Also, what to read can be determined by your purpose. For instance, if you read to learn business skills, you already have rich literature on that. If you intend to learn the art of Public Speaking, you read related literature. You have reading materials on even entertainment. Know your purpose and read what will lead you to achieving them.
Academics and students in the Mass Comm field and media practitioners are conversant with this exclusive formula in news writing. But this time, the formula is not here to stand for: “What happened? When it happened? Where it happened? To whom it happened or who are the people involved? Why it happened? And how it happened? It is here on a reading mission to guide people on cultivating the reading culture and attaining consistency. Thanks to the provision of a defense under Copyright Law that allows plagiarism done for the purpose of teaching. But apologies to Mass Comm scholars for this smuggling!
What the formula stands for here as regards to reading? Let me be zero technical, starting with “why”?
1. WHY READING? This is the first and a must question one needs to ask themselves. What is the reason you read? Nothing in this world is done for nothing and reading is not an exception. If you read without a purpose, you lack motivation and focus, thus achieving consistency becomes a miraje. Different people may read for different reasons; ask 99 avid readers why they read, you are likely to get 99 different answers. Have you ever pondered why students read harder to the level of spending the whole night when they have exams to take? What keeps them awake and motivated is their purpose: passing the exams. Identify your purpose and nurture your ambition. They are your propellers.
2. WHAT TO READ? Ideally, people are encouraged to read whatever they can put their hands on — books, newspapers, journals, name them — but those who find reading totally boring are generally advised to start with good novels. This is because, human beings by nature are interested in stories. Perhaps that is why there are numerous stories even in our scriptures, because the Almighty who created us knows how curious we are. We read stories with ease. Novels, therefore, will put for you the foundation upon which consistent reading habit can be built.
On the other hand, what to read sometimes is informed by your interest. Because somebody reads Philosophy related Literature does not mean everybody must read the same. Some people are more comfortable with numbers than with words, some have interest in science, some want to read anything about entertainment. Once you feel that you read with too much difficulty, it means you either have poor comprehension due to deficiency in vocabularies or you lack interest in what you read. Discover your area of interest and read what gives you pleasure.
Also, what to read can be determined by your purpose. For instance, if you read to learn business skills, you already have rich literature on that. If you intend to learn the art of Public Speaking, you read related literature. You have reading materials on even entertainment. Know your purpose and read what will lead you to achieving them.
3. WHO TO READ? Different authors interest different readers. Don’t be deceived to inflict any author on yourself in order to earn a prestige. Read authors whose works you enjoy reading or authors whose works serve your purpose. Whether or not they are literary giants, they should be your heroes.
4. WHEN TO READ? Identifying the time when your brain functions the best is as important as the reading itself. Is it early morning, Is it in the afternoon, evening or in the night when people are asleep? For me, early morning reading is a blessing. I read and understand stuff easily and my brain is photographic; I see in my eyes whatever I read during that time. Yours may be different. Discover your best time and use it to the fullest too.
5. WHERE TO SIT AND READ? We have individual differences regarding this. While some people read more comfortably in an enclosed place like a library or room, others prefer reading in an open place like garden. While some individuals read only in a silent place, other comprehend stuff even in a noisy place. When I was in BUK, my reading venue was Kitchen Conversion. How rowdy and noisy the hall was/is, surprised many people how I managed to understand what I rea. But that had never interfered with my comprehension. That is how different we are. Know yourself.
6. HOW TO READ? Don’t be pressured by people who read 100 books or more in a year. It is possible. They might be quick readers. If you are a slow reader, take your time, maintain your method even if it means reading a single book in a year and it doesn’t mean you are not smart. Some people don’t read a single book in a year but you will be taken by surprise if they tell you the volume of literature they read. Read smartly according to your best method.
Best wishes!
Maijama’a is a Bayero University, kano graduate of Mass Communication.