Lately, I’ve been more reluctant to add to my reading list. A few months ago, I deleted titles from that list. In doing that, I marked my reading time as valuable and solidified what is worth that time.

You may also have an unwieldy TBR list. Pull it now. Literally, if it’s a physical copy. Let’s make sure you spend your time wisely and see what you don’t have to read.

Here are five things aspiring authors can remove from their TBR list:

1. The Classics.

True confession: Despite having an English degree and a business helping people write novels, I have never read Moby Dick. It sounds long and tedious. I have heard several times that everyone attempting to be a connoisseur of English literature must read it. I once read an entire article in a literary magazine about the benefits of reading and re-reading Moby Dick. At this point, I probably can’t read it without it feeling like an assignment for college.

Some classics I do enjoy reading because I think they demonstrate good writing. I have read To Kill a Mockingbird three times. The classics can teach writers, but even more important is reading recent releases in your genre. Those are what agents, editors, and readers will use to evaluate your story. That’s where you should go first to study technique.

2. Books in other genres that don’t interest you.

Publishing runs on genre, and understanding your genre is one of your first tasks as an aspiring author. You also need to be aware of major trends in publishing. Big hits in other genres aren’t going to affect you much. You don’t have to read the YA romance everyone is talking about if you’re writing a cozy mystery.

Personally, this is where I recently got bogged down in my reading. I tried reading two books in genres I don’t typically read. But I like reading new things, and they sounded interesting. One was set in my favorite time period to study. I laid both aside rather quickly. I re-learned why I don’t enjoy those genres.

I also am part of a non-genre-specific book club and have encountered books I never would have read on my own but ended up loving. By all means, go beyond your reading comfort zone. But also allow yourself to say no to things you know you won’t like.

3. Craft books that aren’t helpful.

As an aspiring novelist, you should be hungry to learn as much about writing as you can. Reading books on writing is a great way to learn. But, everyone has different philosophies and approaches to writing. Some will appeal to you more than others.

Most of these books have introductions where the author explains the problems she is trying to solve and their solutions. Ask yourself: Am I experiencing the issues this book addresses? Can I implement the advice? Does the author understand my problem?

Remember that being a good writer is being a skilled artist, not a knowledgeable scientist. If you read writing advice that is confusing or doesn’t apply to your situation, set it aside. Take what makes sense. Over time, you will develop a process that draws from multiple sources and works for you.

Again, you should try new things, but don’t blame yourself when something doesn’t work. Find what does and stick with it.

4. Blogs and magazines that don’t resonate or get repetitive.

Blogs and magazines for writers are important resources when you are trying to break into the market. They give easy access to great information from industry experts. You should read some of them when you are first figuring out how publishing works.

But, every publication has its own leanings and opinions. It’s not that one is wrong and another is right. Each one targets slightly different types of writers. If you are considering purchasing a magazine subscription, peruse a copy and ask yourself a few questions: Do they feature authors in or near your genre? Do you see yourself using the services that are advertised or endorsed? Do the articles address issues you are facing? Does the general tone appeal to you?

Even a good resource may start to feel repetitive. When that happens, stop using it. It’s there to help you. It must be worth the time to read.

5. Books you “should” read to the exclusion of books you want to read.

When you are trying to publish your first book, there are definitely things you need to read. But step back occasionally and read for enjoyment. Reading is still your hobby. Read for fun to unwind at night or to celebrate finishing a draft. Don’t feel the need to justify everything on your reading list.

You’re probably a writer because you get swept up in good writing. Allow yourself to still fall under a good book’s spell. That is what you want to give your readers. You should feel it often.

Tell us in the comments: What are you going to remove from your TBR list?

Grace Pelley is a fiction book coach and a former intern at small presses and agencies. Find out more at https://secondchancebookcoaching.com/.

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But there is more to this line of work than creating art in isolation. The fact is, building community is essential to thriving as a writer. Choose not to engage with the greater world, and you distance yourself from opportunities to grow and succeed.

For an extreme introvert, like me, the thought of conferences and conventions might be enough to make us crawl back to bed. And as parts of the world reopen after the pandemic, the return to regular in-person contact is going to be an adjustment for everyone.

So how can even the shyest wallflower make the most out of larger writing events? Here are five practical tips:

1. Leverage Your Business Cards

Thanks to numerous print-on-demand services, customizing professional business cards is relatively easy and inexpensive. To make the most of the limited space on your card, include a QR code, linked to your author platform. Easily generated for free online, a QR code is a scannable, two-dimensional barcode which makes it easy for anyone with a smartphone to go directly to your author platform, without even typing a single thing.

