Keeping It Fresh by Steph Beth Nickel

 

Writing Writer Notes - Free photo on Pixabay

Sometimes it's hard to keep things fresh. We may lack inspiration and excitement about what we write and/or what we read. Just why is that?

When we discover a process that works for us, we may stick with it—even when it no longer serves us well.

When we settle on our favourite (genre, book format, location to write, etc.), we may become reluctant to try something new.

And as we get older, we may get set in our ways.

One way to keep things fresh and exciting is to continue to explore, no matter how old we get, no matter how set in our ways.

What does this look like practically speaking?

Location. Location. Location.

If possible, I highly encourage exploring new locations. My hubby and I spent three weeks with our eldest and his wife last year. In that time, we visited Scotland, Iceland, and Ireland. Cliché as it may sound, it was the trip of a lifetime.

While a trip across the Pond, or even across the country, may not be possible, checking out local attractions and taking day trips can create happy memories and inspire your writing.

And speaking of writing…

Taking your laptop or notebook to a new location can get your creative juices flowing when the same old-same old weighs you down.

Finding it challenging to write at the time of day you’re used to because of a change in your circumstances? Not only can a change of location benefit your writing, writing at a different time of day can do the same.

Plus, trying your hand at writing something you’ve never written before can stretch your writing muscle.

And remember…

You never have to share that poem that makes you cringe or that fanfiction that makes you shake your head and ask how you could have ever written such drivel.

On the other hand…

You just may find a new passion, one you may eventually share with others or one that you keep to yourself.

What about reading?

There are a plethora of fiction genres and subgenres available and nonfiction books on virtually any topic you can name. Why not branch out and pick up a book you wouldn’t typically be drawn to? And if it turns out you really don’t like it, it’s a-ok to set it aside. Really, it is.

Hardbacks. Paperbacks. eBooks. Audiobooks. Fiction. Nonfiction.

I have volumes in every category on the go at any given moment, but I know I’m an anomaly.

How about you? Do you read only nonfiction paperbacks? Fiction eBooks? A variety of audiobooks? One at a time or so many you have to concentrate intently to keep characters and plotlines from getting confused?

If possible, why not read in a format you aren’t typically drawn to? I find each one has its specific charms.

And maybe read one nonfiction book and one novel at the same time if you’re used to reading a book from beginning to end before going on to the next one.

How do you keep things fresh in the areas of writing and reading?

Steph Beth Nickel is the former Editor of FellowScript and the current InScribe Contest Coordinator. Steph is an editor and author and plans to relocate to Saskatchewan from Ontario to be close to family in the spring of 2026. (Headshot Photo Credit: Jaime Mellor Photography)

Are You Aging or Maturing as a Reader? by Steph Beth Nickel

 
Book Lilac Flowers - Free photo on Pixabay
 

This post originally appeared on Janet Sketchley's blog, Tenacity, in February of this year. I appreciate the opportunity to guest post on her blog on the last Friday of each month.


Over the next couple of months, I will be having cataract surgery on both eyes and may need corneal transplants in the years to come. I can no longer go as long between workouts and not get stiff—not the good kind that comes from beneficial exercise but the kind that comes from too much inactivity. My sleep patterns are wonky, admittedly because I often stay up too late.

Are these signs of maturing or aging? Easy answer, right?

Sadly, we often think of aging in negative terms and maturing in positive ones, but I truly believe we can combine the two—while acknowledging the challenges of the passing years.

Below are some tips for older readers. (If you haven’t felt the effects of aging as of yet, hopefully you’ll find a few tips that will benefit you as well.)

Tips for Readers

As we age, our bodies and minds often get less pliable, less flexible. Just as regular physical activity can be beneficial to our body, reading can help us continue to mature and reduce the mental signs of aging.

While we all have our favourite genre(s), there are many benefits to expanding our horizons. Why not pick up a book in a genre you don’t typically read?

Have you been wanting to develop your skills in an area you’re familiar with or learn an entirely new-to-you skill? Why not nab a book in your favourite format—or pull one off your shelves you’ve been meaning to (re)read?

Just as it’s beneficial to read a wide variety of genres, there are advantages to consuming books in multiple formats: physical books, e-books, and audiobooks. In recent years, I’ve consumed far more audiobooks than I’d ever imagined I would, being more of a visual learner than an auditory one. When I’m tired or busy doing something that doesn’t require my undivided attention, I enjoy having an audiobook playing.

You can use a library app and borrow audiobooks (and e-books) for free, make individual purchases from sites such as Chirp Books (their deals are phenomenal), or pay a monthly subscription rate to a service such as Rakuten Kobo and download as many e-books and audiobooks as you like.

True confessions: I have numerous apps on my phone for consuming books and hundreds of unread volumes.

How about joining (or starting) a book club? If you don’t have enough friends or family members who enjoy reading to begin your own book club, you may want to join an in-person or online club that reads books in one of your preferred genres.

Happy reading, all!

Note: My cataract surgeries went well, and after more than 50 years wearing glasses, I no longer have to do so for distance and only have to wear "cheaters" when reading and working at the computer. I'm extremely thankful for advancements in the medical field (and others) that make aging a little easier.