1. What inspired this cookbook? 

I’ve always been obsessed with food and travel, and a couple of years ago, when my husband and I sold our house and all our possessions to travel, I started writing down everything I ate. It was a way for me to remember a place through its food. Thinking about how I would recreate these dishes at home led me to the idea of making a cookbook.

2. How did you collect and store content for your book while traveling? 

It started by just making notes on my phone and taking pictures of all my food. Once I had a decent collection of dishes, I started organizing them in Excel. The work of actually recreating the recipes and photographing them didn’t start until we moved back to the States.

3. Tell us about your creative process for designing this book. How did you decide on the trim size, format, and color scheme? 

I am a cookbook fanatic! I love reading other people’s cookbooks. My favorite ones are the ones with large format pictures and a lot of free space around the text. I tried out a few different layouts before picking one. Once the book was finished, I ordered one copy just to see how it would look in print and realized the font was huge compared to other books, so I went back and changed it before ordering more, and I’m super happy with how it looks.

4. How did you choose the imagery for the cover of your book? 

This part was tricky for me. It was actually the last thing I did on the project. I played around with different food pictures and markets but ultimately ended up with the picture of a restaurant booth from a place in Scotland. For one thing, I loved the colors, but more than that, this book is really a tribute to all the amazing restaurants we ate at while traveling. What better way to honor them than by putting one on the cover?

5. How did you decide on the organization and sequence of your recipes?

There are so many different ways to organize a cookbook, and originally I wanted to organize by country of origin, but it made the book too choppy, with too many sections. I chose to break it up by meal category instead because it felt like it had the best flow.

6. How did you approach the photography for your cookbook? What sort of gear or equipment did you use?

I used a combination of my Nikon and my phone. I used very minimal gear and worked with natural lighting as much as possible. I’m a big fan of cookbooks that showcase the food without too many props, so I tried to do that as much as possible in my book.

7. Which tools or software did you use to create your book and why? 

For photo editing, I used GIMP. It has great functionality, and it’s free! For the creation of the book, I did everything right in Blurb BookWright. I found it to be super user-friendly, and it gave me complete control over all of the design elements.

8. What advice would you give someone who wants to turn a collection of recipes into a cookbook? 

If time is what’s holding you back, just work on it in small chunks. Pick a deadline for yourself and work backward from there. You could give yourself the task of writing, cooking, and photographing one or two recipes per week, and that way, it’s still fun and enjoyable. Or incorporate your recipes into your weekly meal plan, so it doesn’t feel like extra work since you need to eat anyway. My other piece of advice would be to study other cookbooks and decide what you like about their pictures and formats and adapt those to your book.

9. Where do you look for creative inspiration when you’re not on the road? 

My garden. I love having an abundance of vegetables because it makes me think creatively about how to use them.

10. What’s the next big thing on your project list? Is there a country or cuisine you’d like to explore? A book you’d like to make next?

My next book will be based on my garden and seasonal vegetables but with inspiration from all over. I love taking flavors from places I’ve visited and coming up with new ways to use them. The hard part will be deciding where to visit next!

Have an idea for a book of your own? Start exploring Blurb formats and find the perfect fit for your project.

The post Will Travel for Food: Behind the Book with McKenna Ganz appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Tell us the story behind The Out Mag? How did it come about and what are your hopes and goals for the magazine? 

We first began The Out Mag as a response to COVID-19. We began 2019 by setting up Carlow Pride Festival. It started out with six people joining forces to create a positive moment for LGBT+ people in our small rural town. At the very beginning of this journey we estimated that we would have about 100  to 200 people at our main event. We had no budget and no funds. But we asked ourselves this question “Why should we move to bigger cities to be  LGBT+ people? We can stay in our small rural towns, safely”. 

What happened?

The entire town was ready to move on and tell the world; Carlow is a fantastic place to live. The entire town was painted rainbow. And 3,500 people turned up to our main event. It’s the biggest outdoor event ever held in our region. Hundreds of people reached out to us saying that we changed their lives. Young people came out to their parents at our event, and a woman in her 60s went home that evening and told her family she was a lesbian. The youngest person at our event was 2 weeks old and the oldest was 99! Our first pride was dedicated  to the people who moved away and never came home, the people who didn’t live to see a rainbow flag flicker in the sunlight in our once conservative and religiously restrictive town.

When COVID-19 hit, our  event for 2020 was cancelled. This left a huge gap in our normally very sleepy county. So we had to create something to celebrate LGBT+ people and document our unique history. The Out Mag is like a rolling history book. It documents the lives of LGBT+ people in a positive and meaningful way, showing the many jobs and successful lives that are here in Carlow. We’ve been told that the magazine and festival have helped saved many lives.

How did your team of creators and editors find each other? 

One evening I decided I was having pride. I remember feeling like the country was going back in time. Unless I stood up for what I believed in, all that progress could be taken away. I posted about setting up pride on Facebook, and I held a public meeting. There I found Sally, Ciaran, Robbie, Tom, and Ryan. Since then we have all joined together to be part of The Out Mag. We are all volunteers, we all have other jobs and businesses, or are retired. The rest of the team on the magazine was found thanks to our local volunteer centre. 

