Speed Reading

Photo by Martha Ramirez

The other day, my fabulous cp (Daryl Ouellette) shared with me how she once read a nine-hundred page book in college in one day. 900 pages—in ONE DAY! *Bowing down*

Wouldn't that be nice?

That would be like reading three books/manuscripts a day! Amazing.

So I decided to do a little research on how to gain some speed to my reading because after all, the faster I read, the faster I can get things done and, well, time is a precious gift we all could use more of. Wouldn't you say?


Here are a few quick tips:


1. Use your finger or the tip of a pen to guide your eyes as you read. A book mark will work too. This allows you to scan more than one word at a time. You perceive it as a whole sentence rather than word by word. Thus, allowing for a more faster read.


2. Do not read aloud. Did you catch that? I repeat: Do NOT read aloud. Okay, let me make this clear. I am talking about reading fiction works for enjoyment—not our own work to spot problem areas. It is very much recommended to read work aloud when editing our own work. But for other reading pleasures, allow your eyes to do the work.

Every time you whisper or move your lips as you read, it slows you down. Make it a habit to shush yourself when reading. The person next to you at the library may appreciate the gesture. *wink wink*




3. Distractions/interruptions can slower your pace. Sorry, no Facebook or Twitter. Not now anyway. Not if you want to speed read. Find a nice, cozy quiet area and immerse yourself in somebody else's world. You'll be surprised how time flies when you're submerged in drama.


Below are a few videos I hope you find helpful. It was extremely interesting to learn when reading on the computer, if the background is black and the letters are white, it is easier to read faster. You'll see what I mean if you watch the short flick.

I'll have to warn you though. It does make your eyes go a little on the weird side. I probably wouldn't recommend long passages.


Hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Excuse me for a moment while I get back to reading :)


How about you? Are you a fast reader? What tips have you found that has helped you up the pace?