In so many words

The smells of spring: melting snow and the new sun bringing crocuses to life (I didn’t always live in California), tender grass sprouting from the earth as the robins, bluebirds, chickadees, and finches gather around the bird feeder. Spring—a promise of new beginnings.

Spring fever brings on an urge to explore outside one’s comfort zone. I find myself wanting to open a new book, though I’m not yet done with the present one. I’m normally not the type of reader who can tackle more than one book at a time. So why are three bookmarked on my bedside shelves? 

I just returned from the Tucson Festival of Books. I was honored to have been included in the Indie Author Pavilion, where I got to peddle my wares for three hours. I was also a little intimidated. I’d never done a book fair before. Let me tell you; it was grand—100,000 people grand—and an outside-my-comfort-zone experience that will endure. I will forget the parking issues and long lines, but I will always remember sitting with a long-time friend, meeting a new fan, and snapping a selfie with a revered author.

I’ve conversed with poets, novelists, and short story writers who have fallen in love with their field of writing and usually want to stay there. But spring beckons some to delve into other forms; those who have written poetry decide to write a novel, novelists to try a short story or a screenplay.

Heralding in this fresh season, I hope you’ll think about channeling that energy into something different and exciting for yourself. No need to attend the next iteration of Woodstock or conquer a thousand-page novel, (say, David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest). Maybe your spring feat is simply completing the next line in what you’re writing.

But if spring shouts “Fair!” to you, and you’re interested in a bit of travel, there are a few book fairs not too far from home. (Some coming soon and some later this year.) Most book fairs are free to attend but may offer ticketed events.

The Bay Area Book Festival, May 31st and June 1st in Berkeley, California, is close to home and normally attracts about 20,000 devotees.

The Portland Book Festival, November 8th in Portland, Oregon, is smaller, at about 5,000 attendees, and a bit farther away, but you gotta love the home of Powell’s City of Books. 

If you don’t mind paying to play, there’s Author Nation 2025 in Las Vegas. Early bird pricing is around $550; regular pricing is $799.99. Maybe that’s why I hear a mere 1400 people attend. I guess James Patterson as keynote speaker can garner that kind of pricing.

If your goal for this spring is to finish what you’ve started, well then, you’ll have a new poem, a new story, a new book. Good for you! Most of us writers are introverts, we understand that about each other so use your newfound energy to gather and chat with your writer tribe however you feel comfortable. But don’t be afraid to try something new—or new for you. Spring forward into your next writing venture.