Reading is the Training Ground for Becoming a Better Writer

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I'm constantly learning new writing lessons from the books that I read. In fact, one of the main reasons I read is to learn. Over the past two months, I've read approximately 14 books. As I read (or listen to the book through my Audible app on my phone), my mind doesn't stop analyzing.

For example, I read Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King (a story about Margaret Queen of Scotland) and soaked in the history. The medieval historical details were exquisite giving me inspiration for my own medievals. I was also impressed by the characterization; each character was distinct with traits unique to the middle ages.

And finally I took away a lesson on the subtly of developing and showing character emotions. Yes there are times when we need to name the emotions our characters are feeling. But when we have our characters behave in a certain way that subtly brings the emotion to life, it has greater power to tug the readers' hearts.

Since today is the official release of An Uncertain Choice, I asked writers who've pre-read the book to share some of the writing lessons they learned while reading it.

Tricia Mingerink said: "I learned how to handle a YA love story with multiple interests without turning it into a love triangle. You develop all three of the guys very well. Even though I had a favorite for Rosemarie, it wasn't because the other guys were undeveloped or mean. All three were nice, and I don't see that in YA books very often."

Kim Moss, author of Leaving Nelson, said: "I've learned that a love story doesn't have to just be a love story. It can include action and mystery as well. Not only that, but the character that's most right for your main character may not be the one that's necessarily perfect--but the one that's perfect for her. One that challenges her and pushes her out of her comfort zone. Along with that, I absolutely love the way you close out your chapters with some type of angst or with a word picture that makes the reader NEED to turn the page."

Jennifer Smith said: "One thing that stood out to me--other than the engaging plot and fun characters--was Rosemarie's likeability. I entered a contest once where one of the judges said she wasn't sure if she liked my main character or not. Ever since, I've been paying special attention to how other authors make their characters likeable."

Caitlyn Santi, author of Surrender Falls, said: "The biggest writing lesson I learned was how to better illustrate my characters' faith by showing rather than telling. I've always believed that actions speak louder than words and An Uncertain Choice taught me how to show the reader what matters most to my characters by their actions and how they treat others rather than just telling."

Joleen Graumann said: "You opened my eyes to a new perspective about writing in 1st person. A lot of times it can be difficult to express the thoughts/emotions/growth of other characters in the book solely from the heroine's POV. I loved having those few chapters with the hero's POV too--especially the 1st one when we're not sure which knight is speaking. LOVED it! Such a creative technique!"

Rachel Rittenhouse, author of Discovering Hope, said: "One writing lesson was Jody's ability to create convicting characters that can be learned from and make you want to delve into their thoughts. Rosemarie and all three of the knights had a way of drawing you in and I was almost sad when only one knight could be chosen because I formed a connection with them all!!"

My encouragement for all writers is this: Read, read, read. And while you're reading, never stop learning. Reading is the training ground for becoming a better writer. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that reading (and analyzing as you read) is one of THE most important things writers can do to grow.

Of course, voracious reading doesn't automatically turn us into brilliant writers. But there's something about exposing ourselves over and over to a wide variety of writing styles and techniques that helps us learn the components of good story-telling (and also perhaps what doesn't work).

In the life of an author, every book release is always a big day. But this book birthday is extra special because it's my first-ever YA. To celebrate the release today, I'm giving away a copy of An Uncertain Choice here on my blog! So make sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win!

Also, I'd love for you to join in the Noble Knights Blog Tour over the next month for even more chances to win the book and learn about the characters and setting of An Uncertain Choice. The FIRST STOP is here! For a schedule of the rest of the blog tour, stop by my Events Page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What about YOU? What writing lesson (or otherwise) have you learned from a recent book you've read?
  

Making Reading Cool Among Our Circles of Influence

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

When I was a kid, I didn't collect too many things. I remember for a while trying to collect tiny ceramic cats. I know, surprise, surprise. Apparently once a cat lover, always a cat lover. (I confess to currently having 4 cats!) At one point, I also tried having a stamp collection. But neither the ceramic cats nor the stamp phase lasted.

