Is Beach Read a Compliment? Ponderings from an Author and Reviewer

During the wonderfully glorious summer months, many book reviews (mine included) begin or end with something like, "This would make a great beach read." My own book, Caught Between Two Curses, has received a review or two with this statement, and I smiled because there's nothing greater than imagining a beach full of people reading my book.

When I write this in reviews, I always mean it as a compliment. I love sitting on the beach or by the pool or on the porch in my backyard, reading a book and sipping an iced tea or even a long island ice tea (depends on the day!). But is "beach read" a good thing? What do we mean when we say beach read? Would you be happy if your book was labeled as a beach read?

I started thinking about this and driving myself crazy. A couple weeks ago, I wrote about The Fault In Our Stars. I haven't done extensive research, but just going with a gut feeling here, I'm sure not many people labeled John Green's book about teens dying of cancer as a beach read. Why? Because it's well-written or because of the heavy subject matter? My feeling is the subject matter--a beach read is usually fun and ends happy, such as a lovely book by one of my favorite authors, Claire Cook , author of Must Love Dogs.

Let's look at the classics--would we call Catcher in the Rye a beach read? It's about a teenager, but again, the subject matter is pretty deep. What if all these beach goers in their swimming suits started having a huge literary discussion about Holden Caulfield right in the middle of the kids building sandcastles and teens playing beach volleyball?

So, I'm going to attempt to define "beach read" here. Now, I know I'm stepping way outside the box and putting my professional reputation as a reviewer on the line, but I'm going to take the chance anyway, and list the characteristics of a beach read. Ready?

• Funny or humorous 
• Happy ending
• Well-written
• Fast-paced
• Waterproof

So, how about you? What's your favorite beach read this summer? I have to say that I recommend Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire. I actually didn't read it at the beach, but stayed up all night when there was a terrible storm, and we lost our power. Hey, maybe I should come up with a new popular term that reviewers can use. Something like, "Try this book. It's a power outage read."

Until next time. . .

Margo L. Dill reviews books for her blog, for WOW!, and the News-Gazette. She also teaches novel writing classes and is a novelist herself. Find out more at http://margodill.com/blog/. 

Beach photo by anda :)  http://www.flickr.com

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3 comments beach reads, book reviews, humor, Margo L. Dill, summer

5 Tips to Maximize Your Summer Writing

Take advantage of nice weather to invigorate
your writing this summer.
Photo credit | EKHumphrey

I live near the beach, so out-of-town guests start showing up on our doorstep at the change of the season and as the water warms. Generally, amidst the hubbub, I can have some difficulties keeping a writing or reading schedule. 

Here are five of my favorite tips for writers trying to wring the most out of the summer months in between fun summer activities:

1. Take a class in real life. The Internet is great in that we can access some great classes and teachers, even during the summer months. But explore local community colleges or art centers. Often they have some great short-term classes to take. A real-life class gets you out of the house, away from the computer, and keeps you engaged in writing.
2. Attend a neighborhood conference. It’s not a big commitment, but a nearby weekend conference can help you keep pen to paper. Conferences help us feel energized and many university writing programs have summer workshops, which give you access to top writers. Because it is close by, you can select workshops to attend, without committing for the entire weekend (unless you have the time!).
3. Create a summer club. The other nine months of the year, my kids and I have school activities that crop up during the week and prevent me from making regular writing plans. (It’s amazing how often conference nights crop up unannounced until the day of!) During the summer months, there are no school distractions for the kids, so I can start reclaiming some of the time for myself to spend with my local friends. We can create a short reading club—pick one book, but set up a handful of evening meetings throughout the summer. It doesn’t fit everyone’s schedule, but it’s a nice way to have a goal and socialize. (This also works with writing clubs, using short, manageable goals.)
4. Wake up 15-30 minutes earlier. This can be a tough one to do since we’re apparently a nation of sleep-deprived folks. I know! But one thing that I can never get enough of during the summer is waking up earlier than I normally would, grabbing a warm drink, and finding a peaceful spot outside to enjoy the sounds of morning awakening. Even though you may need to focus on breakfasts and getting out the door in a little while, spending the quiet time writing will help you start your day off well and feeling productive.
5. Enjoy the outdoors! Sure, you will be away from your computer and writing if you are running around outside. But you’ll also find that the more you can get out and enjoy a change of scenery and get some exercise, your creative juices will flow all that much easier. So take advantage of the nice weather. Your writing will be right where you left it when you get back and you’ll feel better. And your writing will feel better.

Elizabeth King Humphrey is a writer, editor, and writing coach. She will be teaching a writing class -- in real life -- this summer and is excited about the opportunity. (See number one above!)

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1 comment class, conference, Elizabeth King Humphrey, seasonal writing, starting a book club, summer

Time for Summer Vacation--Not!

On this June day the sun is shining, birds are singing(no kidding, I’ve got a nest outside my window)but I have news for you. People go on vacation during the summer. I’m not talking about the “pack up the car we’re going to the beach for a week” kinds of vacations. I’m talking about simply “checking out” and getting less work done. Freelance writers are one of the most susceptible groups to this syndrome. I know this from a highly scientific survey that included a dozen people from my writers’ group. Recognize any of these excuses?

The kids are home from school and I can’t think.

I went to the pool/worked in the garden/got invited to a cookout.

I fill-in-the-blank yesterday so I slept late today.

And that ever popular:

It was just too hot!

Sometimes disguised as:

I worried about my computer overheating so I had to turn it off.

Ironically, summer is one of the best times to query magazine editors. Why? Because everyone else is checking out for the summer! Yet, editors still need content. So if you’re still querying, competing with fewer writers since they’re off grilling hamburgers instead of composing queries, you have a better chance of landing an assignment or breaking into a market.

And weirdly, editors don’t seem to take a lot of vacations in the summer. I can’t be sure but it may be because they’re working on the big Christmas issue or December/January double issue. Most of the “I’ll be out of the office for a week.” emails I receive from magazine editors I work with regularly come around Easter or the end of August. So don’t pretend the entire publishing industry shuts down for three months.

But it’s summmmmer!

Were you just whining? I know it’s summer. But this is your chance! Try using one of these tricks to keep your querying on target this summer.

1. Query Goal Set a goal of queries to send out each week. And meet your goal.

2. Hour Goal Determine how many hours you normally work a day(or week). Readjust your working hours. Instead of working during school hours(which is ideal when the kids are actually in school)switch to late night hours or divide it up to an hour here, an hour there—just so you still work the same total hours.

3. Work Days Dedicate certain days to work. As in “I will work on Tuesdays and Thursdays but save the other days for summer fun.” And when I say dedicate I mean it—no interruptions to read the paper, fold laundry, watch reruns of "Everybody Loves Raymond". Seriously put in an eight hour day and get some real work done.

4. New Surroundings Find a pen. Do you always write at your computer? That’s fine when you’re sitting your butt in the house away from the snow and ice. It’s time to find yourself a nice pen and tablet(I like legal pads)and take the show on the road. You can write while lounging by the pool, waiting for your daughter’s art class to be over, or in the car on the way to the amusement park(please let someone else drive!).

It’s summertime. This is your chance! All those other writers are standing in line for the roller coaster.

Ready, set, write!

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2 comments magazine, querying, summer