Take Time to Read - A Reader University Post

By Stacy S. Jensen

This is the second post in a series of 12 ways to help authors (and your writing) by reading.  

 

Last time, in the first in the Reader University series, we talked about Try — new authors, new genres, and new formats.

My second way to help authors and your own writing is to READ:

• a book
• a novella
• a short story

Or read an essay or a long magazine or newspaper feature story.

It’s so easy to get trapped in the “I don’t have time whirlwind” of life. Even when we say this, we are still reading.

I DO read a lot each day. I read a few blog posts, a few Internet news stories, and a ton of emails. Throw in some social media and I’ve read a short story or novella in one “session” on the computer. While much of this is entertaining or educational, I still find myself missing a good story by the end of the week.

Between my library card and my Kindle, I have access to a steady stream of books. This week, I’m making time to read another book in my virtual (Kindle) “to be read” stack —Divergent by Veronica Roth.

I read these books last week (mostly due to being sick and stuck on the couch):

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (2012)

How to Query an Agent or Editor [A Children's Writer Inside Guide from Mentors for Rent] by Lisa Bullard and Laura Purdie Salas (2012)

As usual, I read through a dozen picture books. I was able to get my hands on Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle (2013). It’s a wordless picture book — sweet and lightly pink. This book does have flaps, so I’m not sure how the Kindle version of this will work.

Have fun reading this week!

Here’s the first post about the Reader University project.

(This post first appeared on Stacy S. Jensen's blog on January 13, 2014)

About the Author: Stacy S.Jensen worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for two decades. Today, she writes picture books and revises a memoir manuscript. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and toddler.