What is a book, when you get right down to it?

Reading time: 2.18

Hey Reader,

“A library isn’t just a collection of books — it’s a collection of things people needed to say. Or, better, a collection of things people desired to say.”

Of all the things I’ve read this week, this quote stopped my heart for a moment or two.

Ailene Cuthbertson, author of The Faring Light Letters, writes a beautiful newsletter which you should definitely subscribe to, and this week she wrote about the trials and adventures of writing your book.

A library ISN’T just a collection of books; a book isn’t just paper and ink, bound and shelved.

A book is an idea.

It’s someone’s view of the world, offered up with an invitation to see things differently.

A statement and question, to whit: “This is how the world seems to me. Does it also, perhaps, seem that way to you? And if not, how does it seem?”

A book is a gift that goes far beyond a diversion because it’s the writer’s attempt to make sense of life in some way. To answer a question or figure something out. Or, more excitingly, to ask questions we might never answer.

It’s a gift that opens our eyes to a new way of understanding the world, that offers us the opportunity to take time and space to really consider something instead of receiving our opinions from the media we mindlessly consume.

And sometimes it’s simply silly for silly’s sake.

(Although I’d argue there’s always a deeper meaning to silliness, too. There’s a reason we create the things we create, even if that reason is, “Because it looked like fun and I wanted to and we should all laugh a little more.”)

We all have things to say. I do, you do, the whole ridiculous world does.

Are you saying your things?

Because if you’re not, they’ll eat you alive.

Ailene went on to say:

“once you’ve found things to say and the desire to say them, you have everything you need to go about turning “I’ve always wanted to write a book” into reality.”

Ailene is not wrong.

You also need the will to show up over and over again until it’s done — no excuses.

And you need a map of some kind.

Because the reason you haven’t written your book yet, despite all those things, is that a book is a difficult thing to write and don’t let anyone tell you differently.

If it wasn’t, everyone really would have a book in them and all those books would escape into the world.

It’s okay that it’s difficult; in fact, it’s a good thing. Difficult things are worth doing.

But not solo.

As Ailene said:

“You don’t have to do it alone. Without brilliant book coach, Vicky Quinn Fraser and her MicroBook Magic adventure, I would still be stuck in the swamp and my book would not exist. The next season starts 28 April, 2025. And, after 8 weeks your book may very well be on the shelves of the Library, chatting to mine!”

So.

Your idea, your story, deserves its place in the Library, don’t you think?

Let’s do it.

Write Your Book

TTFN,

Vicky