Readers Day Toolkit
06. Structure
Opening sessions
The opening session should give the audience some sense of the writers on the panel- a flavour of their personal style and their reading/writing interests. It helps the panel to gel and sets a professional tone if some pre-prepared questions are posed such as - are you an enthusiastic reader, what turned you into a writer? You can also give each panel member the opportunity to read from his or her own work or recommend a favourite book. Be very strict with your time limits.
Workshops
The optimum number in a workshop is 12-20. Any less than 12 can leave participants feeling exposed. More than 20 and it is no longer a workshop.
If your audience is too big to fit into workshops you can offer "audience with" sessions which are slightly more formal opportunities for your author to read from their work and answer questions.
Testimonies
These are a chance for a selection of people to speak about their reading lives- and reinforce a key message which is the shared appreciation of reading as an enjoyable and stimulating activity. These could be by panel members if they have done something different in the opening session, or could be local reading group members. These work very well if the people chosen are confident and enthusiastic.
If there is a key local reading activity that needs promotion or a readers group seeking new members this is a good time to advertise.
Time To Read currently has a full time paid co-ordinator, supported by Arts Coucil of England and Museums, Libraries and Archives, North West.