By the time the magazine came around, I knew what roles would suit people. The magazine is a separate project and people had the option to not be part of it if they felt it was too much work for them. But everybody stepped up to the plate.

How do you decide which content pieces to feature? What goes in to your editorial decisions?

Every week we have a story meeting where I pitch stories, and ideas for interviews – and see who would be interested or comfortable interviewing that person. We always wanted to be open and for many people who feature in our magazine, it is a right of passage. It can be really scary telling your truth and trying to forget and forgive the scars of your past. Carlow wasn’t a nice place for many people, including me. So it has been a full healing moment for us all. 

Our whole mission is to tell the stories of people in a truthful and honest way. We never change the words of the people who feature in our stories and we give those people full control of each piece. We don’t want to be the news, we want to be historic.

Tell us about the process of curating and designing your magazine. How do you choose the layout, sequence of content, typography, and color palette? 

Because we are a voluntary organization and we all have full-time jobs outside of this, I decided to take on the task of learning how to graphic design and layout the magazine. The first issue was during the very first lockdown of COVID-19. I watched YouTube tutorials and somehow managed to create issue one in a way that was fashionable but also true to who we were.

When issue one was published online we were called by our local newspaper who wanted to print it as a pull-out magazine. I decided to use this opportunity to say to them we would be interested but we would create one especially for them, issue two. Issue two was printed and published locally (12,000 copies). It was the very first self published LGBT+ magazine ever featured in an Irish newspaper and a copy of it resides proudly in the new exhibition of our local museum. How did it get in the museum? We got an issue framed and turned up with it with a photographer! If you don’t ask you don’t get! The framed issue is now owned by the state. 

How do you choose the imagery for the front cover?

To make the process fun for everyone who work on the magazine, everyone who contributes as an article writer gets the chance to have their story as a cover feature.

If it turns out that someone we selected wasn’t ready for the cover, or didn’t feel safe doing so, we respect everyone’s opinion so we then select someone else. We are currently in the process of competing issue 4. This issue will be also printed in the local newspaper (14,000 copies).

How do you promote your magazine to new audiences?

We have very limited means, so we chose to do a preview email for people in local government and supporting businesses. Then we promote posts across our social media channels. We do find it hard to get the word out. This project engages everyone on our committee and team. It helped us all through lockdown to engage with each other and also connect with new people and make new friends. We hope that our project will give rise to other small towns to help combat depression and isolation amongst minorities.

Why did you choose to offer a print edition as well as online issues?

We first decided to offer a print edition with issue 2 through our local newspaper. Issue three went back to being a fully online version and now issue four will also be printed in our local newspaper at the end of June. The reason we use Blurb to print our magazines is because lots of people around the world wanted access to a paper published version. We felt that this was a great way for people to get a high end edition of a magazine so they can keep it as a keepsake. We have a large following of Irish ex-pats living across the world.

What were you looking for in a platform to create and print The Out Mag?

We wanted a reliable and user friendly publishing platform that offers cost effective printing for us. We also wanted a high end finish. This is why we chose Blurb.

It feels like The Out Mag is very well supported by your local community. How important was that as a goal or in making the idea of a magazine a reality?

We didn’t start out with any support. In fact, the first two issues of the magazine were created on free software by myself. The second issue received advertising to cover the cost of printing. We are a bit for profit. So we cover the shortfall in money. Luckily the Irish government saw the huge value in what we do locally and helped cover the entire costs of issue three and four. They also purchased all of our software and everyone on the main team a laptop. Issue four is set to be our very best issue yet.

What advice would you give another group looking to make a magazine? What do you wish you’d known when you started?

I would say listen to your own gut. We knew what we wanted to achieve as a group and we stuck to that. Even if obstacles are thrown in my way, I never give up. Quentin Crisp once said “Don’t try to fit in. Be yourself and eventually people will try and fit in with you!’ This is true for us. We got the hard work done and now we are using this moment to our advantage, creating the world we want to live in. 

Inspired to launch your own magazine project? Download BookWright for free to get started today.

The post The Out Mag: Celebrating LGBTQ+ Life in Ireland appeared first on Blurb Blog.

• Which book design software to use 
• How to start a photo book project 
• The image that changed his worldview
• Sharing creative projects and receiving feedback 
• The age or career stage when people do their best work 
• Image transfer techniques in journals 
• The difference between a photo story and a photo essay 
• The future of book publishing 

BookWright or Booksmart? 

A hundred percent of the time: BookWright. BookSmart is the original Blurb application that is no longer supported. BookWright is the up-to-date, current Blurb software that allows you to make Photo Books, Trade Books, and Magazines. 

What is the first step in a photo book project? 

The first step is to download the Blurb BookWright software so you can make a test book. Think: 7×7 inches, 20 pages, softcover. Use the test book as a way of experimenting with your photography, typography, and page design. Then use that test book as a road map for all your future bookmaking needs. 

