You are certainly not the only writer with this problem!

I used to be incapable of reading and writing at the same time. Since I've started traveling for business, it's gotten better, but if I'm not careful, what I'm reading will influence what I'm writing.

It's harder these days to separate the two, especially because I have so many friends writing books I want to read, so I am trying to cultivate the dual skill.

Catherine

I tend to the similar experience. When I'm reading a lot, I find it hard to do a lot of writing, and when I'm making good progress with writing, it takes a lot to get out of my own head, and into a book. I suspect it has much to do with the fact that I only have a limited amount of time to spend on either, due to the day job and family life.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. It depends on what I'm writing and/or reading.

I can do both, but right now I'm having difficulty doing either. Of course, that probably has something to do with all of my cleaning out of the basement after we discovered we had mice.

Hmm, good question! I think I can do both. But I'm sort of sporadic and scatter brained. Just as I like to have multiple things to work on at one time, I like to have multiple books to be reading as well. I like to have lots of things to jump back and forth with. In fact, right now on my computer I have one freelance non-fiction article half written, my novel edits pulled up and an open book sitting beside me.

It's hard for me to answer this because I know that reading often sparks me to want to write. But I do think that when I'm NOT in writing mode, I read more. I'm just not sure if vice-versa holds true for me.

But I can't remember the last time I read anything for pleasure; lately it is all work related. I think the left brain/right brain theory is probably true though.

I am usually like this.

I can read three books at the same time and write on two WiPs. But I have been called strange before. And it doesn't make any of it go any faster.

I read a lot of nonfiction, which does not interfere at all with my writing.

I read pretty widely outside of my genre, and that, as a rule, does not interfere with my writing, except at these times when I am feeling small, insignificant, and useless compared to my favorite authors.

Genre novels? Nope. Can't read them when I am writing.

I do read short SFF fiction though.

I can read and write, although I find it easier, that is less distracting, to read non-fiction -- a biography, for instance.

I struggled with this a lot in the last year. For some reason, I couldn't do both. I guess I just felt guilty when I was reading and not writing. But then, I'd feel guilty for going to long without reading and I'd read 5 or so books in a week and do hardly any writing.

I don't know what's changed, but I'm now able to write during the day, read most evenings, and then sometimes, if the book is awesome, I'll wake up in the morning and finish it before I start writing.

I'm always reading. I'm always writing. I suppose that means I do both! :)

I never thought about it before, but now that I am, I don't think I'd be as prolific a writer if I stopped reading. One feeds the other, I think. Hmmmm....

I can walk and chew gum and the same time,
but I have to have the gum in my mouth
before I start walking.

If I'm just writing a story,
I can usually be reading something else,
but I have to put the book down when I type.

When I'm working on a novel,
the things I'm reading are supporting research for that novel.