Of course I also collected books. When I was in elementary school, one of my favorite trips of the year was when my family would go to the bookstore, and my parents would buy me a book or two–even when finances were tight. It was always such a special day, visiting the bookstore, eating out, and going to the candy shop afterward.

As a result, over the years, I developed a decent collection of books.

When I finally had my own home, my mom politely asked me to take my boxes of books with me. And to this day, some of those books still sit on my shelves–books like The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, Ballet Shoes, Little House on the Prairie, and the whole Anne of Greene Gables series.

Yes, reading was definitely cool in my family. Not only did my parents make book-buying special, my mom loved to read aloud to my brothers and me, and she was an avid reader herself (and still is!). Her attitude by and large set the tone for reading being a fun and enjoyable activity.

The current climate toward reading in our culture is in limbo. Even though statistics seem to show that people are still buying books and reading, the competition for the time and attention of readers is being devoured by media.

With the growth of social media, along with the explosion of video games, movies, and television, our culture could end up being lured away from the printed word and drawn increasingly further into the world of media entertainment. (I cited the statistic in a blog post last week that  Americans over the age of two now spend an average of 32 hours a week watching television.)

However, I try not to lose hope when I think about all the things competing for the attention of readers. Instead, I remind myself that I can be like my mom. I can have an attitude about reading that sets the tone for my family, friends, and followers. I can get excited about books and reading and pass on my love of the written word to people in my spheres of influence.

In fact, that's one of my goals with Pinterest. I have boards that promote reading: I Love Reading, Reading Humor, Bookshelf Fantasies, Fascinating Book Art, Stuff for a Book Geek, and more. I also try to share cool reading and book pictures on my Author Facebook Page.

Ultimately, through all my social media sites, I want to share my love of books and have the attitude that reading is cool.

Think about the reading revolution we could start if ALL of us who love books began to promote reading to all our friends, family, and followers! We have the capability to make a difference, to pass on the love of reading to others, and to ensure that our culture is not lured away from books.

We who love books can lead the charge in making reading cool for this current generation.

Was reading COOL for you when you were growing up? Have you thought about ways you can help promote a love of books and reading to your circles of influence?

Reasons Why Favorite Authors Disappoint Their Readers

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

In about a month another one of my books, Rebellious Heart, will start making its way into reader hands. Sometimes it's hard to believe that I'll have FIVE books out there. It's exciting, but also a little scary.

It's exciting to be reaching a point in my career where I'm not debut anymore, where I'm more seasoned and growing accustomed to the published author life.

At the same time, it's also scary to have another book going live. It's always unnerving around release time waiting for reader reactions, praying fans will enjoy the new story, and hoping that those who don't like it won't be too harsh!

I know that not every book I write will resonate with all my readers. In fact, the bigger my readership gets, the greater the chances that I'll disappoint more people. It's inevitable.

Even if we do our best to craft a page-turning, heart-wrenching, riveting story, authors can't hit a home-run with every book.

I know this because my favorite authors don't always wow me with every single one of their books. In fact, occasionally after reading a book by one of my tried-and-true's, I come away disappointed. Not often. But it does happen.

Usually, when I come away from a book like that I just shrug my shoulders and say, "Oh well. I'll probably like the next one better." I don't give up on an author just because one book didn't resonate.

For example, I recently read The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale and I loved it. For a young adult historical fiction, it was a beautifully written and enthralling story. I tried another by Shannon Hale, Book of a Thousand Days, and it just didn't grip me the way the first story did. I'm not giving up on Hale's books just yet. I'm still going to try at least one more.

But that begs the question: How many books do you read of a favorite author before you give up on them, before you move on to someone else? What are some of the reasons why a reader might be tempted to stray from an author they love?

1. The subject matter of their stories no longer resonate.

This is probably one of the top reasons I stray from a favorite author. For whatever reason, the stories don't grip me anymore. It could be because I've changed in my tastes, my needs, or my priorities. Or it could be that the author is writing about topics that just don't interest me the way previous stories did.