Have you ever made a picture that changed your worldview? 

Yes, I learned something from every project I did. However, what I want to share with you is the image that made me a photographer. In 1966, an English photographer named Larry Burrows made a photograph in Vietnam called “Reaching Out,” which was made on a hilltop landing zone. I saw this photograph when I was either in middle school or high school, and it made me feel in a way that I never had felt seeing a photograph before. When I saw that picture, I said to myself, I want to get a camera and I want to make other people feel that same way. That is the reason I became a photographer. So in essence, that is the one image that really changed my worldview and made me into the photographer I am.  

How do I prevent myself from evaluating my work based on how others feel about it? 

I think this question is a byproduct of living in the Internet Age, when we sometimes feel we have to share every single thing we are doing in real time. I think as a photographer it’s better to wait until you really have something to say. Wait until you’ve worked on a project long enough where you can show your absolute best work. Then you have something relevant to say, you have something strong to share. I think it makes it a healthier experience all around.

What time of someone’s career do they make their best work? Do photographers make their best work when they are young, or do they make their best work when they are older? 

The short answer is: all of the above. I’ve seen young photographers come along that are basically transcendent image makers. And every generation, there are several people worldwide who come along that really do or say something that no one has done before. At the same time, other photographers take longer to mature and they do some of their best work later in their career. I don’t think there is one answer for every person. I think each photographer is an individual and unique. And it doesn’t really matter when you get the best work done. 

What is the best technique for image transfer into a journal? 

As a longtime journal keeper, I’ve got two ideas for you. The first is to get an instant camera, like a Fujifilm Instax that allows you to make pictures in the field, and take those little prints and glue them into your journal in real time. The second option is to wait until your project is done. Come back and actually design a journal in the Blurb BookWright software and fill that journal with whatever work you feel like putting in there. Then once you’ve got that book, you can take it into the field and continue to add to it with your Instax. So you have a short-term solution and a long-term solution. 

What is the difference between a photo story and a photo essay?

Personally, I use them interchangeably. I don’t think there is much of a difference. But I have heard some people believe that a photo story is about one particular person, story, or place. And a photo essay is a collection of people, places, and things. But again, I use them interchangeably and I think they are basically referring to the same thing. 

What do you worry about in publishing and what do you hope for in the future? 

I actually don’t worry about much in the publishing field. I think economically today, the world is in a tricky place. So, if I was going to worry about something, it’s that most of the people who work in publishing realize that there is so much good work being done, it’s impossible to publish all of it. So there are going to be some great projects out there that actually don’t find publishers. I think that’s been true forever and I think it will be true moving forward. What I hope is that the publishing industry remains healthy. And I hope that the alternative methods of publishing, outside of using a traditional publisher, continue to expand and grow. I think the more options that creatives have, the better off we all are. 

Ready to choose a trim size and cover type for your book project? Explore your options and get started today. 

The post Photo Books to Journals: Q&A with Dan Milnor appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Prep now—and get ready to hit publish when our Black Friday deals roll through!

Last minute custom gifts

Even the most meticulous holiday preparation is likely to fall short on a few items at the end of a busy season. (We’ve all been there!) However, just because you don’t have a lot of time doesn’t mean you can’t create a custom, unique gift.

Order another copy

Active time: 5 minutes

Already made the perfect wedding album, travel photo book, or custom coffee table book? Sometimes it’s just updating a cover and hitting print on something already made. You can gift your dad those stunning pictures of walking you down the aisle, your bestie the images of your perfect getaway together, and your coworkers your side project.

Pro tip: Get even more customized by updating the cover or dedication page to mention your giftee!

Hang a single photo

Active time: 10 minutes

If you’re short on time but still want to make a significant impact, consider gifting a single photo for them to hang. This is an especially good idea if you have loads of images from a shared big-life event, like a wedding, baby shower, birth, or even a birthday party.

Pro tip: If you don’t have a photo ready, pick a free, high-quality image from royalty-free sites like Unsplash—just be sure to credit the photographer on the image or shout them out on social media.

Design a quote

Active time: 20 minutes

Almost everyone has a catchphrase, favorite quote, or beloved idiom. You can create wordy wall art if you don’t have a good photo. All you need are meaningful words, which could also be their favorite song lyrics or even a funny meme. Then use a photo editing tool to add a textured or solid background and paste text over the top in a complementary font and color.

Pro tip: Not a design expert? Use BookWright’s free fonts to lay out your quote on canvas, acrylic, or metal.

Thoughtful (yet still easy) custom gifts

With a few more minutes at your disposal, you can knock out an unforgettable custom gift for your spouse, mother-in-law, professor, barista—or whoever else is worthy of a meaningful moment. Here are a few options that’ll take you less than a day to whip up.

Make a book from your phone

Active time: 30 minutes

Revisit iCloud memories in a tangible format. There’s something special about having and holding a book, especially when you can revisit the memories for years to come. This is a gift you can flip through with them—and they can share with friends, family, and guests that visit their bookshelf. It takes mere moments to download the iOS app and choose your book size and photos. The app flows them into a picture-perfect book and sends it to print in a snap.

