So many stories! My reading queue gets longer and longer, so many works that I feel obligated to read and vote on. But, it is a self imposed obligation. I imagine part of it is this site's fault with its voting system. You almost feel required to read and vote.
How in the hell can I keep up?
How in the he'll can I keep up?
If you don't close your eyes and sleep you will keep being up.
If you don't close your eyes and sleep you will keep being up.
If that doesn't work, I'm told the little blue pills keep you up.
Not helpful, but thank you. I could quit my job, I guess, to make more time, but that would be sort of insane.
You could take classes to teach you to read faster. Or decide not to read every story. Prioritize maybe if you read the shorter ones first you can read the longer ones when you retire. From work, not for the night to sleep.
How in the hell can I keep up?
Ok, so the simple answer is you can't.
If you have an iPad or similar, download the epub version and read whenever/wherever you can, offline.
Bookmark stories in progress, wait until they are complete before reading them.
Learn what story size means to your reading speed. Leave longer stories for weekends or when you can immerse yourself.
If you don't have premier access, go to page one then bookmark in your browser, find an author you like? Go to his/her story page and bookmark it.
Not being able to find a story you want to read is worse than not having the time to read those you can find.
Lastly beware..!! Our beloved webmaster has an evil streak, he places a random story at the head of the 'stream' (main page) and adds a link to further random stories. This is sometimes called the 'random story generator' more accurately it is a quick way to lose hours, sometimes days of your life. Yes you will be entertained, yes there are wonderful stories to be found, yes it will abide by your preferences and hide story types you don't like, it's temptingly perfect. Leave it alone..!!
Retire first, then caress it just once, tenderly, and kiss your life as you know it goodbye...
If you have an iPad or similar, download the epub version and read whenever/wherever you can, offline.
Bookmark stories in progress, wait until they are complete before reading them.
Learn what story size means to your reading speed. Leave longer stories for weekends or when you can immerse yourself.
If you don't have premier access, go to page one then bookmark in your browser, find an author you like? Go to his/her story page and bookmark it.
The other option, which I've heard consistently from my readers, is if an author posts on a regular schedule, they'll set that afternoon aside just for that one story, while otherwise they'll stick to longer stories. That way you can read the stories you know you'll like, as they post, while also saving those you don't yet know to read once they're completed.
That's why several of us always post on the same days, or at least on the same schedule.
The best way to handle the sense of obligation is to realize that choosing not to vote is in itself a vote.
I do not read any story that does not hold my interest, period. I only vote on stories that I do read. My queue has a number of stories I have lost interest in and will eventually be dropped. Sometimes the interest returns as it is a matter of what mood I am in as to what types of stories I may be reading at any given time.
So for myself, The reading queue only has stories I find might be of interest or are by my favorite authors. I periodically review the stories in the queue and drop those that have either gone inactive or I have totally lost interest in them.
I pay attention to which stories I am reading that I desire to read more than some of the favorite serials that I follow. This helps to determine my vote. I usually only wait till the story is posted for those authors with a history if incomplete and inactive stories. Those I know only post completed stories (waves at Ernest) I have no problem reading them as they are posted. That said I do not feel obligated to read even all the stories by my favorite authors as some do cover topics or story styles that I don't care for. For example I really have no interest in straight stroke stories. The higher the sex to story ratio the less likely I will read it. But that is just me, there are others here looking for the sex and less interested in the story. More power to them.
How to keep up? Prioritize by reading those stories that 'grab' you first. The ones you hate to put down because you can't wait to see what happens next. Move down the list from there and don't feel bad if a story keeps getting bumped by more interesting stories. The main point is to enjoy what you do read and to let the author know that you did enjoyed it. Votes are just a way to let other readers know what you enjoyed.
I do prioritize. I drop stories that don't grab me. I vote, but I drop. But, still, my queue gets longer and longer with large stories I want to read...eventually.
This is worse than Sanderson, Eddings, and Hamilton combined. Not to mention Tefler, Lubrican, and Robberhands.
And than comes the wild hair to re-read a series. God forbid. Can we say SpacerX?
My queue runs between 60 and 100 stories at any given time. When I get over 100 and start a second page I go through and cut harder to free up space. Usually about 20 - 25 actually active stories with the rest waiting in the wings for when I am in the mood to read them.
I think all of us hardcore readers, have a constantly growing list of stories to be read. Regardless of how fast or slow our reading speed is, I highly doubt the list gets reduced in size.
Of course that doesn't take in to account all of those stories and series which I go back and read again and again.
Those lists are as different as we as readers are different. Similarities do exist, but overall the lists are probably highly different.
I think all of us hardcore readers, have a constantly growing list of stories to be read. Regardless of how fast or slow our reading speed is, I highly doubt the list gets reduced in size.
The general rule with speed-reading is, just like having more money means you have bigger bills, reading faster simply means you're always reading more books. It doesn't say you any time, it just allows you to consume a few additional books. It's kinda like going to the library, or visiting the bargain bin, even when you earn a six-figure salary.
I think all of us hardcore readers, have a constantly growing list of stories to be read. Regardless of how fast or slow our reading speed is, I highly doubt the list gets reduced in size.
The general rule with speed-reading is, just like having more money means you have bigger bills, reading faster simply means you're always reading more books. It doesn't say you any time, it just allows you to consume a few additional books. It's kinda like going to the library, or visiting the bargain bin, even when you earn a six-figure salary.
The problem I have with speed reading is that while it is easy to pick up the major threads of whatever one is reading, it is easy to miss significant details. I have always tested high in reading comprehension, and can therefor read rapidly while still getting the full impact of the story. I don't consider that to be speed reading, but just my normal reading speed.
I have always tested high in reading comprehension, and can therefor read rapidly while still getting the full impact of the story. I don't consider that to be speed reading, but just my normal reading speed.
That sounds familiar.
I know it seriously bothered some of my elementary school teachers when I'd bring in a book from home to read during recess or down time. They were busy teaching 'Run, Jane, run'. I was reading '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' and 'The War of the Worlds'.
It made my third grade math teacher livid when I put my head down on my desk and read The Hobbit/LOTR instead of paying attention to her teaching.
I think all of us hardcore readers, have a constantly growing list of stories to be read. Regardless of how fast or slow our reading speed is, I highly doubt the list gets reduced in size.
The hurrider I go the behinder I get.