2. The author changes their writing style.

Whether they get bored or simply want to keep things fresh, writers may incorporate new writing techniques or styles into their books. Sometimes those changes grate on readers who are already comfortable and familiar with the writing style of the author.

3. The author switches to a different genre.

The old rules about authors having to stick to one genre for branding purposes are changing. Numerous authors are dabbling in more than one genre and having success in each. However, if a favorite author completely switches genres, especially to a genre I don't like, I probably won't follow them to that new genre.

4. After multiple books, an author looses originality and their stories all begin to sound alike.

This has happened to me for a number of authors I like. Usually I take a break from the author. And after time away, I can go back to that author and enjoy him or her again. Even so, I appreciate when authors take the time to come up with fresh stories, new twists, and original characters time and time again.

5. The quality of editing goes noticeably down.

Sometimes best-selling authors are given more freedom with their stories. Editors may ease up (especially with content edits) thinking those authors have won a permanent place in reader's hearts and thus no longer need as much input. But with the plethora of books out there, it's all too easy for even die-hard fans to put aside their favorite authors because the stories haven't had the help needed to take them from mediocre to great.

6. Trends change.

Genres tend to have cycles of popularity. For example Vampire books became very popular after the Twilight books came out. New authors sprang up following on the heels of Stephanie Myers. But eventually after gorging themselves on that genre, readers are ready to move on to the next popular genre, finding new favorite authors and leaving old ones behind.

What about YOU? How many books do YOU give an author before giving up on them? What are some of the reasons why you stop reading a favorite author?

The Top 7 Reasons Why I Stop Reading a Novel

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I've noticed over the past couple of years that I've developed an especially bad habit–I'm having a harder and harder time finishing novels that I pick up.

I wasn't always so hard to please! There once was a time when I finished almost every book I started.

But these days, my shelves (both real and virtual) are overflowing. My audio book club points are waiting for me. And I also have books regularly coming in for influencer or endorsement purposes.

I have plenty to read. But not enough time.

And to be perfectly honest, the longer I write, the harder it gets to find books that I like. My internal editor often comes out in the middle of books and gets impatient or too picky.

If I had to list the top 7 reasons why I stop reading a book, here they are (in order from greatest to least):

1. Not enough conflict and tension. This is absolutely the number one reason why I put down a book. If the story doesn't introduce me to the central problem and the ensuing issues right away, I'm likely to get bored. Even if the conflict is introduced right away but is weak, contrived, or non-cohesive (ebbs and flows with nonessentials), I still might yawn. Every time I set a book down, I need a compelling plot line that makes me want to return.

2. The characters don't make me care. This is the second main reason why I put books down. If the characters are abrasive, boring, unheroic, or simply haven't done anything to make me like them, then I usually have a hard time staying tuned to the story.

3. Too slow moving. Even with good conflict and tension, and even with characters that I've grown to care about, if the story begins to slow down or the author slips in paragraphs/scenes that don't move the plot along, I often lose interest. This includes backstory dumping or internal narration with very little else going on.

4. Overwriting. If the writer describes too much, has verbose dialogue, has large paragraphs, is redundant, overuses adverbs or dialogue tags, or is just plain wordy, I usually start skimming. I like to get to the heart of the story and only need to know those things that truly add flavor and character.

5. Lack of depth. If a major part of the story happens at a very surface level or if the writer doesn't take me deeper into the passions and emotions of the characters, then it's harder for me to engage with the story. This is often connected with the development of the character and the lack of past pains and motivations that usually drive the emotional current of the story.

6. Subject matter doesn't appeal. Yes, sometimes, for whatever reason, the subject matter of the book or the themes don't hit me deeply enough. Or perhaps the character growth/issues seem superficial. Or the whole plot of the book centers around something that just doesn't hold my attention. As much as we want to give weight to all topics, subjects, and settings, there is some truth about universal commercial appeal and finding themes most people can relate to on some level.

