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A little reason to celebrate

National Author's Day

Hobby · November 1

A day for appreciating the people who write books, from novelists and poets to the authors of cookbooks and field guides.

National Author's Day falls on Sunday, November 1, 2026. That is 5 days away.

Every book on a shelf started with one person deciding to sit down and write it. National Author's Day turns attention to those people. It covers the novelists and poets, and also the writers of cookbooks, histories, picture books and repair manuals.

Authors spend a long time alone with a project before anyone else sees it. A book usually goes through many drafts, plus rounds of editing, before it reaches a reader. By then the author is often deep into the next one and a little tired of talking about the last.

Most people mark the day quietly. They pick up a book by a writer they love, or finally start the one that has been sitting on the nightstand. Some write a short note to a living author, since many of them read their mail and an unexpected kind word can carry a writer through a slow week. Libraries and bookstores sometimes set out displays or host readings, which are usually free.

The day also suits people who write themselves, even only in a journal. A page of your own counts.

If you want a simple starting point, think of the first book you remember loving as a child and look up who wrote it. The name on the cover is easy to skip past. It belongs to someone who once stared at a blank page too.

Ways to celebrate

• Read a few chapters by an author you have never tried.
• Write a short thank-you note to a living author.
• Look for a free author reading at your local library.
• Share a favorite book and its author with a friend.
• Try writing one page of your own story.

Dates

All national days on November 1

Also on November 1

• National Calzone Day
• National Cinnamon Day
• National Cook For Your Pets Day
• National Deep Fried Clams Day
• National Pâté Day
• National Vinegar Day

Categories: Hobby days