From Young Readers to Aspiring Writers: A Celebration of Stories

There’s something magical about November—it’s as if the falling leaves whisper stories waiting to be told.

For book lovers and writers alike, this month offers not one but two celebrations that perfectly capture the joy of creativity: National Young Readers Week and I Love to Write Day.

One celebrates the spark that begins our lifelong love affair with stories; the other celebrates the urge to create them. Together, they form a perfect loop: Reading inspires writing, and writing inspires more reading.

Every reader starts somewhere.

For some, it’s being curled up in a parent’s lap with a bedtime story. For others, it’s discovering that first book that feels like a secret friend.

For me, it began in the school library—and with Scholastic Book Day, which, let’s be honest, was the highlight of every school year! (The catalogs came home, I’d circle practically everything, and when the boxes arrived, it felt like Christmas morning.)

Reading wasn’t an assignment for me; it was an adventure. I read in bed, in the car, even on the playground. Books were my constant companions, and they still are.

Reading doesn’t have to be a chore—it should be a joy. Whether you’re a teacher or a parent, you can make books come alive:

The trick is to make books interactive. When children see that reading is fun, that joy will follow them well into adulthood.

(And who knows? They might just grow up to write stories of their own.)

Every writer starts as a reader. Those early reading adventures plant seeds of imagination that eventually bloom into stories of our own.

One of my favorite moments as an authoress came when a young boy told me he’d read my children’s book three times.

He even said he preferred reading it over video games! (To an author, you know that’s the ultimate compliment.)

When we write for children, we’re shaping not just stories but future creators.

Authors can inspire new generations simply by showing up—whether through school visits, library readings, or just sharing their enthusiasm for storytelling online.

Every autograph, every reading, every story shared plants the idea that imagination matters. That’s how we pass the torch.

If National Young Readers Week celebrates beginnings, I Love to Write Day celebrates the continuation of that journey.

I remember my first creative writing assignment in high school—terrified I’d fail, certain I wasn’t “creative enough.” But once that first sentence hit the page, something inside me woke up.

I’d found my thing.

Writing isn’t a career for me—it’s a calling. It’s how I process the world, how I connect with God, and how I share stories that might comfort or inspire others.

I believe everyone has a story to tell. Whether it’s a short note, a journal entry, or an entire novel—your words matter.

Writing is how we leave traces of ourselves in time.

You don’t need to be an author to celebrate I Love to Write Day.

If you have thoughts, feelings, or stories you’ve kept tucked away—this is the perfect time to let them out.

Try one of these ideas:

Whatever you try, remember writing is all about having fun. So don't be too hard on yourself or too critical of what you write.

No writer's stuff is ever any good on the first try (or the tenth!).

Don’t worry about perfection—just write.

Even one page is a victory.

The point isn’t to write something great; it’s to rediscover the joy of putting words to paper.

Reading and writing are lifelong companions—two halves of the same creative heart. One nurtures imagination; the other gives it form.

Whether we’re children discovering new worlds or adults crafting them, stories connect us all.