7. Amateur writing. This could take on the form of a number of things including not writing by scenes, too much telling and not enough showing, underwriting (not giving me a sense of setting or character), over-dramatizing (so that the story isn't believable), or even making beginner mistakes (using clichés, stilted dialogue, too many characters, etc.).

So those are my top reasons for putting a book down and not picking it back up! On the other hand, I have to agree with Jane Austin, "If a book is well written, I always find it too short."

Now YOUR turn! What are the main reasons YOU put a book down? What kinds of issues make you give up on a story? Or do you always try to finish every book you start?

Reading Classics: Boring or Beneficial?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I recently came across an article on Publishers Weekly "10 Classics You Read in High School You Should Reread."

It contained books like: The Great Gatsby, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Age of Innocence, To Kill a Mockingbird, Fahrenheit 451, The Stranger, The Metamorphosis, The Poems of Emily Dickinson, The Crying of Lot 49, Animal Farm.

As I browsed through the list, I had to duck my head in shame. I honestly couldn't remember reading any of those books. The only one I think I might have read was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (maybe in junior high).

As I read the article I was faced with the question: How could I reread them if I'd never read them in the first place?

Of course I read a few classics in high school and college as required reading. But I don't remember the names of many, and I certainly don't remember enjoying them when I was forced to read them.

As an adult, I've delved into reading children's classics with my kids. We've read older books like Swiss Family Robinson, Treasure Island, and Robin Hood. And we've also read more modern classics like Little House on the Prairie, Stuart Little, and Homer Price. I've even managed to bring in some Shakespeare.

But the question I come back to over and over is whether reading classics is truly beneficial—or more beneficial— than reading contemporary fiction. Are classics really better? Or are they just different?

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm listening to the audio unabridged version of Jane Eyre. I admit. I've never read the book before. Sure I've seen the movie. So I know what happens. But I'd never made the time to read it until I downloaded the audio book.

Have I benefited from reading Jane Eyre as opposed to Twilight (which I recently "read" via audio book too)? Did the book written in the 1800's make me a better writer, better person, more well-rounded, or smarter—more so than a modern vampire tale? In other words, did Jane Eyre have some intrinsic value that Twilight doesn't have simply because it's a classic?

I analyzed both books, which is always helpful (especially to writers). And as I evaluated them, I realized neither are written with what I would consider "great" writing.

The first third of Jane Eyre during her childhood moved much too slowly. Bronte often overwrote her descriptions (which is common in the pre-TV era). And the plot was somewhat unbelievable, particularly because I expected that an intelligent woman like Jane would figure out the mystery of Rochester's insane wife sooner.

On the other hand, I could mirror some of the same complaints about Twilight. It, too, moved slowly in the beginning. Meyers overwrote some of her descriptions (particularly regarding Edward's beauty). And the plot wrapped up too neatly at the end.

Neither were a masterpieces, but both were intriguing. And I believe that's what's made them popular.

Let me return to my original question: Is Jane Eyre better simply because it's a classic?

I'm sure many people would say so. But just because a book was written 100 to 200 years ago, does that somehow make it worthier than modern books? It was written during an age when there was a miniscule fraction of authors compared today. It's no wonder that the books were well-read and popular during their time. There weren't many other choices.

If Bronte had written Jane Eyre in today's industry, I doubt she would have found a publisher. Even if a publisher decided to take a chance on her story, there wouldn't be many readers who would patiently wade through the pages of backstory and description (as we do because it's labeled as a classic). The publisher likely would have sent the modern Bronte back to the drawing board and had her cut about half the words from the book.

Don't misunderstand me. I DO think there are benefits to reading the classics. They often require us to slow down our fast modern pace, challenge us to think about different eras, and force us to grapple with timeless issues.

Many of them are wonderful stories with impactful messages or themes.

But often I think there's a bit of prestige or pride people like to toss around regarding classics, as if reading them makes us smarter or better educated. When in reality, there are equally as many contemporaries that have excellent stories with incredible messages that can force us to think just as deeply.

I'd love to know your thoughts on the issue. Do you think classics are beneficial? If so, what are the unique benefits that readers can't get from other books? And if you don't like classics, why not?

