Confessions of an Author Who Didn’t Read Any Books in 2024
Confession time: I didn’t read any books in 2024.
I can hear the collective gasp of bookworms everywhere. “How dare you? Aren’t you an author? A lover of all things literary? Isn’t reading books part of your job?”
It feels almost scandalous to admit it. Not. One. Single. Book.
Or at least, not in the way that counts.
Yes, technically, I read. I “read” a delightful novella I proofread for a client. I even read a stack of children’s books from my son’s class to help him understand his homework. (“Truth or Lie: Dinos” and “The Fabled Life of Aesop” were my personal favorites.) But none of it was reading for me. None of it was curling up with a book purely for the joy of the story. And as a writer, that feels like breaking some sort of sacred Bookworm Code.
So, what happened? This year, life came for me like a plot twist I didn’t see coming, and honestly? I think it’s worth talking about.
Why I Didn’t Read for Myself This Year
There are plenty of reasons I didn’t read any books in 2024. Here is my polished list of excuses:
– I’m the Slowest Reader Known to Humankind.
My reading pace is slower than molasses in January. (Fun fact: this idiom is an actual thing!) By the time I’m halfway through Chapter One, the internet has already moved on to its next viral obsession. It’s not that I don’t want to read—it’s that I’m chronically behind.
– I Was Too Busy Rereading My Own Book—Over and Over Again.
Editing. Rewriting. Rereading. Screaming into the void. Repeat. I’ve been tearing apart Project Elementals 2 over and over again until I started questioning the meaning of adjectives. By the end of my work sessions, the thought of reading anything else felt like, well, work. Honestly, I think I burned myself out on words altogether.
– Running a Business Eats All My Hours.
By day, I’m homeschooling my son alongside being a hardworking business owner of two businesses (proofreading and authorship). By night, I’m… exhausted. My TBR pile is silently judging me, but when my to-do list looks like a dystopian prophecy, something’s gotta give.
– I’m a Mood Reader, and My Mood Said “No.”
When you’re a mood reader, books aren’t just something to check off a list. They’re a perfect match for your emotional state, your whims, your now. This year, my mood didn’t align with much of anything. My reading mojo was on permanent vacation.
– Proofreading Has Changed the Way I See Books.
Being a proofreader is like being a magician who knows where all the tricks are hidden. I’ve trained my brain to catch errors and inconsistencies. And while that’s a great skill to have for work, it’s a less-than-great skill for casual reading. It’s hard to read for pleasure when my brain is busy dissecting the mechanics of every sentence.
What This Year Taught Me
Turns out, not reading for a year didn’t unleash the Bookish Police to revoke my writer card. Who knew? Not reading also didn’t ruin me as an author, a reader, or a human being. It didn’t drain my creativity or my love of storytelling. It simply meant my time and energy were devoted elsewhere—to my own writing, to my work, to navigating life’s twists and turns. And that’s okay.
Books are a gift, not a duty. While I missed the joy of getting lost in someone else’s world, I also gained a deeper appreciation for the stories I’m creating myself. This year wasn’t about consuming; it was about producing, reflecting, and living my own story.
The Plan for Next Year
Here’s the truth: I’m tired. Tired of rereading my own book to the point of burnout. Tired of looking at words like they’re work. Next year, I’m giving myself permission to fall back in love with reading. Slowly. Deliberately. Joyfully.
I’m not setting a huge goal to read dozens of books or conquer my towering TBR pile. Instead, I’ll aim small: one promised beta read, one indie ARC, one steampunk book, and one contemporary fantasy. Four books—just enough to reignite the spark without overwhelming my already packed schedule. Anything more feels like tempting fate.
If you’ve had a year like mine, let this be your permission to let go of the guilt. It’s okay to step back when you need to. Books will always be there when you’re ready. And when you return, they’ll welcome you back with open pages.
What about you? Did you hit your reading goals this year, or did life throw you constant plot twists like it did for me? I’d love to hear what you read—or didn’t read. Drop a comment below, and let’s chat about how we’re all making our way through this wild, word-filled world.
Raine