Friday Links: On Reading (and Writing) All the Books

Whenever I get really busy, I start to have this panicky feeling in the pit of my stomach that says I’m falling behind with reading all the books I want to read. It’s irrational, of course. As a diehard bookworm, I know there isn’t any way I’ll live long enough to read all those stories. First of all, it’s a moving target, more great-sounding titles hitting the shelves every year. And second, I just don’t read that fast. But it’s still there. The anxiety over missing out. It’s the sensation that inspires me to indulge in weekend readathons, and that makes me particularly sympathetic to people with limited access to books. It probably helped steer me toward a career in publishing, because after all, getting paid to read books means you spend more time with your nose between the covers (or hovering in front of the computer screen).

This week’s Friday Links feature the usual assortment of reading-and-writing information and oddities, but I think my itch to spend some quality time reading shines through. Whether you’re planning a quick getaway, chasing after the kids, or spending the weekend in the yard doing chores, I hope you find a bit of time to devote to your own reading and/or writing. Maybe one or two of these with give you a push in the right direction. Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend!

12 New Books We’re Excited to Read on Vacation this Summer – A great list; a few of these are already on my TBR pile.

How Young Adult Authors Can Use Tumblr to Reach Their Readers – Excellent tips for all writers, not just those working in YA.

How to Write a Fight Scene in 11 Steps – Nice breakdown of various fight scenes and how to approach writing your own.

Infiltrating Literature’s Secret Societies – A look inside a very particular type of novel, including some great examples to add to your reading list.

The Inspiration for Nnedi Okorafor’s Binti is a Muslim Scientist from the 10th Century – A fascinating and inspirational peek at the real history behind Okorafor’s wonderful book.

Just. One. Book. – A compelling blog post about a small, rural school in California that is trying to restock their hopelessly out-of-date library with new, diverse titles. Please consider sending along a book and/or boosting the signal. Starting Monday they plan to have an Amazon wish list up, but they’d love to get a copy of your favorite middle grade/young adult title.

The Delicate Art of Character Folding – On the writer’s dilemma of having to eliminate characters they’ve grown to love.

Books I Wish I Wrote: On Writerly Jealousy – Pretty much what the title says, with some great books mentioned.