Bookshelves Talk: What Do Your Bookshelves Say About YOU?

One of MY fiction shelves!

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I counted the number of bookshelves in our house. We have at least 14. And almost all of them are bursting with books.

After running out of wall space for more bookshelves, I've started collecting ebooks and audio books. So of course, now I have "bookshelves" on my Kindle.

So what do all my bookshelves say about me? If you were to walk through my house and browse my shelves, here are a few of the types of books you'd see in great abundance:

In the family room you'd see books about marriage and parenting, spiritual formation, theology, and other self-help types of books.

Lining the walls of our basement you'd find tons of history books along with science, nature, music, art, and poetry books.

Heading upstairs to the kids' bedrooms you'd discover hundreds of picture books, easy readers, and children's classics. Each of the kid's bedrooms is packed full of their favorites.

And then in the master bedroom (aka my office) you'd finally find my shelves, mainly stocked with historical fiction and of course my writing how-to library.

As you browse, what impression would you glean from the various books you find? You'd probably gather that my husband is not only a licensed professional counselor, but that he also went to seminary and acquired a Master of Divinity. From the variety of books in the basement you'd likely suspect that we homeschooled and that someone in the house was slightly obsessed with history (me!). And then from all the books upstairs, you'd get the feeling that we read a wide range of fiction.

Our bookshelves really do say something about our work, lifestyles, and our values, don't they?

What I'm realizing is that my VIRTUAL bookshelves can say a lot about me too. This wasn't something I thought a lot about when I first started my Goodreads account several years ago.

At first I didn't keep track of any books I was reading. I viewed Goodreads through my author eyes and was mostly looking at what was happening there with MY published books.

But then I realized Goodreads is designed for readers. If fellow readers clicked on my account, sure they'd find out about the books I've written. But more even more than that, they'd get to walk around my Goodreads home and browse my shelves there.

If I have nothing on my shelves would they assume that I didn't read anything?

On the other hand, do I really want the whole world to see every novel I read? If I listed everything, what impression would I give?

These are the kinds of questions I've been grappling with. And I think they're the kinds of questions we should all be asking ourselves in our social media culture that has made so much of our private lives public.

The fact is, whether real or virtual our shelves DO say something about us. 

If a boss from work, a neighbor, or one of our kids stumbled across our Goodreads shelves, would we be embarrassed to have them see what we're reading? After all, if I put a book there, in a way, I'm giving my stamp of approval to read it.

As an author with a large readership, what will my readers think if they browse my Goodreads shelves? If I add a book that's different or isn't quite as sweet as what I write, will they think I'm recommending it? I certainly wouldn't want to mislead any of my readers to pick up something they might find offensive.

And as an author, can I really leave terrible ratings about other author's books on Goodreads? What will that say about me as a person AND a professional—that I'm overly critical? But should I only add books that I can positively review? What would that say about me—that I'm unreliable because I only say positive things all the time?

Sorry for the barrage of questions. But as you can see, I'm sorting through the issue of how public we should be with our bookshelves.

Here are just a couple of conclusions I've drawn:

One, we need to take into consideration how what we leave on our shelves can impact others. When we're in a position of influence (i.e. parent, professional, teacher, author, etc), we have a greater responsibility. People are watching us, they're looking at our reading and reviewing habits, and they may even model us.

And two, we need to consider how what we leave on our shelves can affect our reputations. If what we put out there (on our virtual bookshelves or with reviews) could harm how people view us, then it's probably best to keep it private. Discretion is always the key, and if in doubt, leave it out.

So you tell me! What do your bookshelves say about YOU (both at home and virtually)? How do you decide what to add to your virtual shelves?

*********************************************************

The WINNER of the advanced copy of A NOBLE GROOM (from the Valentine's Giveaway):

Karen Fallot! Congratulations, Karen! I'll be emailing you soon!

Thank you ALL for sharing your romantic stories! I was blown away by all of the sweetness! Some of your stories even brought me to tears! :-)

And I'm sorry for announcing the winner of the giveaway late. I had a terrible, horrible, awful case of the stomach flu at the end of last week and have had a difficult time functioning and catching up!