Pro tip: Blurb’s mobile app is the easiest way to make and share a photo book from your iPhone.

Build a blooper reel

Active time: 1 hour

Humorous gifts often get overlooked but are usually the most fun! Instead of taking the time to compile your greatest hits album, pick a mix of snapshots that make you smile. Scroll through the past year and make a fast photo book that captures the real moments with your family and friends—silly faces and all! Don’t overthink it, and be sure to use templates to save time.

Pro tip: Use the quick design feature in BookWright to auto-fill your pages. Start with a template like the Family Book Template for simple, inviting layouts that nearly any image slots into.

Create a notebook or journal for everyone on your list

Active time: 1 hour

Take a page from Blurb’s own teammate Gordon Chan: Make a customized notebook or journal for your whole list in minutes. Use the new year as inspiration and make a single template of a daily planner, dream journal, or idea notebook. Then tailor your gift to each recipient, with a personalized cover featuring their name or face and an interior page with a meaningful note, quote, or poem. Finally, fill the rest of your book with a BookWright notebook template featuring up to 480 blank, lined, square, or dot grid pages.

Pro tip: “Keep it simple,” says Gordon. “Personalizing does not need to be complicated. I just asked [my cousins] in advance for their favorite color for the cover, and then I selected a photo or two.”

Build a fillable baby book or travel journal

Active time: 2-5 hours

In just a few more minutes, you can turn those quickly customized notebooks and journals into a completely-them masterpiece, whether it be a travel journal or a baby book. Start with a BookWright template, add a baby- or travel-worthy cover, and transform the interior pages into sections made for memory keeping. Help them document milestones large and small (first smile, anyone?) or memorialize their dream-vacation-turned-reality (a description of the first time they saw the Eiffel Tower, perhaps?).

Pro tip: Leave spaces for plenty of photos to be printed and pasted later. Then provide lots of writing prompts and lined spaces for recording important moments.

Cherished gifts to make in a (long) weekend

A three-day weekend is the perfect opportunity to craft a heartfelt, custom gift. But it’s not just about winning the holiday gifting season, it’s about weaving your personal touch into every page and sharing your love and perspective with those who make you smile.

Have and hold your wedding album

Active time: 3 days

What could be a more perfect gift for a birthday, holiday, or anniversary than reliving your best day together? And with photos in hand, it’s very easy to (re)tell your story. So walk down memory lane by picking a template, selecting your favorite professional photos, and adding in the aww-worthy moments.

Be sure to take your time sorting images and picking your ideal paper and book format (might we suggest the luxurious, heavyweight pages and dramatic two-page spreads of a layflat photo book?). On day two of bookmaking, don’t forget to add your vows, notes from your guest book, or written memories from your wedding. For your last day, ensure the book imagery flows and you edit your words before clicking print.

Pro tip: Every layflat book arrives in a brilliant white box, ready to wrap and gift!

Celebrate a journey

Active time: 3 days

Partner, friend, furry companion, we all have someone who has shared some miles with us. Whether a cross-country trip or an afternoon walk through the park, celebrate your journey by creating a photo book that captures every moment along the way. Take a day to scroll through your images from one trip or many, and pick a template (perhaps Portfolio Book Portrait to best mix up your portrait and landscape shots). Upload and auto-flow your photos into your template and add captions or stories. On the last day, edit your work, make any final changes to the order, and send it to print!

Pro tip: Personalize your travel book even more when it returns from the printer with handwritten notes, pasted-in boarding passes, and stickers.

Meaningful gifts to spend time on

If you have a little more time and want to go big with your custom gifts, try making something truly one-of-a-kind for this year and for generations to come. The additional upfront effort will be worth it when you see your loved one’s face light up page after page.

Design a cookbook or cocktail book

Active time: 1 week

Love getting creative in the kitchen or bar? Turn your best recipes and photographs into a delicious book to gift your loved ones. If you’ve been documenting your yummy experiments on social media, you’ve got a head start on creating a cookbook or cocktail book. Take a couple of days to gather your recipes, photos, and notes. Then start designing.

Will you organize your book by theme, season, or type of meal? Once you have a recipe order, use a pre-built template in BookWright to make page layouts a breeze. Allow a day or two to write up captions and stories, a table of contents, and check your recipe steps. Then, on the last day, all you have to do is design a cover.

Pro tip: Use these 10 tips for creating a cookbook to create your custom gift and take your foodie (or bevvie) photography and layout to the next level.

Personalize bedtime stories

Active time: 1-2 weeks

Making a children’s book can be as easy or complex as you’d like. Turn the kiddo in your life (whether large or small) into the star of their book, like Blurb team member Ian Stewart did, with his simple Photoshop skills. Or put your illustration or wordsmithing skills to the test with an original story brought to life by you! (Psst…if you’re not as adept with visuals or copy, partner with a friend or commission some art.)

