Reader University may sound a little fancy (or silly), but don’t worry you are with me. This won’t get too complicated.
At the end of 2013, I decided after hearing Linda Sue Park speak at the Rocky Mountain Chapter SCBWI conference I should read more.
So, I thought of a personal goal — a reading project for me {and you, if you want to read these posts once a week}.
The basic idea is to read and give back to authors.
I will read more intently this year. I’m not trying to power through a huge list. Trust me I read a lot already as a picture book writer. Dozens of books cross my lap each week. One discussion in a kid lit forum or a mention on Perfect Picture Book Fridays, often results in a flurry of additions to my library hold list. I will simply enjoy {or not — hey they can’t all be winners} the books I read in 2014.
When I read Linda Sue Park’s A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story I realized I miss reading different genres. I won’t say novels, because I want to read more short stories too.
Reader University posts will appear on Mondays. A series of 12 posts offer ways readers can help authors and their own writing through reading. These 12 will also appear later on the Pikes Peak Writers blog Writing from the Peak.
So, here’s to adding more #amreading hashtags to my Twitter feed and relaxing more with books.
Here’s my favorite quote from Linda Sue Park’s keynote address at RMC-SCBWI:
“Saying you don’t have time to read is the equivalent of an Olympic athlete saying she doesn’t have time to train.” — Linda Sue Park
Get training — go read.
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Cathy Ballou Mealey
I agree with you Stacy. In fact, I think it is a big perk from the holiday season when meeting new people, attending parties and open houses, to find out what other adults have been reading lately. If they recommend something that resonates with me, I try to follow up and let them know what I thought about the book. I have found that not too many people in my immediate circles read as many picture books as I do!
stacy
My holiday parties still have a younger crowd, but when I see recommendations on FB, etc. I perk up. Enzo is my partner in crime for picture books, but he doesn’t like discussing them. Good thing we have our online friends to discuss the PBs with throughout the year.
Clara Bowman-Jahn
I”m with you, Stacy! Reading is a valuable tool for us writiers to learn other styles of writing. I am reading Alice Munro right now. Her short stories have won awards and I am thoroughly enjoying her writing.
And like you I read lots of picture books introduced by Susanna’s PPBF posts.
And of course my favorite is memoir. I also read blog posts of memoir writers and meet new memoir authors that way. 🙂
stacy
Blogging and social media are definitely great places to find memoir authors. I also find NPR often mentions memoir and non-fiction books in interviews that are worth jotting down and looking up at the library or bookstore.
Meg Miller
Excellent idea Stacy! 🙂 I’m in!!
stacy
Thanks Meg!
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