Stay tuned for more giveaways in the coming month!

The Opening Hook of a Book: Is It Important or Not?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

Last week I shared about my dyslexic daughter squealing over a new book she recently got in the mail (in this post). But I also mentioned just how hard it was to keep her attention with books.

Sadly, once she started reading the new squeal-worthy book, it fell into the book graveyard like so many of her books do. It had a gorgeous, captivating cover. A catchy title. An interesting blurb. And it promised to be a fun, light read.

So why did it die and get buried?

After she read the first chapter, I asked her how she liked it. She sprawled out next to me on the couch and said, "It's boring."

"Oh no." My heart sank because I knew just how difficult it was to find books that she really enjoyed reading. "Why's it boring?"

"All she does in the first chapter is talk on the phone."

Sure enough, as I paged through the book, the phone conversation was the scope of most of the first chapter.

Now I know there are plenty of readers out there who will persevere past the first chapter and perhaps find the story appealing. My other teen daughter did and ended up liking the book.

But how far will most readers go before giving up? A page or two? A chapter? The middle of the book? Does some of it depend on whether the reader paid for the book, feeling the need to persevere and get her money's worth? Is it easier to toss the book aside if it's a library book, loan, or freebie for the Kindle? I know it is for me.

On the one hand, I think a book needs to have something that hooks us into reading it right from the start. But on the other hand, even if a book has an exciting hook it can still fail to deliver the rest of the story.

So where does that leave opening hooks? Is the beginning really all that important or not?

Over the years, I've come to realize that while I like a heart-stopping opening, something that grabs me and dumps me into the middle of the story and conflict, I'm also able to overlook a slightly slow beginning if the story itself grips me.

One book that kept my daughter's attention was Wish You Were Here by my friend Beth Vogt. As a runaway-bride story, the opening AND the story premise are both captivating. While the book doesn't begin with a huge bang and while it's not super fast-paced, Beth dangled enough enticement in front of my daughter to keep her reading. The opening delighted my daughter, and then the story swept her along. She finished the book and LOVED it enough to pass it along to many of her friends.

I personally think a book should attempt to do both those things, entice me at the beginning AND then sweep me along with the story, as Beth's book did. After all, some people (like my daughter) won't read on if an author doesn't do BOTH.

But if I had to choose a fantastic beginning or a sweeping story, I'd pick the sweeping story. I can overlook a slow start, but I can't overlook a slow book. I might be able to wallow through the first few arduous pages, but if the story doesn't grip me, then I usually can't persevere.

Dear readers, what's more important to you? Do you NEED a captivating opening hook to keep reading? Or do you persevere past a slow opening if the story is promising enough?

10 Ways to Foster a Love of Reading

 By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I have five children, all with different personalities and interests. They're each unique with special gifts and abilities. Over the years, I've wondered if it was too much to expect that each of my children would learn to love reading.

Shouldn't I be happy if one or two really loved it?

Whatever the case, I decided early on that regardless of the outcome, I would work hard to develop a house full of readers. I've wanted to believe that it's possible to foster a love of reading in anyone, no matter their interests, abilities, or personalities.

Of course my children are still fairly young, and the verdict is still out as to whether or not they'll really grow up to love reading. But here's the current status on each of them:

One of my twin teenage daughters gobbles up books, reading numerous every week. I've succeeded two hundred percent with her.

But my other twin daughter struggles with dyslexia, and so naturally reading doesn't come easy. She rarely finds books that hold her interest. Nevertheless, over the years I've encouraged her to read anyway. And although it might not be her favorite thing in the world to do, just last week when UPS delivered a package of books, she squealed because one of them was hers.

Rather than reading, my almost 16 year old son would rather be gaming, playing his guitar, hanging out with friends, or shooting hoops. But when he does pick up a riveting book, I have to pry it out of his fingers if I want him to do anything else. And if the book is in a series, he usually goes on to devour everything else available.

