In a post on DIY MFA, Melissa Haas suggests a few leisurely ways to continue your literary learning. Haas suggests studying the writing habits of famous writers or finding inspiration in a documentary about Dolly Parton’s book-giving program. She also recommends you try an exercise in which you create your own literary canon.
You probably are familiar with the concept of the literary canon, the classic novels and epic poems that are highly valued in Western culture and academia. In a video on his YouTube channel, Benjamin McEvoy suggests that writers can continue their education by making their own literary canon.
What books inspire or delight you? Which do you return to time and again? Which have influenced your writing? Don’t consider what others might think of your list and don’t pick books that you believe others should read. Pick the books that make up your personal canon.
If you want to stretch your imagination, create a literary canon of required reading for writers and lovers of literature. Which classics would make the cut? Why? Create your argument for why each of your selections should be considered canon. If you like, narrow this to a genre canon – which crime, science fiction, or fantasy novels should be considered the core examples of the form?
