When I tell people I’m a bibliophile, they think of me as a nerd who lives in an isolated room full of books — away from the world affairs, and alien to all things fun.

But that’s not who I am. Yes, I love books. But, why should my love for books stop me from being that ‘uber-cool millennial?’

In fact, my bookish personality is the reason I love trying different activities and keep myself entertained. 

So, when I am in the mood for fun or distraction and regular reading isn’t cutting it anymore, I take a break from reading and do a bunch of stuff. 

And today, I’ll be sharing these with all fellow book nerds. Here’s a list of fun bookish activities you all can do: 

 

Revamp Your Bookshelf

Do you even need an excuse to redecorate your bookshelf — you space for all things glory? I don’t think so. As a design enthusiast and an avid reader, I love nothing more than a stylish bookshelf moment.

Adding some excitement to your bookshelf can never be a boring idea. If you don’t have time to rearrange it all, just clean the shelves. Really clean them. Organize or catalogue your recent purchases and weed the books that no longer serve you.

 

Get Crafty 

Try a DIY project with word art on a canvas, your pillow covers, new coasters, old mugs, or anything and everything. You can also invite your siblings or bookish friends where instead of reading, you create fun things. 

Make sure everyone brings some art and craft item that you all can use to explore new ideas. Here’s something for inspiration:

• Knit yourself a Katniss cowl. 
• Sketch your favourite fictional characters using your imagination and author’s description of their appearance and personality. 
• Paint a canvas with your favourite literary quote.

 

Write Your Own Story 

Does it ever occur to you that you could write your own story too? Perhaps a character reminded you of a similar person you know or have met? A scene you relate to? Or maybe a narrative that makes you think you can write too.

If you’ve given story writing a thought, it’s the time to act upon it. Start weaving your plot, create your characters, and bring them alive through a compelling narrative. 

However, if writing a story sounds like a big deal, you can try journal writing too. Just pen down your thoughts, or simply write your review on the recent book you read. 

 

Go On A Book-Themed Vacation

The best thing about books is you can make them your own. Usually, fictional books have a few visual representations or work of literature set in real places. 

Yes, it’s not possible to catch a plane to Winterfell or Middle Earth, but there are plenty of literary destinations you can visit. For example:

• Sherlock Holmes’ London
• ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ in Stockholm
• ‘Twilight’ in Forks, Wash.
• ‘The Da Vinci Code’ in Paris
• ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Verona

You can plan the book-themed vacation for a local or far-flung city and customise your travel and stay according to your budget. 

You can follow in the author’s footsteps to see what inspired them. You can blend your interpretation of the setting with what you see. 

You can plan the book-themed vacation for a local or far-flung city and customise your travel and stay according to your budget. 

Can’t travel that far? See if you can check out notable bookstores, writers, libraries, literary landmarks, and books from one of your nearest cities. 

 

Go To A Book Conference You’ve Never Attended

Find about the books fests and conferences in your city and be a part of these conventions. Writer’s conferences are not only a medium to meet great authors and publishers but also connect with elite minds, network with influential people, and learn from the experts. 

You can also attend an open mic storytelling night, reading sessions for an author you know nothing about. Then you can look up or buy their work to enjoy later. 

 

If you’ve read this far, chances are, you’re still looking for some more fun and bookish activities. 

 

So, I’ll leave you with my own suggestion — Meet your bookish friends for a reading date. This way, you get to be with your friends, discuss books, share stories, and have twice more fun than silent reading. You can also join an in-person book club if your friends are not into reading.