My youngest son (in fourth grade) showed absolutely no interest in reading in the past. Sure he liked the books we read together, but it's only been in the last year that he finally started reading in his free time. He recently finished the Magic Tree House series and loved them.

My second grade daughter would say that one of her favorite things to do is have "fruit snacks and stories with Grandma." She asks for a bedtime story every night and enjoys reading aloud out of her chapter books. I feel safe to say she'll be an avid reader some day.

Perhaps I haven't completely won each of my children over to true book-worm status. But I have been intentional about fostering a love of books and reading.

Here are just a few of the things I've done over the years to lay a solid foundation:

1. Have bookshelves in almost every room in the house, especially their bedrooms. Fill them to overflowing with a variety of kinds of books.

2. Get excited about and attend used book sales. I always made it a privilege to go and buy used books (held twice a year by our local library).

3. Listen to books on tape/CD. Because I'm so busy and need to multi-task, we have listened to countless books on tape/CD over the years. We almost always have a book we're listening to together.

4. Buy new books. For special occasions (i.e. Valentine's Day, birthdays, etc.) and just because. When all of my kids were younger, I ordered books through Scholastic. They loved picking out and getting the books every month. And trips to bookstores almost always resulted in a new book.

5. Go to the library a lot. Most weeks, we visit the library at least once. In the summer, we've always participated in the reading programs the library offers.

6. Get involved in book groups. We've done book groups with other families, getting together once a month to discuss books we're reading. And my kids have participated in book groups with other kids.

7. Read at all times of the day. Of course, when my children were just toddlers we got into the habit of reading bedtime stories, but we also read at many other times of the day as well.

8. Require a certain amount of reading time per day. Once my children were able to read independently, I always required a minimum of twenty minutes of reading per weekday. (Here's an infographic about how reading twenty minutes a day can help children become "A" students.)

9. Protect them from too much screen time. Yes, this has always been a battle with certain of my children. But I've persevered in setting limits so that they have plenty of non-screen time. Granted they don't always fill that time with reading, but at least they have the time for creative pursuits.

10. Model a love of reading and books. I think this is probably one of the biggest factors, if not the biggest. As the old saying goes, "More is caught than taught." If our loved ones don't see us with a book in hand, how can we expect them to hold one?

What about you? Do you think it's possible to foster a love of reading in any person no matter their interest, personality, or abilities? And what kinds of things have you done to foster a love of books and reading in your family? 

Are We Turning Into A Culture of Picky Readers?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

As a mom of five, I've worked hard to prevent my kids from becoming picky eaters. I decided early on that I couldn't be a short order cook, that whatever meal I made was what we were having and that's all there was to it.

And for the most part, my kids adjusted and learned to eat anything I served (except for an occasional banana aversion). I have to admit, my kids are less picky than I am.

However, I've noticed that I haven't been as successful in training my kids with their pickiness in reading. My junior high twins are in a girls' literature club this year, and they've had to delve into some longer classics—like Anne of Green Gables and Little Women.

When I asked one of the twins (the avid-reader) how she liked the books, she replied, "They're just not my style. I like action, adventure, and a faster pace."

As I've tried to help feed her voracious reading appetite, we run into trouble because she wants to read "modern" books and mostly suspense, mystery, or fantasy.

If I suggest a historical she'll say, "Mom, you know I don't like books that happen back then." In fact, she put down a book that was about fifteen years old because the author said "cellular phones" instead of "cell phones." Apparently the outdated lingo just didn't cut it.

Lest I convey that this pickiness in reading belongs only to my daughter, I confess—I'm picky too. I can't tell you the number of books I've NOT finished for one reason or another. In fact, I've skipped over books altogether because I didn't like the cover, a review, the blurb on the back, or an online sample.

I know I'm not the only critical reader. One only has to read GoodReads reviews to realize how finicky modern readers are. Readers are quick to share their opinions about what they liked and what they didn't.

I can't help thinking that we're turning into a culture of picky readers.

On the one hand, it seems inevitable. With the millions of books flooding virtual shelves and with the explosion of genres, subgenres, and even self-published e-books, we don't have the time and energy to devote to every book.

