Parker McCann
Staff Writer
The Rubicon will be educating authors and creating more readers by honoring World Book Night.
“This workshop will focus on improving authors’ pieces as well as facilitating discussion about creative writing,” said Samantha Loff, a graduate student from Dothan studying TESOL.
“We have no requirements about what genre of pieces can be submitted for the workshop; we just ask students to bring a copy of their work for us to discuss.”
There will also be a poetry slam during the workshop. Students may feel free to participate or simply watch and enjoy those speaking their own poetry.
“I hope that there will be several special performances,” Loff said.
The workshop is also combined with the World Book Night, an event that was launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2011 and made its way to the US and Germany in 2012.
World Book Night started as an idea that books should be given to people to encourage them to read more, so they will be more literate and better prepared for life. Studies have shown that reading more often improves many aspects of life besides just reading speed, such as employability and social interaction, and can have a positive effect on mental health and happiness.
Every year on April 23, those participating in World Book Night take books and give them to those who don’t read much, can’t read very well, or just can’t afford to buy books, in order to help them have the option to read, no matter what their circumstances may be.
About 30-35 books are chosen each year for this event to be given away. The authors and publishers waive the royalties and cost of the books to send them to the US branch of the World Book Night organization, where they can be given away without charge.
The books are then sent out to the participants across the nation who the organization thinks can help the most people in need.
The date April 23 was chosen because it is the UNESCO International Day of the Book, and is William Shakespeare’s birthday. In the Catalan area of Spain, April 23 is celebrated by giving a flower and a book as gifts to a loved one.
The Rubicon will be holding a workshop on April 23, at 6 p.m. at Studio 116 in Brundidge. Following the workshop, the World Book Night event will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the same place.
The book chosen for the Rubicon to give out is “100 Best-Loved Poems” by Philip Smith, a compilation of well-known and easy-to-read poems.
Rubicon hosts author workshop and honors “World Book Night”
