The Steady Read

Your home for book reviews, recommendations, and more

Category: Guides & Advice

  • It’s Fine to Give Up on a Book

    It’s Fine to Give Up on a Book

    Reading is something we do for many reasons, but the key motives behind reading (especially fiction) are mental stimulation and entertainment value. And when such things are lacking, that’s when you know it’s fine to give up on a book and never finish it. To keep it simple: reading is supposed to be a fun…

  • Distraction-Free Writing Software

    Distraction-Free Writing Software

    Some people work better with less, often holding a preference for minimalist setups and software with discrete user interfaces. For those types of people, namely writers, here are some pieces of software I personally recommend. FocusWriter FocusWriter is a nifty little program that allows for plenty of customisation. Many actions, such as text justification, heading/text…

  • Tips for Writing a Book Review

    Tips for Writing a Book Review

    Offering tips for writing a book review is hard. Advice can vary not only based on the book in question, but the style of review, the depth of analysis, and how much of the book will be directly summarised and mentioned within the review. All of these introduce or invert the dos and do nots…

  • How to Combat Reader’s Block

    How to Combat Reader’s Block

    Burnout, or reader’s block, can be a real pain. Here are some tips on how to conquer it!

  • How to Track Your TBR Progress

    How to Track Your TBR Progress

    Some of us have many titles on our ‘to be read’ list, sometimes dozens or hundreds we plan to get through. Successfully tracking everything on our wish lists, or what we have previously read and are currently reading, can be quite the pain. If you need a simple and effective way of tracking your TBR…

  • Balancing Your Reading Habits

    Balancing Your Reading Habits

    Have you ever found yourself with no time to read? Alternatively, have you ever found your procrastination tempting you back to your books, even though your responsibilities are looming? Don’t worry too much if you’ve experienced these, it’s natural. What isn’t natural is always living with one of the two extremes on a daily basis….

  • More Tips For Easily Distracted Readers

    More Tips For Easily Distracted Readers

    Even more tips to help those of you who can’t always remain immersed in your reading. If you haven’t seen part one, simply click here. 1. Read During Off-Peak Hours Whether it be an hour before bed, or first thing in the morning, reading when the world around you is mostly asleep is a great…

  • Five Great Word Processors for Writers

    Five Great Word Processors for Writers

    Finding the right environment to draft out your stories, blog posts, or study notes can be a real pain sometimes. You may find yourself limited by the word processor you currently use, or, alternatively, you may find that your current software is needlessly advanced for what you want to do. Here’s five great word processors…

  • Tips For Easily Distracted Readers

    Tips For Easily Distracted Readers

    I’m sure you’ll agree that being interrupted whilst reading is a rather annoying affair. Not only does it throw away all your immersion, but it can really impede the tension of the story and the quality of your experience with the book. If you’re like me and prone to being dragged back into reality whilst…

  • How to Read on a Budget

    How to Read on a Budget

    Book shouldn’t cost a fortune! Here’s some great places to find deals and discounts for cheaper reading.