When I was twelve, there was this little Paperback Exchange on the second floor of a rundown building in Sandy Springs, a suburb of Atlanta. I use to go there all the time since the public library was too far and the school library too limited. I had even exhausted my sister's high school library.

I became such a fixture at this paperback exchange that the owner hired me and let me run the store.

It wasn't that busy and I could read all I wanted. As I alphabetized the books and sorted and shelved for each section, I made a pledge. I would read a book from each section and then start again. This schedule truly impacted my understanding of plot and characters, themes and climax.

Writers can truly benefit from this process but as a reader I found the variety helped me mature. It forced me to remain open-minded and grow different aspects of myself.

Sometimes I made it thematic, like a pure romance versus a mystery romance versus and true historical romance. Other times I would go for plot across science fiction, bestsellers, and classic literature. Character development changes and stays the same across these genres. It was the best "English" course I ever took.

I continue this approach today and recommend it highly!