Reading with a Pen in Your Hand

Recently, I have been reading The War of Art, and I was reminded (thanks to Lolita Allgyer’s amazing post :)) that I need to be reading with a pen in my hand.

Whenever I read ANYTHING (besides a novel) now, it feels weird to not have a pen in my hand.  Why?  Because I like to write in my books.  It does something for me, and I look forward to reading much more when I have a pen right with me to write with.

You have to have a good pen though – I have a favorite pen.  That’s not technically essential, but I personally consider it to be 😛

I know – you’ve been taught NOT to write in books.  It’s ingrained in us at a young age and you were scolded for doing it, maybe even punished.  But things are different now!  There are so many things you are missing out on when you refuse to write in your books!

I’ve found that when I read and write at the same time, I learn so much more from the book, it’s much more exciting, and it enhances the enjoyment I get out of it!  It holds my attention better as well because I am actively looking for an idea that I either agree or disagree with so I can write my thoughts in the margins.

I’ve also started dog-earing the pages.  This enables me to go back to those specific pages very easily to access the ideas that meant the most to me.

If you haven’t been writing in your books, you’ve been missing out!

Here are the habits you must start:

1 – Start Writing in the Margins of, and Underlining, Your Books

If you own the book, make it look like you own the book!  When there is a thought you agree with or disagree with, write a comment in the margin or underline that section.  Doing this enhances your learning experience and helps you to actively engage with what you’re reading.  You can even buy used books that have already been written in and gain insight from the readers before you (plus you’ll probably get a discount)!

2 – Dog-Ear Important Pages

When a certain paragraph or page resonates deeply with you, dog-ear the page.  And I know that it ruins the nice, crisp, perfect paper (melancholies, calm down), but get over it.  Dog-earing the pages allows you to quickly refer back to an important section of the book without having to remember a page number or chapter.

Making it Yours

Marking up your books with notes, underlines, highlights, and dog-eared pages is not disrespectful – it’s an art.  I look with pride upon the books that I have marked up because they’re truly mine.  For instance, no one else’s copy of The War of Art is like mine.  It’s unique.

When a book is so beat up and old that no one in their right mind would want it even if you GAVE it to them for free, that’s when you’ve done right.  You’ve mastered the art of book-marking, and you’re actively engaging in a “conversation” with the author by commenting in the margins.

The book isn’t yours until you write in it.

Make it yours.

 

Until next time,

Hope Frances