Hidden Treasures

Considering this is a literary focused blog we write a lot about how to help and inspire writers/authors. However, sometimes we neglect to focus on the inspiration that is right in front of us. Our families and friends can be instrumental to finding ourselves and sparking creativity. Talk with them, learn with them, and good things may come. 

This is not to say that you might also get a headache, but in all seriousness there is no better way to learn than with and by those around you. 

Happy Monday!

How To Start A Book Club

Do you like reading, but don’t always have someone to share your thoughts with? Start a book club with friends, family, or members of your community and connect with literature. It is a great escape and can be a fun way to chat about books. But first, you need a book club! You can try finding some in your community or you can start your own. Here are a few steps on how to start your own book club, if you feel up for the challenge:

Spread the word. 

Having participating members of a book club can be one of the biggest factors. Without a group there’s no one to chat with! Spread the word through social media or email some friends you think would be interested. 

Figure out the best time to meet. 

Everyone’s schedules are different, and while meeting in person is primarily the best option it is not the only one. You can designate time to chat on Facebook and create your own group, or even chat over the phone. But knowing everyone’s schedules and planning the best time would be very helpful. 

Go over the ground rules. 

Rules should always be established. For instance: how often will you meet, how will you choose the book, how long will the meetings go and so forth. 

Decide on the tone and theme of the book club. 

Will you focus on favorite genres, amazon bestsellers, or movie adaptations? Having a focus in the beginning will create a smooth transition for all the members. 

Keep a journal. 

The content is totally up to you! But keep track of the books you read and what you liked or disliked. It would be a great way to jot down your notes for when it comes time for the meeting, and helpful when you try to recollect something from a previous book. 

Book clubs are a great way to go out of your reading comfort zone and enter a reading community. You will find it so inspirational to chat with others about a book and just have fun.

Happy Reading!

Share the Love – Holiday Cards

It’s the last month of the decade and the holidays are right around the corner! Spread some holiday cheer and share your excitement with a personalized card this holiday season. 

There are so many tools on the internet to help you to create a beautiful and unique card- including Hallmark, Canva, and Tinyprints. These services allow you to either make printed or ecards:

https://www.tinyprints.com/holiday-cards

https://about.canva.com/

https://www.hallmark.com/

With each site you can choose the layout of your card and then add a personalized message or picture. Allowing you to be very creative with your card. They also each have options for Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. 

It’s always nice to take a step back from a regular text or social media message to create something fun to share with friends or family for the holidays.