This is, similar to a couple of other topics, something I've debated posting about. However, as with those other posts, I decided it is something I should post about.
Something I've gotten some people tell me quite often: "I feel like, either way, I'm surrounded by readers who've been avidly reading for years upon years." And this, they tell me, is why they're a bit intimidated to get into the reader/bookish community.
I'm here to tell you this: don't be intimidated by the readers who've been avidly reading for years. Even if we're avidly reading at the particular point in time you meet and talk with us, we may not have been avidly reading for 1 or more years. There are always lulls in our reading careers. Even if we've been "avidly" reading for quite a few years, it may not be a constant stream of avid reading.
Here's an example:
You meet someone who's been avidly reading for 2 years. However, their reading career spans 15 years. They may not have avidly read for all of those 15 years. These 2 years may be the first time they're avidly reading, or it may be the second or third time, out of fifteen years.
I, personally, have been avidly reading for the past 7 years. However, I've been reading for almost my entire life. Even in my early childhood, I'd pick up mainly children's picture books and look mainly at the photos. It was a start, at least. I didn't start avidly reading until my sophomore year (second of four years) of high school. Even now, I consider myself an avid reader, but not as avid a reader as some others.
I want you to know something. It is okay to not be an "avid reader." Just read at your pace, on your own time, and don't compare yourself to your other readers.
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