You can even make the moment more special by working with your own child to build a story and artwork together—this way, you can gift them their first (of many) self-published books.

Pro tip: “Give yourself plenty of time to organize your photos [or art],” says Ian. “For kid’s books, the pictures and visuals are really key, so I wanted to be sure those were a top priority over both the writing and story.”

Honor your elders

Active time: 1 month

We are all intrinsically tied to those who came before. Whether designing a photo book for your grandparents, spiritual mentors, or teachers who have influenced you, take time this holiday to honor and document their stories. Start by gathering scanned black-and-white photos and digital shots from the past few years. Don’t forget to ask for images, stories, and photo captions from those who love the person you’re honoring, too. Find ways to input stories, names, and important dates from your elder, as well—just try not to spoil the surprise.

Pro tip: Make your call for visuals and stories early so you have plenty of time to get input from everyone wanting to be involved. The most time-consuming process is often compiling these important pieces, while pairing images with words into a book is the easy part.

***

Now you have inspiration that fits your timeline. What personalized gift will you create?

The post 12 ideas for custom, unique gifts you can make before Black Friday appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Nine BookWright features you can try today

It’s time to get into the features and tips you need to know. To supplement our favorite BookWright features, we asked Blurb’s creative evangelist (and BookWright fan) Dan Milnor to tell us about a few of the coolest yet little-known features bookmakers should know about—and use. 

School’s in session! Open your custom notebook, and let’s begin. 

1. Try templates

You can have all the amazing photos in the world, but if you don’t know how to lay them out on the page, it can make for an arduous bookmaking project. Fortunately, BookWright has several professionally designed templates for different types of books. You can use any template for any reason, but here are our thoughts on what each one can bring to your photo book.

• Modern Family: Lots of spreads with ample white space where the focus is one to three key shots per page, great for family photo books.
• Everyday Classic: Less white space and bigger photos that fill each page.
• Road Trip: Large areas for landscape shots and images overlaid on each other.
• World Travel: A blend of Modern Family and Everyday Classic, perfect for travel books.
• Celebrations: Large and small images work together on the page to showcase every moment. 
• Modern Romance: The perfect coupling of smaller signature shots mixed with full-bleed imagery for a stunning duo, ideal for wedding photo books or albums. 
• Minimalist Portfolio: Artsy and edgy layouts that pop especially well with black-and-white imagery.
• Modern Portfolio: Askew and asymmetrical describes this untraditional template, great for any professional portfolio.
• Summertime: A versatile template with plenty of room for full-page portraits and multi-pic pages.

Pro tip: You can download even more templates if you’re making a cookbook, baby book, and more!

How to use a template

Using a template in BookWright is straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

1. Launch BookWright: Start by opening the BookWright app on your computer. If you don’t have it, download BookWright now.
2. Pick a template: Select Book Templates on the left. Browse the options and choose one that fits your vision.
3. Apply the template: Once you’ve found a template you love, select the size book you want to build. The template will apply, providing a framework for your content.
4. Customize your book: Now, you can start adding your content to your book. Drag and drop your photos, text, and other elements into the spaces provided by the template. Remember, the template is just a guide—you can customize it as much as you want!

2. Use layouts

Staring at blank pages can feel quite daunting when starting any project. If you don’t feel like using an entire template to build your book but are still getting the blank page nerves, try layouts.

Think of layouts as the blueprint of a page or spread, rather than your entire book—like a template. Even if you’re a first-time bookmaker, layouts can help you craft a book that looks like it’s been designed by a pro.

Title pages, table of contents, novels, recipes, yearbooks, planners: Whatever you can dream up, we’ve got a layout for it. Once you select your ideal layout, you can drag and drop images and place text.

Best yet, you can even save your own layouts—if you have a page or spread design that you want to repeat again and again.

How to use a layout

Layouts are easy to apply in BookWright. Here are the steps to guide you through the process.

1. Open your project: Create or open a project in BookWright.
2. Select a page: On the left side of the screen, you will see a thumbnail view of all the pages in your book. Click on the page where you want to apply a layout.
3. Choose a layout: At the top of the screen, select the Layouts tab. This will open a menu with many options. Browse the available layouts and choose one that suits your needs. Pro tip: The drop-down menu to the left of the layout options lets you filter layouts by category.
4. Apply the layout: Simply select the layout you like. This will automatically apply it to the selected page.
5. Customize your layout: Now that you have applied the layout, you can start customizing it. Add your photos, text, and other elements in the spaces provided by the layout. Remember, you don’t need to stick to the default layout design—feel free to make it your own!
6. Repeat: Keep doing these steps for all the pages where you want to apply a layout.

How to build your own layout

Did you create a page or spread design you love? Save it so you can use that same layout again and again.