We also have less free time (see this post: Reading For Pleasure? Who Has Time for That Anymore?). And when we do finally have time, other things compete for our attention (movies, TV, video games, etc.).

Yes, invariably readers have to narrow down their choices, their favorite genres, and authors. We can't possibly keep up with everything that's out there.

But on the other hand, are we doing ourselves a disservice by making our choices too narrow? Are we losing something when we fill our plates with the same brain-food week after week, when we don't add variety, when we don't push ourselves to expand our taste buds?

Yes, sometimes we need our comfort food, those books we always enjoy, the books that make us feel good.

But other times we need a smorgasbord. We need to try new flavors, feast on the unknown, and enliven our taste palates. Sometimes we need books that move us slightly out of our comfort zones, books that broaden our horizons, and books that take us to new places and introduce us to different ways of viewing the world and life.

I normally gravitate toward historical romances. But I've tried several new genres over the past year, and was pleasantly surprised by not only how much I enjoyed them, but also how much I learned, particularly as it relates to my writing.

I'm also constantly challenging myself to new books through what I read with my children. This school year I've read books like James and the Giant Peach, Homer Price, Stuart Little, and the Tale of Despereaux (see my Reading With My Kids board on Pinterest). They're not books I would normally pick out on my own. But I'm richer, stronger, and more well-rounded for having broadened my reading tastes.

What do you think, dear reader? Do you think we're becoming a culture of picky readers? What is your genre of choice? Do you ever push yourself to try new authors and genres?

Reading For Pleasure? Who Has the Time for That Anymore?

By Jody Hedlund, @JodyHedlund

I have a board over on Pinterest titled: "I Love Reading." And some of my favorite pins are the ones bemoaning the desire to have more reading time like the above pin and then these two (pin credits from Belcastro Agency)

 

 
And even though we can chuckle over the pins and dream about having endless hours of uninterrupted reading time, the reality is that many of us struggle to find time to read for pleasure.

And when we do finally make the time, we feel slightly guilty for sitting down and opening up a book.

We're nagged by thoughts of all the hundreds of other things we could (or should) be doing instead of reading (like mending or cleaning or laundry or any other 101 daily responsibilities!).

The truth is, with the busy nature of life, it's all too easy to let reading time take a back burner, isn't it? 

But the other truth that I've learned over the years is that there will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS be something demanding our attention. When we complete one task, another will be waiting for us. Our modern culture is a harsh task master with never-ending to-do lists. We're bombarded with the message that the busier we are the better off we'll be.

So we get ourselves and our kids involved in everything we possibly can until we're running ourselves ragged. We're on the go most of the time, our homes get neglected, and our down-time turns into staring at the TV screen because we're too tired to do anything else.

Reading for pleasure? *Insert high-pitched, witch-like cackle* Who has the time for that these days?

As we kick off the new year of 2013, I'd like us to all make the resolution to RECLAIM OUR TIME.

We need to make the time in our lives for reading and other small pleasures. (You can be sure I'm pointing the finger at myself because I need to do this too!)

We need to add white space back in to our lives that have become over-crowded. Even if many of those activities and things are good, we still need to build down-time into our schedules. If we don't create enough white space, those good things may become burdensome. We may even end up loathing the things we once loved because we've let them drain us until we're empty.

Can we go so far as to say that if we don't add in white space—quiet, meditative, sedentary time—to our daily (or perhaps weekly) schedules, we run the risk of increasing physical and mental health breakdowns?

Does that mean it's safe to say that reading is actually a pleasure we can't ignore? That perhaps it's even good for our health?

Maybe instead of saying "Reading for Pleasure? Who has the time for that?" we should be saying "Reading for Pleasure? You can't afford NOT to make the time."

One final pin that I really love (pin credit from: 4 Ways to Find More Margin in Your Day):

What about you, dear readers? Do YOU ever feel guilty for reading? Why or why not? Do you agree that many of us need to clear more white space into our lives, including more time for pleasure reading?