Although I haven’t lived by the rhythms of a school year for ages, I still find myself frittering away the first days of summer vacation. Chalk it up to the power of suggestion. My neighbors with children are planning fun activities that are definitely a break from the school year routine, and I feel I should do the same.
So maybe I will. I’d like to challenge us to come up with a writer’s summer reading list. Here are my suggestions:
- Reading in your genre. Take time to find out what the competition is up to these days. You may discover that your brilliant idea has been worked over too much for the current market, or you may just find that there is a hole only your book will fill.
- Reading your own manuscript. Take time to review what you have BUT DON’T EDIT NOW. Simply take notes of themes, motifs, archetypes, red herrings, loose threads – anything that you can address later in the summer.
- Reading craft. Take time to improve your skills, learn something new, or be reminded of aspects of writing you once knew but have inconveniently forgotten.
- Reading outside your genre. Take time to read one book in a field you’ve never explored.
The key here is taking time. That’s what summer should be about – taking time for ourselves. You’ll be a better writer after a little holiday.