And the business cards you collect from other people? After you wrap a conversation and swap cards with a new contact, use the blank space on the back of his/her card to record notes and important details like:

• The genre and working title of your new friend’s W.I.P.
• When and where you met Emerson Editor who was enthusiastic about your newest short story.
• The shared interest you discussed with BigDeal Agent who introduced herself to you while waiting for coffee.
  

You will be able to recall new names more efficiently, and you can use your notes to compose personalized follow-up emails after the event.

2. Head in with a Plan

Flying by the seat of my pants gives me heartburn. What if I can’t find parking? What if I can’t connect to Wi-Fi? What if I show up late, and everyone secretly hates me? When I take the time to plan and prepare, I have the clarity and energy to be fully present for an event.

I am not saying that you should over-plan, over-worry, and kill any and all chance of spontaneity, but it is worth your time to conduct some preliminary research:

• Find the program schedule and plan your day(s) in advance.
• Save a map of the venue to your phone, so you can navigate easily between sessions and rooms.
• Download available event apps or join the Discord channel.
• Look at last year’s photos for a sense of the event’s unofficial dress code.
  

Treat conferences and conventions as part of your job as a writer. Would you head into a board meeting without ever having read the annual report?

3. Set Goals with the Ten Percent Rule

A pivotal part of your pre-event planning should be to identify some starting goals. What are your priorities, based on where you currently are in your writing? How is the event going to serve those priorities?

Then, challenge yourself by adding 10% to each starting goal. For example:

• Register for the pitch slam, and then pull from the directory to compile a short list of agents and editors to research later.
• Attend a panel during each time slot, and then make a point of thanking or introducing yourself to a few of the panelists between sessions.
• Is there an open mic night associated with your writing festival? Attend your workshop classes, go to the open mic, and—better yet—participate by reading what you’ve written that week! (I know: super challenging for an extreme introvert!)
  

The trick is to find the right balance between maximizing your time and preserving enough energy to interact effectively the next day, which is essential as an extreme introvert. Use the 10% rule to set healthy boundaries and tripwires for yourself. Once you’ve achieved your starting goal plus 10%, I give you permission to flee back to your hotel room, eat popcorn in your PJs, and rest.

4. Find a Buddy

Attending an event as a “first timer” can feel like being the lonely kid in the cafeteria—awkward and intimidating—but is especially so for an extreme introvert. Is someone from your writing group or book club going to the same multi-day convention? Reach out and plan to grab a meal together one evening. Sometimes a little hand-holding can go a long way. Plus, you’ll be less likely to cancel your plans (and regret missing out) if someone else is counting on you to show up.

If you need to make a buddy when you arrive at an event, here are some conversation starters to reword and use as needed:

• “I saw you in the grammar fundamentals panel, and you asked a really good question about the Oxford comma. Can we talk more about that?”
• “Cool t-shirt! I love that band. What did you think about their latest album?”
• “Did you have to travel far to get here? Where do you love to eat or spend time here?” (if they are from the area), or “That’s cool, tell me more about your town/city,” (if they are not from the area).
  

As for the rest of the conversation, be an active listener and keep in mind that most people appreciate genuine efforts to connect. I have had casual icebreakers like, “I just had to tell you that I love your shoes!” lead to interesting, informative conversations and deeper connections with colleagues I value.

5. Track Your Participation

Whether I am attending a lecture, panel, or writing group meetup, a notebook and pen are my socially acceptable version of a security blanket. You’re a writer! Taking notes comes with the territory.

Use the margins or corners of your notebook pages to set up a tally system. Each time you ask a question or contribute to a discussion, record a hash mark. These tallies are an objective, metric reference that you can use to judge (and adjust, if necessary) whether you are too passive a participant or perhaps tend to dominate conversations.

You can use this tally system to track other activities too:

• How many times have you introduced yourself to someone new?
• How many times have you pitched your manuscript?
• How many times have you shared helpful information with another attendee?
  

Reflecting on this data can help you grow into a better, more confident participant over time. It might even help you set your next set of goals.

Whether you are an extreme introvert, extrovert, or someone in between, I hope these five steps help you feel more confident and comfortable at your next event. While I could say so much more, I will end here with final reminders to take a breath when you start to feel overwhelmed, be sure to stay hydrated, and enjoy yourself a little.

And if, at your next networking breakout session, you see me tallying up hash marks in my notebook, nervously introducing myself to new people, be sure to say hello. After all, what I really want to know is that you just had to tell me you love my shoes.

If you liked this post you may also enjoy this one from our archives!

F.E. Choe lives and works in Columbia, South Carolina. The eldest daughter of Korean-Canadian immigrants, she writes fiction that is not your Momma’s Southern Gothic, centered around the lives and experiences of Asian-American characters. When she is not at her desk trying to craft true and beautiful sentences or piecing together her latest short story, you will find her feeding the dog scraps under the table, reading, or training her backyard flock of hens to walk backwards.

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