1. Select your page or spread: On the left side of the screen, select the thumbnails of the page or spread you want to save as a layout.
2. Navigate to the layouts tab: At the top of the screen, select the Layouts tab. This will open up a menu.
3. Save your layout: In that same Layout tab, select the Save layout button. This will open a new window, allowing you to save it.
4. Pick your page(s): Choose from the left page, right page, or entire spread.
5. Name your layout: Enter a unique name for your new layout in the Layout Name field. Select Save Layout. Your custom layout will now be available in the My Layouts drop-down in the Layouts tab.
6. Apply your custom layout: To apply your new layout to a page, select it from the My Layouts section.

3. Automatically place your photos

Save a ton of time by letting BookWright auto-place your images in your book. Use these features in tandem with templates and layouts, and you can truly create a book in minutes.

You can choose to have BookWright place your images in chronological order with the Save Me Time feature. Or, you can auto-create your book by file name, date of import, last modification, or date taken (oldest to newest or the other way around). The choice is yours!

Imagine crafting a travelogue, a baby’s first year book, or a wedding photo album. Auto-placing images chronologically lets you recreate the journey as it unfolded in moments.

How to use the Save Me Time feature

This feature makes bookmaking a breeze. Here’s how to import and place all your photos in seconds flat.

1. Create a project: Select Create from the homepage of BookWright. Then pick your book format and size, paper and cover type, and name and save your new project.
2. Add photos: Select photos from your desktop or import them from a cloud service.
3. Use Save Me Time: A pop-up window asks if you want to save time. This will allow BookWright to automatically place images chronologically. Select the Save Me Time button.
4. Review and edit: After BookWright has autoflowed your images, review the placement. You can rearrange, add, or delete images as you like.

How to use the Auto-Create Book feature

It’s a snap to use this feature, too. Here’s how.

1. Start the process: Open your project in BookWright and select the Photos tab near the top of the app.
2. Choose your sort and direction: Select the first drop-down in the Photos tab. Sort your imported photos by imported date, date taken, modified date, or file name. Choose between newest to oldest or oldest to newest—or A to Z or the reverse.
3. Select your folder: In the second drop-down, you can select your photo folder.
4. Pick from used or unused photos: In the last drop-down, select all photos, photos used in the project, or unused photos. Selecting unused photos will help you auto-place images that you haven’t already placed!
5. Activate Auto-Create: Select the Auto-Create Book button. This will create your book according to the chosen sequence and direction.
6. Review and edit: Once BookWright has placed your images, review and edit!

4. Auto Flowfill long text

All you long-form writers and novelists out there will love this! Flowing in your text is a snap (and a few clicks). BookWright’s Auto Flowfill feature does the heavy lifting for you, automatically fitting your text to any text box or frame.

Say goodbye to tedious manual formatting and say hello to a more efficient workflow. Now, you can focus on writing without worrying about the formatting of your text, saving you time and effort in the long run.

How to flow test

1. Export as RTF: Export your writing as an RTF file (also known as Rich Text Format). You can usually find this option in File then Save As… in any word processing app (like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Open Office).
2. Import your file: In BookWright, select Text Files in the top toolbar. Then select Add RFT Files to the left. Browse your computer for the file you want to import. Then select Open.
3. Add your files to your book: Your imported RTF file(s) appear in blue in the toolbar, and you can drag and drop it right into your page.
4. Apply a layout: Once you drag and drop, choose a layout. From there, you’ll select Apply Layout, and your text will magically auto-fill. 

5. Add background colors

Adding a background color to your pages can enhance your book’s overall look and feel. You can easily compose a layout with depth just with a color behind your imagery, text, or illustrations.

A bold color creates a design that pops off the page. Or try to match a more muted color in the image with the background color for a cohesive look.

How to add a background color

1. Select the paint can icon: It’s in the upper right corner of BookWright.
2. Pick your color: The background color wheel window will appear. Choose the color you want from the wheel (or add your own RGB codes if you’re into that) and select Apply. 

6. Build and overlap shapes

Shapes are a fun and creative way to add interest and depth to your book. You can use shapes as borders, backgrounds, or as design elements on their own.

BookWright offers a variety of shapes, including circles, rectangles, triangles, and lines. And the best part? You can easily overlap these shapes to create unique designs and a sense of depth on a flat page. Plus, shapes can also be filled in with color or images, making them even more exciting than just a simple design flourish.

Dan Milnor, Blurb’s creative evangelist, likes to fill black shapes post-printing with a white gel pen and white shapes with black ink. This creates a unique, hand-crafted look that adds character.

How to add a shape

1. Select your page: On the left side of BookWright, select the thumbnail of the page you want your shape.
2. Pick a shape: In the toolbar directly above your book’s pages, select the Shapes icon (near Undo, Place Photo, and Place Text). Then, choose the shape you want.
3. Draw your shape: Click and drag on your page to create the shape at the desired size.
4. Adjust color and placement: With your shape selected, use the shape window to adjust its size, color, rotation, border, style, and thickness.
5. Add a photo: Select the Photos tab from the top of BookWright. Then, drag and drop the photo of your choice into your shape. Done!
6. Overlap your shapes: Add another shape on top of your initial shape. The key to overlapping is using the Arrange tool, also found near the Shape icon, so you can bring your shapes from the back to the front or vice versa as you see fit. 

