Ep. 208: Making Books / Writing Fiction

I made a book this week out of the book I sewed in the TDGB 16 video about using a link stitch. It has an upraised section that might resemble a skyscraper, but I had no real thoughts about it when I added them.

Three things about this book.

• First, it has a black strap to keep it closed.

• Second, it has a red book mark so you can find your place.

• Third, is has a new feature (for me): an envelope to hold receipts and slips of paper you collect over the course of a day. This version of the envelope is too stiff but it is the first version. I hope future versions that I make will be easier, much easier, to use and stuff with paper. 

I know that normally the strap on the back page is usually under the endpaper and not above it. However, I wanted to have the light brown endpaper contrast with the dark brown envelope while the black strap accents it all. I don’t think it worked and will probably keep the strap under the endpapers from now on.

Fiction

I am continuing to write on both Giapan and Botchan’s Bartender. And, again, both are nearing their ends. I probably added about two or three thousand words to each. The main advantage of going so slow is that when I read what I previously wrote, I make changes which I think improves the book, and I correct mistakes which definitely improves the readers’ pleasure.

I’ve also written about 10,000 words on a genre novel (most of my stuff can be categorized as literary fiction) about war, conspiracies, and terror. At the same time, I try to make the characters as real as possible.

I want this genre book plus the others (Calvado Pentalogy & Japanese Pentalogy) I have written online soon. Wish me luck.

Also you might have noticed this post was divided into Making Books and Writing Books. The podcast is similar. People who want to hear me ramble on about bookbinding can listen to the first part while people who want to hear me babble about writing fiction can skip merrily to the second part. Usually it will be half and half, but sometimes one will be longer.

TDGB 16: Link Stitch