Many of us write for the sole purpose of necessity. We have varying levels of interest in writing, but for a lot of us, it’s not enough to justify spending our own free time writing. However, society has gained much, and benefitted in so many ways, from regular people deciding to spend a little bit of time per day just writing. Sure, we hear about highly successful authors all the time, but they all started out as just someone who likes to write, and their first published books were very rarely that big of a hit. Many very influential figures from history, who aren’t even thought of as an author, made writing a habit. Examples include Theodore Roosevelt, Ullysseys S. Grant, Abraham Lincoln, and John Adams, as well as other presidents and great figures. My point is that we need to, as a society, be paying attention to our authors, our writers, and our thinkers, and one way to do this is to go to literary events. This includes book signings, author talks, or book readings. Supporting our local authors is important, because it is a job that it is very hard to be successful in.
Authors are important, because they document our culture, they can promote change, and they can spread ideas and feelings across distances, ideologies, and religions. Naturally, authors write books, and we’ve all heard of the benefits of reading books. Nonfiction reading can promote knowledge and learning, while fiction books can promote understanding and empathy, as well as a chance to see the world from a different perspective. Overall, authors are important because writing is communication on a large scale, which is one of the most important tools we humans have. Communication through words is one of the most powerful tools one can acquire for creating real change in the world, and it’s one of the most accessible ways to gain influence in the world.
Local authors are primarily the types who you’d be supporting by attending a nearby event–and there are many reasons why smaller authors are important. So I asked a few staff and students about what they think about this. Mrs. Gray says that “You can’t always just read the most popular books out there… Everyone’s got a voice, and different things they can bring to the table… I like to see their take on it, maybe they’re a poet, or a short story writer, and I like to experience different kinds of voices and writing.”
There are many different types of creativity that you can experience, and everyone does have their own strengths to bring to the table.
One student I interviewed had a similar take on the impact of smaller authors. When asked what impact he thinks small authors make on society, Caden says that they “make society better, and (they) make reading more fun, more creative, because they have different ideas.”
So going to an author book event helps to support and encourage local authors, sure, but they also help you gain a deeper understanding of the thought behind the written work, and the process that the writing entails. Authors work very hard to set up their literary events, and most people don’t even know much or anything about them, especially the younger generations, including teens. I only heard about them recently. “This is the first I’ve heard of this.” Caden says, when asked if he had ever previously heard of author book talks or similar literary events.
This is why everyone should go meet, support, and hear what local authors have to say at least once, by finding an opportunity nearby!
One great example of an experience you can try for yourself are the monthly Reston Readings, which are held in Reston’s Used Book Shop, and these meetings take place on the fourth Sunday of every month, from 5:30 to 6:30. Official times and the location is available on the Facebook group titled “Reston Readings.”