7. Use grids and shapes together

Making a journal or notebook? BookWright offers four kinds of pages: blank, lined, square, or dot grid. But why leave it at that? You can easily break up a massive grid page by using shapes on top, which you can fill with color or images.

Imagine having a lined page with a circle in the upper corner with a photo of your favorite flower or even a positive affirmation. These can be neat little accents to make the ordinary journal uniquely yours. 

Add a colored shape behind a grid, and a cool hack will happen. You’ll need to see it to believe it!

How to add a grid and shapes

Adding grids to your pages is simple. But a word to the wise: You must create a notebook project to get grids. You can’t add a grid to your book if it is not a notebook! Let’s get into it.

1. Create a notebook: Select Create from BookWright’s home screen. Then, choose Notebooks and the size you’d like to create. On the next page, select your style (blank, lined, or grid) and cover (hardcover or softcover). Finally, name and start your new project.
2. Add a shape: In the toolbar directly above your book’s pages, select the Shapes icon (near Undo, Place Photo, and Place Text). Then, choose the shape you want.
3. Draw your shape: Click and drag on your page to create the shape at the desired size.
4. Adjust shape style and placement: With your shape selected, use the shape window to adjust its size, color, rotation, border, style, and thickness.
5. Arrange your shape: Make your notebook even cooler by selecting the Arrange icon near the Shape icon to place it behind your grid. If you add a background color to your shape and send it backward, behind your grid, cool things will happen!

8. Enhance images

Shots that are too dark, a bit fuzzy, have people with red eyes, and a dozen other photo faux pas can all benefit from the Auto Image Adjust feature. It’s built right into BookWright, and you can use it on a single image or apply the setting to all the images in your book. 

When activated, this feature analyzes images and automatically optimizes them for printing by enhancing the darker areas, slightly increasing depth and contrast, and lightly sharpening. The feature can also brighten photos without losing any detail and correct skin tone issues when they appear too red or green. It’s magic!

How to enhance your image

It’s so easy to use! Just follow these two steps.

1. Toggle it on: To turn Auto Image Adjust on for one image, simply click on an image to open its photo tools, then toggle the feature to On.
2. Apply to all images: If you want to apply this feature to every image, open BookWright’s Preferences window and select Auto-adjust all images added to project. This will automatically improve all the photos you add to your book project after you’ve changed this setting. 

9. Include page numbers

Page numbers are important for keeping your book organized and easy to follow. They also act as a reference for readers to find specific pages quickly. Fortunately, BookWright makes it easy to add page numbers that will automatically update as you make changes or rearrange your book’s layout.

Whether you want to add page numbers to every page, just the left-hand pages, or just the right-hand pages, BookWright gives you several options. And yes, you can omit page numbers altogether, too.

Pro tip: Page numbers are all or nothing. So if you don’t want page numbers on certain pages, you’ll need to add an image or shape (perhaps in the same color as the page color) over the page number to hide it. 

How to add page numbers

You’re a BookWright pro at this point. Let’s finish off with another quick step-by-step.

1. Select your pages: To add, remove, or format page numbers, select the 123 icon.
2. Choose your settings: Select where you want your page numbers to display and any formatting. You can also choose the page to start and end the numbering.
3. Remove your page numbers: To remove page numbers, click the Remove Page Numbers button in this same window.

And there you have it: the BookWright features we most like to use and most love to tell others about. Ready to use these tips and tricks on your next book project? Try BookWright today.

***

Blurb is a self-publishing platform that allows you to take control of your book publishing journey—whether you’re building a book for yourself and friends or for mass distribution. Blurb’s free design tool, BookWright, allows you to create the book of your dreams in minutes. Once ready, order copies for yourself or publish and sell—or do both at the same time.

The post BookWright tips, features, and tricks you should be using appeared first on Blurb Blog.

 First off, congratulations on the new book. It’s been said that photography is a story best told in book form, and we are firm believers in this idea. Your book is titled “Late Harvest,” and covers the American South. Why this topic and why this title?

I’ve lived in Atlanta since 2008 after living in Maine and New York State for decades. The shift was disorienting in many ways. I use photography as my way of understanding the world and this continued during my first few years in Atlanta. I did photography projects on the customers and vendors at rural flea markets (American Flea), and African American rodeo cowboys (Black Cowboys and Girls). But I felt a need to delve deeper. In 2016, I got a small travel grant, enough to support a road trip and after the election that November, I assumed I would be photographing people and talking to them to try and understand the results of the election. I did do that, but on the very first day, I saw the picture that ended up on the cover of Late Harvest and I knew the project had to show more than just portraits.

The title refers to the dominance of agriculture in the areas I traveled to, but also to the fact that they’re past their prime. They’re surviving, but they’ve seen better days.

Let’s talk about time. From start to finish, from the spark of the idea to sending the book to press, what kind of timeline are we talking about and did you feel rushed or was this done on your own schedule?

