What is a book?

When you think about writing a book, what do you see as your end product? Most of us visualize a standard-size (8 ½” x 5 ½” or 6” x 9 “) paperback of 150-200 pages or a hardback with colorful dustcover and 200 or more pages. Right?

But the exciting truth is that a book is any “bound document” of 49 or more pages. The size can range from the tiny, gift books at the bookstore check-out counters to over-size full-color coffee table books.

When you feel strongly about a topic and the book-writing urge grows, consider these alternative binding styles:

Saddle-Stitched Short Book: these are half-size – standard 8 ½” x 11” sheets folded and stapled in the middle. (Saddle-stitched means stapled, but sounds so much more impressive.) You can produce these in your home office if your printer produces sharp, clear copies and you have a deep slot stapler. The latter can be found in any office supply store or web site.

This ease of production allows you to create a huge variety of business, hobby, informational, and promotional books. I’ve even tossed together coloring books for my grandchildren, although I wasn’t particular about whether they contained 49 or more pages. This style and size slips easily into a 6” x 9” envelope for mailing.

Plastic Comb Bound or Wire Bound Books: Are you thinking about producing a workbook or manual? The text pages and front and back cover pages generally fall into the standard paper size and can be bound at your local print shop. Or you can invest in a small comb binding machine. The 11” plastic combs cost less than 10 cents each, and the finished book looks great.

Loose Leaf Binders: For teaching guides, thick class manuals, and workbooks that you plan to add to or to update periodically, loose leaf binders can’t be beat. Select the kind that has a clear plastic compartment on the front into which you can slip a well-designed cover sheet. These binders allow the user to add and replace pages, and even tuck in some blank worksheets for note taking.

If you plan to use this format, watch for the back-to-school sales for bargain prices, and stock up.

All three styles lend themselves to in-house production which is both handier and more profitable than a trip to the neighborhood copy shop. They also allow you to be far more flexible in your book planning. And we creative people do like to have options!

~ Linda

Put the "Personal" in Journaling

Sometimes when we read back over our journal entries, we’re disappointed at how 2-dimensional and detached they sound. OK, maybe those were the facts. But, cripes, there was more to it than that ... wasn’t there?

A great way to journal with more depth of feeling is to talk to your journal as though it was your dearest, most understanding friend. One with both compassion and a healthy sense of humor.

More than once, I’ve started an entry with “You won’t believe what I did today!” Or “Hot damn, I am one double smart little cookie! Get this ...” And on other days, "How on earth am I going to sort this out!" Once you begin writing in that style, you aren’t likely to go back to sketchy reporting.

As you write and again as you reread those pages later, you’ll re-experience the full impact of joy, embarrassment, challenge, or whatever the mood of the time. As you read back over difficult times, you’ll probably be amazed at how courageous you were – far more than you realized at the time. As for the high points of your life, you’ll relive that heady tingle of excitement in your journals. In addition, you’ll give vent to anger and frustration through the act of acknowledging it in writing. Yes. You had every right to be furious. But you still handled the situation with reasonable cool. Or not ...

If you plan for others to read your journal someday, using this very personal tone will also help them know what makes you tick. You aren’t a dry person, are you? Your life has flavor and intimacy. Write it just that way to your most understanding and welcoming friend – your journal!

Happy journaling

~ Linda

Q/t: Curiosity & the Writer

Quips & Tips

There is only one trait that marks the writer. He is always watching. It’s a kind of trick of mind and he is born with it. —Morley Callaghan


Both professional (paid) scribblers and those who write purely for the joy it are a curious lot. Most of us love to observe and analyze the ways of the world and all of its parts. Through doing that, we build a mental treasury of information, which we can then turn into the delightful and/or pithy analogies to illustrate our statements.

Recording your observations in either a writer's journal or a personal one, gives voice to your thoughts, and often helps in sorting the important and insightful stuff from the drivel. (Unless your brain turns whimsical while you're journaling; in which case you might just write about the drivel.)

So watch and listen for, then record those gems of human nature that abound in our everyday lives. Genuine curiosity is a joy!

~ Linda

Q/t: Have a Purpose for Your Writing

Quips & Tips

“You don’t write because you want to say something; you write because you’ve got something to say.” —F. Scott Fitzgerald

Don’t write any book or article just because you yearn to write something. That’s what personal journaling is all about. Let your impetus be the urge to share information, entertain, or make life better for your reader.

On the other hand, your perosnal journal offers the ideal outlet for simply writing.

~ Linda