There are reading games!

[radiantfracture]

I mean, of course there are.

What's next, out beyond journalling games, in the field of making games from things you didn't know could be games? Reading games. Games played while reading a book.

I feel like there's a particular challenge in designing a reading game -- it needs to be something that will enhance rather than detract/distract from the reading experience, and reading is predicated on focus, concentration, the not-doing of something else.

You don't want a game that breaks flow, or even clogs up those interstices between stretches of flow. What you want is more like something that rises up when flow naturally dissipates itself, and maybe just says "take note of what you're thinking now, notice where you've drifted, mark down that current in case you need to follow it later" -- and then releases you back into the stream --

For some folks, no game would work, because undivided focus is too precious and too easily fractured. I might be like that -- not sure.

But something that keeps you latched on (umm like a lamprey I guess if we're staying with flow) when the reading is not so scintillating -- that could be useful. A game that makes note-taking or word-noticing into a slightly more formalized practice.

Or even just a quick game that launches you into the reading process, gets you started, as when you count down from 100 to fall asleep. At some point dreaming or reading takes over and you don't need the ladder of numbers or rules any more.

Mostly I don't need a game of reading. But a little game played like a string of beads you run through your fingers as you read -- what a lovely thing, especially if the reading needs a little scaffolding to get itself done.

And of course I think about how it could be useful for teaching, for making the process of academic reading and note-taking feel less laborious, to give the person time to learn the skill by opening time out a little with the game.

There was a bookmark jam that had lots of reading games.

What would a good game to be played while reading look like? What would make you want one? What use could it be to you?

{rf}

Comments

[sabotabby]

I didn't even know reading games were a thing. But definitely with academic reading it could be interesting and useful.

[yhlee]

Actually, as someone who currently finds reading painful and fraught, a game that livens up the process and involves frequent breaks/rests from the actual act of reading would be very welcome! I realize that most people love reading and don't have the difficulties that I do, though.

[radiantfracture]

Thank you for this perspective. I'm sorry reading is painful right now. That really sucks.

Your comments give more shape and purpose to this idea of making some reading games. Little word machines for thinking with, small useful things -- very much my jam.

Oh, jam -- maybe there should be a game jam. That would get lots of brains on the idea. Clearly there would need to be different games for different styles of reading / challenges in the reading process.

Anyway, I definitely want to try this now, and invite others to do so.

Have you got your own processes or strategies for keeping yourself reading when you need to?

I realize that most people love reading

You know, just from my own experience as an English instructor, I wouldn't say most people love reading. Maybe most people *want* to love it?

I think the majority of my students experience reading as a challenge in some way. They do usually have favorite books, though, stories they connected with across the challenge.