Reader University
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.