Blue Rooster Press’s second edition of my book, How to Become Your Own Book, is at the press.
Here’s the new introduction:
HOW TO USE THIS BOOK
This is a pick-me-up book.
Like most of my writings, you can start anywhere in the book, you can skip around, you can thumb through…every page has something you can use when you are ready to use it.
The first rule is, mark this book up, turn down pages, attach sticky notes, tear pages out that you can use, tear pages out you don’t need. Write in the margins, allow the mustard from your sandwich to stain a page. All of these mutilations become part of the history of the book.
The second rule is, don’t show the exercises to anyone at first. This book is designed to help you re-boot, re-start, jump-start, initiate, fast-forward your writing life. It’s your dirty little secret. It’s your joyful little secret. Take your pick.
The third rule is, never, ever throw this book away. It is part of your life’s index and can be a hilarious and scary reference guide to your evolution. Once you’ve filled in the book, buy another copy and start filling that one in. They will be two entirely different books. Won’t that be amazing?
Get to it. Why are you lingering over this page?
–Jim Reed
Birmingham, Alabama
2010 A.D.