Readers? Authors! Have You Ever…

This post was inspired by a high-school friend posting a ‘sort of’ bucket list of numerous exploits many may, or may not have experienced. Most escapades on the list she checked, goading me to reinvent a similar checklist, albeit in a literary vein.

Below is a list of literary tangibles, most I can check. I’m throwing this out there however, to see how many passing by might relate in a way of being able to say you’ve been there, seen it and done it too.

AUTHORS! Have You Ever…

Cried while writing a book?
Laughed to tears while writing a book?
Wrote one manuscript in one week (50K+ plus words)?
Wrote a book with 100K+ words?
Been rejected by a traditional publisher?
Been accepted by an agent?
Been published traditionally?
Got a bad review?
Been told to tone down your books (too much…racy or otherwise)?
Hosted a book-signing?
Sold 50+ books, of one book, at one event?
Caught someone (unknown…a stranger) reading your book in public?
Been asked for an autograph?
Landed a radio interview?
Invited to speak at a literary conference?
Been a panelist at a literary event?
Been to a book-signing?
Ever been to BEA? (Book Expo America)
Traveled to another state (or more than 1000 miles) to attend a literary event?
Read more than 25 books in one year…cover-to-cover?

READERS? Have You Ever…

Read a book (cover-to-cover) in one sitting? (Jack and Jill counts)
Thrown a book against a wall (or really, really wanted to throw the author against the wall)?
Wrote a critical review for a book you read, but disliked? (i.e., the same way you would write ‘negative' feedback to a current employer)
Wrote a review? (…and a reader reviewed (alas commented on) your review)
Recommended a book? (you didn’t like, or read)
Met and held a conversation with a famous author? (…but didn’t know it until after-the-fact)
Collect real books? (…own a personal library in your home)
Bought a book second hand? (ethically)
Own a book, brand new, full retail price? (legally)
Bought a book based on the cover (a bad/explicit cover…or title)
Rejected…passed over a book based on the cover (hated the photo)
Read an e-book (the entire book)?
Listened to an audio book (the whole tape)?
Laughed to tears at a book? (at your desk, or while at work)
Sobbed uncontrollably while reading a book? (standing out in the rain)
Read a book you almost stopped reading (and ended up loving)
Read a book in public (and was challenged…or given a dirty mean look!)
Still talk about a book you loved, Loved, LOVED? (…and loaned it!?!)
Read a book that changed your life? (Who Moved My Cheese!)

How many did you check? Twenty from one or the other list? …or, How about forty from combined lists? If yes, then You’re a Literary Maverick!!!