Are you a reader? I set a goal every year to read 52 books. And I’m a page snob, that makes this goal very lofty. The thicker the book, 650-1000+ pages qualify for the thicker definition, the better I usually like it. Another thing I really like in my books is a map. If there are any references to location or travels or spatial references the more meaning I derive from the story. I am also an eclectic reader; I appreciate different genres and categories.

Not every reader is a “book” reader, though. My dad, who lived to age 92, probably read a total of one book after high school. However, he was an avid reader. He scoured the newspaper every day, read all of the weekly magazines he could get his hands on and he kept and reread copies of Popular Mechanics, Scientific American, and National Geographic.

Why am I writing about reading? It’s a love of mine, a hobby, a goal, a way to relax and a way to learn on a lot of levels. I love a good story, whether it’s about people or places or concepts and it lends itself to a greater level of comfort for something, as an introvert I struggle with, and that is small talk. There are a lot of benefits to being a reader. I believe it kept my dad’s mind sharp to the end.

I’ve also heard over the decades that if you want to succeed as a writer, you must also be an avid reader. Writing a blog is not as easy as doing a mind dump, although that’s how I feel my first blog writing is appearing. I know from high school and college speaking presentations and later in life, Toastmaster’s participation, that I should have an organized format, preferably with three points in the beginning, elaborate on those points in the body, and wrap it all up at the end with a bow (or a bring it around to a conclusion for the three points).

I have a dear friend who is a New York Times best selling author and has multiple books in her portfolio of successes. She has also been teaching others how to write for years now. Since the emergence and surgencies of Zoom presentations she is widely accessible and I keep taking her classes. My friend, like others in the business, encourages her students to write what they know from their experiences. She also blogs.

For me reading is not just for entertainment by the story, or learning what the author has to teach, it’s also teaching me to write. I know what you’re thinking, keep reading! My goal exactly by the way.

Another example of how good reading is in everyday living is that it has helped me save clients money, too. At the end of the real estate transaction there’s an estimated statement, which most agents, buyers, and sellers just glance at. I like to read them because it confirms that we have all communicated throughout the transaction. Most transactions in real estate have several changes and different requests along the way. Usually, those items are reflected in a change in the bottom line financially. If we are not careful to double check the numbers, we could miss something critical. I recently saved a client $750 combined from an error in which client was supposed to carry the cost and the other was from an overcharge on a line item.

I have been told over the years and experienced through different educational instruction that I speak much differently than I write and have been accused of plagiarism. My hope is that with more writing (where I can contemplate, review, edit, and research) I can match my speaking abilities with my writing abilities as I practice both skills.

In conclusion I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for sticking with my writing while I enjoy, learn, and hopefully teach things of importance and relevance. As always if you have any real estate needs or concerns, please call me. Also, if you’ve read something captivating, please share it with me.

Lori Zurcher, 602-689-2354