When I started my publishing career journey, I didn’t know what adverse effects it would cause: after a while, I couldn’t help but avoid reading altogether because it felt too much like work! I lost the spark somewhere, but, my 2021 resolution is to get it back so I’ll be doing a 2021 Literary Year Challenge!
What is the 2021 Lit Year Challenge?
Simply put, it’s devoting the year to celebrating writing and reading! I encourage every booklover, writer, and publishing professional to partake in it. Please feel free to download the image above and post to your social media with #2021LITYEARCHALLENGE. January has just started so it’s not too late to do it!
2021 Annual Literary/Booklover Holidays & Celebrations
January
2: Science Fiction Day
Second week: Universal Letter Writing Week
3: J.R.R. Tolkien Day
9: Word Nerd Day
16: Don Quixote Day
18: Thesaurus Day
19: Edgar Allan Poe’s Birthday
23: Handwriting Day
27: Library “Shelfie” Day
February
National Library Lovers Month
First week: Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week
Second week: Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
7: Charles Dickens’ Birthday
12: Judy Blume’s Birthday
14: Library Lovers Day
26: Tell a Fairy Tale Day
27: John Steinbeck’s Birthday
March
First week:
- Return Borrowed Books Week
- Read an E-book Week
4: National Grammar Day
8: Proofreading Day
14: National Write Your Story Day
16: National Freedom of Information Day
20: World Storytelling Day
21: World Poetry Day
25: Tolkien Reading Day
30: Take a Walk in the Park Day/Read Robert Frost’s “The Road Less Traveled” Day
April
National Poetry Month
D.E.A.R Month
(D.rop E.verything A.nd R.ead)
2: Children’s Book Day
Second week: National Library Week
4: National School Librarian Day
6: National Library Workers Day
7: National Book Mobile Day
10: Encourage a Young Writer Day
12: D.E.A.R Day
13: Scrabble Day
14: International Moment of Laughter Day
16: National Librarian Day
17: Haiku Poetry Day
18: Columnist Day
23: Shakespeare’s Birthday/Talk Like Shakespeare Day
23: World Book & Copyright Day
24: Independent Bookstore Day
27: National Tell a Story Day
28: Harper Lee’s Birthday
28: National Great Poetry Reading Day
May
National Get Caught Reading Month
1: Free Comic Book Day
Second week: Reading is Fun Week
2: Harry Potter Day
4: Star Wars Day
5: National Cartoonists Day
12: Limerick Day
21: Talk Like Yoda Day
31: National Speak in Sentences Day
June
Audiobook Appreciation Month
10: National Ball Point Pen Day
23: Typewriter Day
27: Helen Keller’s Birthday
July
Read an Almanac Month
8: Video Games Day
13: Embrace Your Geekness Day
21: Ernest Hemingway’s Birthday
28: Beatrix Potter’s Birthday
30: Paperback Book Day
August
2: National Coloring Book Day
9: Booklovers Day
18: Mail Order Catalog Day
18: Bad Poetry Day
20: H.P. Lovecraft’s Birthday
30: Mary Shelly’s Birthday
September
National Library Card Signup Day
Be Kind to Editors & Writers Month
1: No Rhyme or Reason Day
6: National Read a Book Day
8: International Literacy Day
8: National Ampersand Day
10: Swap Ideas Day
13: Roald Dahl’s Birthday
Fourth week: Tolkien Week
20: George R.R. Martin’s Birthday
21: Stephen King’s Birthday
22: Dear Diary Day
22: Hobbit Day
24: National Punctuation Day
25: National Comic Book Day
25: Shel Silverstein’s Birthday
26: Love Note Day
Last week: Banned Books Week
October
National Book Month
National Cookbook Month
Medical Librarian Month
National Reading Group Month
Children’s Magazine Month
Church Library Month
First week: Mystery Series Week
2: Phileas Fogg Wager Day
Second week: National Newspaper Week
4: Anne Rice’s Birthday
6: Poetry Day (UK & Ireland)
6: Mad Hatter Day
8: R.L. Stine’s Birthday
Third week:
- Friends of the Libraries Week
- Teen Read Week
16: Dictionary Day
16: Oscar Wilde’s Birthday
29: National Frankenstein Day
November
Picture Book Month
National Novel Writing Month
National Life Writing Month
National Family Literacy Month
1: National Family Literacy Day
1: National Authors Day
6: National Non-Fiction Day
6: Booklovers Day
8: Tongue Twister Day
Third week:
- World Nursery Rhyme Week
- National Book Award Week
- National Young Readers Week
18: High-Five a Librarian Day
23: Jolabokaflod Day
24: Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day
29: Electronic Greeting Card Day
December
Read a New Book Month
7: Letter Writing Day
9: Christmas Card Day
16: Jane Austen’s Birthday
21: Crossword Puzzle Day
26: Thank You Note Day
