Prompt 8: A format outside your comfort zone

Photo of white bulldog named Tank laying on his bed in the background. In the foreground, there is a phone with a scene of Miracle Creek audiobook and it’s propped on a bluetooth speaker next to a large mug that reads “Today Is A Good Day For A Good Day.”

Welcome to my tips and tricks post about prompt #8: A format outside your genre comfort zone. For some readers, this might not be much of a challenging prompt. For others, it’s the perfect kind of prompt, especially if you are anything like me. Up until a few years ago, I hated trying to listen to audiobooks, but then once I really gave it a try, it’s now almost exclusively how I “read.”

Let me first clarify that while listening to an audiobook may not technically be the same as reading a print book in the physical act of what you are doing, it is still absorbing the story. If you want to argue this point, please do that somewhere else.

I am approaching this prompt as if most people are new to ebooks and/or audiobooks. Print books have been around for centuries, and ebooks and audiobooks are fairly new to the scene in comparison.

Let’s start with audiobooks. How do you go about choosing one that you think might be right for you?

1. First, check your local library. Ask your librarian for advice. They will be able to provide some options and point you in the right direction to what is in their catalog, including giving you a tutorial on how to access their digital catalog through the Libby app. This is a good option if you don’t want to take the chance on spending money on something that you may or may not like.

2. Think about the genres you already enjoy, and perhaps whether or not that will be something that you will enjoy listening to. Are you a non-fiction or fiction fan? Contemporary fiction or historical romance? Sci-fi/fantasy or horror/thriller? Are you looking to learn something or hearing a good story?

3. Listen to an excerpt. Many digital catalogs will allow you to listen to 4-5 minute clip of the book to allow you to get a feel for whether or not you like the sound or narrator.

4. Consider the narrator. Does their voice and/or style sound appealing to you? If not, then find a different book.

5. Explore using different apps. I’ve used Overdrive, Libby, Audible, Libro.fm and LibriVox. By far, I’d say that Libby is my most used app, which is mostly due to having 3 library cards and not wanting to spend the money on audio books. However, I used to have an Audible account, but recently switched to using Libro.fm to support my local bookstore. Although it’s $1 more than Audible, I’m willing to spend that because the money goes to support local, independent bookstores rather than a large conglomerate like Amazon. If you’d like to try Libro.fm for a free month, here is my referral code/link.

6. Pick something familiar. Have a favorite author that is tried and true? I know I’ll enjoy anything by Jodi Picoult, Kristin Hannah, or Elin Hilderbrand regardless of the plot and their books are typically my go to when I am in a reading slump. Another option is picking something you’ve already read and enjoyed reading in print, but don’t currently have time to reread. The luxury of an audiobook is that you get to multitask! In fact, I’m listening to an audiobook as I write this post.

7. Choose something “easy.” I’d recommend not choosing a classic. They don’t always live up to hype and can take a bit longer to read than contemporary fiction books because they were written during a time period when both the culture and the language was different so it’s more difficult to absorb or understand. Though, if you retain and comprehend information better through listening than reading, then this might be the best way for you. That said, choosing something like a children’s book or a self-help or how-to tend to be on the easier end of the spectrum.

8. Think about who will be listening. Are you listening by yourself? Will you be driving on a long road trip with toddlers and/or teenagers? Will your steamy romances be appropriate for your road trips with your kids? Or will you be listening to something like Nancy Drew or The Chronicles of Narnia with them?

9. Review the reviews. Read the reviews on the audiobooks that you are considering. Do people comment on the audiobook? Do readers enjoy the plot or mention reading with their kids?

What about ebooks? Many of the tips I have already mentioned can also be considered for e-books. Once you’ve figured out the device on which to read your ebooks and where to get them, I think it’s a little easier to make the transition from print books to e-books. A perk of ebooks vs. print is that they tend to be less expensive than the print edition.

In addition to the tips above, here are a few things to consider when starting out with ebooks:

1. Think about the device(s) you’ll be using to read your e-books. There are so many e-readers out there that the market is saturated enough to make the decision overwhelming.

   1. Several years ago I opted for a Samsung tablet and use the Kindle app so that I could not only read e-books through the app, but also use other apps like browsing the web, social media, and download Libby to use their app for audiobooks and ebooks. I also have the Kindle app on my Samsung phone and turned on syncing so that I can pick up where I left off on either device.

   2. PC Magazine has compiled an article for comparing features and costs of different e-readers - check it out here.

   3. One thing I recommend considering is the compatibility of ebooks. Can you read a book that is a PDF on any device? EPUB is the most common format and compatible with most e-readers or other devices.

2. Research where to find ebooks. There are so many options out there that it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out where to start.

   1. Mashable has some great suggestions here to find free ebooks.

   2. Check out your local library. You’ll be able to use their digital library, same as with audiobooks. As mentioned above, many libraries in the US use Libby, or the traditional Overdrive app, though I’d advise that you talk to your local library to find out what they use and how to use it.

   3. If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you’ll have access to a lot of ebooks without an additional subscription.

   4. Consider a subscription to Kindle Unlimited for roughly $10 a month, which will give you access to a catalog with millions of options.

   5. Not a fan of Amazon? Consider these options suggested by Slant.

Are you an avid ebook reader and audiobook listener? Then maybe this prompt will be a little difficult for you to fill. Perhaps, you haven’t picked up a physical book in a long time - that could fit this prompt. Or, is there a format that you use less than others? I know I’ll be using an ebook for this prompt as I find that I read ebooks far less than the other two formats.

What are you planning to read for this prompt? I don’t have a particular book in mind, though I did start reading Red Mountain the other day and will likely end up using that one for this prompt since I really only read about 2-3 ebooks a year.