally distracted, set the novel aside and take a break. Walk around the house for a few minutes or grab a snack.
With your novel complete, reflect on what you’ve read and share your experience with a friend.
