At the beginning of a story I wrote, the main character was not keen on reading and even when his teacher encouraged him to escape into an adventure, he still insisted there was already too much going on in his own head to take in anyone else's world. No spoilers here, but our reluctant reader does become more interested in books as the pages turn and he realises there's more to a paper caper than just words!
A literary journey can get going when someone is given the right book. Simple as that! But what if it starts with meeting the right person to give it to you...
If you know a reluctant reader, or you are one yourself, it's probably just that they, or you, haven't yet discovered the story that will ignite curiosity. It may be a story that's already familiar; you just didn't get a spark the first time around. Or it may be the person who will offer you that book hasn't found you yet. Be they a librarian, teacher, bookseller, friend or family - they'll be waiting somewhere with something precious to share with you. When it happens, you might not even know; but in time you'll remember and want to pass that gift to someone else so they can experience the magic of reading too.
Ooh, I got all philosophical there! It's because I believe there really is a story, poem, comic, recipe book out there for everyone. It will find you when you least expect it, which is usually when you need it the most. Be bold and brave; read what's around you, write down what you notice and how it makes you feel. It might just be the spark you need to start your own story.
