Why you should attend a book festival
by Samantha Gray
As a book lover writing to a community of book
lovers, I feel compelled to sing songs of praise when it comes to book
festivals. I know what you’re thinking: book festivals? What year is it?
The idea of a book festival might seem a bit
antiquated to you, and to a certain extend I don’t blame you, reader. We live
in an age where you can download virtually any book to a tablet for your
immediate enjoyment. If you aren’t enthusiastic about eReading, there’s no end
to the number of books you can purchase from online retailers like Amazon and
Barnes and Noble. If you just want to pick out a good book, these are perfectly
suitable ways to do so.
A book festival is about the community of people who love everything about reading. It’s a time
for readers and authors to gather and celebrate what it means to write words on
paper, to express thoughts and emotions to an unknown readership. A book
festival is an experience, and one that I can’t recommend enough for dedicated
readers and writers who’ve never attending one.
Allow me to make my case further.
Sitting
in on readings
One thing I would recommend to anyone attending a
book festival is to check out a reading. It doesn’t even matter if you know the
author whose reading their material or not—just the experience of witnessing
prose in action is something every writer and reader should witness. I’ve sat
in on any number of readings, and I can’t express how amazing it is to listen
to authors read their own stories aloud and talk about the material afterwards.
The readings at a book festival are perhaps the best
example of the communal environment encouraged there. Authors are eager to
share their work with readers, and readers are just as excited to listen in as
a group. It’s a rare moment when reading is transformed from a solitary
activity to a group. If you do anything at a book festival, definitely attend a
reading.
Network
with fellow readers and writers
Book festivals are a great venue for meeting new
people, for both social and professional reasons. Casual readers will meet
fellow fans of an author’s work—it’s a great chance to talk about some of your
favorite novels, memoires, and stories among people who actually know and
understand the material. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to make friends
at a book festival, despite the stereotype that most serious readers are
introverts.
For amateur and serious writers alike, a book
festival is the ideal networking opportunity. Powerful authors, important
members of the literary press, and publishing officials are just some of the
clientele that you can expect to encounter at a book
festival. If you’ve ever wanted to chat with some powerful industry
professionals, now is the time to do it.
Get
a chance to meet your favorite authors
Of course I can’t talk about book festivals without
discussing the experience of meeting an author. Many authors—especially the
more famous ones—will hold book signings, lectures, and general meet and greets
so that they can meet fans. Indeed, book festivals offer a one of a kind
experience for readers to meet their favorite authors, and I can’t recommend it
enough. You’ll never forget the time that you got to chat with your favorite
author, and you’ll probably have a picture or a signature to prove it!
Samantha Gray is a freelance writer based in Houston, Texas, who
offers college advice to those interested in furthering their studies and
careers. She can be reached for questions or comments at samanthagray024@gmail.com.
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