I received the travel grant in the early fall of 2016 and took the first three-week trip through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas that December. Although I initially thought an exhibition would be the only way to see the work, after spending time with the images for several months, I decided that the volume of images required a book to tell the complete story. A book also gave me a more effective way to integrate the portraits with landscapes and buildings.

I came up with a preliminary book design during a residency at The Hambidge Center for the Arts and Sciences in the North Georgia mountains in June 2017. It was then that I realized that the photographs were more downbeat than I felt they should be. This was partly due to the fact that it was cloudy for most of that first trip. So, I decided a second trip was necessary. In December 2017 I spent another two weeks on the road, this time in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. The extra time was definitely worth it. The pictures now had the variety and range I was looking for.

I spent the next few months working on the book design. I went through five or six Blurb iterations in the end. By the summer of 2018, I was confident enough to start showing it to publishers. Most of the time they wanted to see a PDF version only.

I first approached the RIT Press in October and things seemed to move quite slowly for a while. The Press had multiple staff members who needed to review and consider my proposal and they also sent it to outside reviewers for additional input. By January 2019, they were sending me emails expressing interest, but not making any commitments. It wasn’t until I sent my Blurb version to them in February that they committed to moving forward.

The next step was to plan the Kickstarter campaign that would fund the printing. I wanted to try for an April launch, but it quickly became clear that that was unrealistic. The months dragged on, as we finessed the Kickstarter and agreed on details for the book. We decided to scale the book down from the 12×12 in. version I’d created with Blurb, to an 11x 11 in. version based on the printer’s limitations. The Press used the design I had created with Blurb’s BookWright software. They redesigned the text pages, but the sizing, sequencing, and layouts are exactly as they were in the version I created with Blurb.

The Kickstarter launched in September 2019 and surpassed my fundraising goal by 17% during a 30-day campaign. We spent October and November working through the final details and Late Harvest finally went to press at Josten’s Printing in Tennessee in December. Final bound copies were delivered in the first few days of 2020.

That’s a very long answer to the question you asked. The short answer is, no, I was never rushed. Mostly, I had to keep reminding myself to be patient. Getting a book right is a long and exacting process. It takes a lot of time and a lot of eyes to make it right. But, at least in my case, I think it’s worth the wait.

You edited your project to 79 total images. but what was your total take, approximately?

The total take was over 5,000 images.

Was there a previous work by yourself or another artist that helped guide you or was this something outside your normal scope and scale in terms of the subject matter?

Portraiture is a story-telling technique I’ve used for a long time, but the other kinds of pictures in Late Harvest are not something that I’ve done a lot of in the past. I think those are influenced by many photographers. Certainly, the formalism of New Topographics is evident in some of my photographs of buildings. Using color as a way to experience the quotidian and banal is seen in the work of William Eggleston and Stephen Shore. And I’ve always loved the peeling paint of Aaron Siskind.

How was the response from the people you interacted with in the field? Were people open to the idea of photographing? You have quite a cross-section of humanity on those pages.

People were welcoming. Most of us want to tell our stories to someone and when I started asking questions, the pictures ended up as almost an afterthought. It wasn’t unusual for me to be with someone for a couple of hours, but only spend fifteen minutes on photography. Only two people said no, and one of those set me up with someone else to do a portrait shoot in a beautiful chapel. That one ended up being one of my favorite stories in the book.

The American South is a unique place and one that is often described in stereotypes. Was there something you learned about the region that surprised you or made you rethink your position on what you thought you knew about the place?

I was surprised by how devastated the economies of the towns were. Between changes in agriculture and the opioid crisis, there were towns that had practically disappeared. I went to several where there were twenty or more empty storefronts.

You created a Blurb book from this work, but was your intention to publish solely with Blurb or was it always the intention to go with a traditional publisher, in this case, RIT Press? Again, congratulations, finding a publisher is no minor thing.

I wasn’t sure about the project until I saw the Blurb version. Books are a physical, visceral experience. I needed to have that experience with Late Harvest before I made the decision to move forward. Since I found it doubtful that anyone would be willing to pay me what I would need to retail the Blurb version, I assumed that I would pursue a traditional publisher.

Did you utilize the Blurb edition as the maquette for the publisher? I’ve heard stories about some publishers loving this idea and others not so much so I’m curious the response.

I used the Blurb edition first as a way for me to understand how it would function. Since a vital component of a book is the physical experience, looking it at it on the screen of a computer doesn’t really tell you whether it works or not. Square or rectangular? 7x7or 12 x 12? Photos floating in white space or full bleed? Since I’m not a trained graphic designer I needed to see the object before I really understood the answers.

How about the book editing, sequencing, and design? Was that done by the publisher, did you hire a team or was it all done on your end?

The entire edit, sequencing, sizing, etc. are all mine, done with BookWright. RIT accepted that all. I had assumed that any publisher who picked up Late Harvest would redesign it. I was quite gratified that RIT Press liked most of what I had done.

What were your trim size and paper choice for the Blurb edition?  And how close were they to the materials used by RIT?

I used the 12×12 for my Blurb copy. I felt that the photographs were so rich in detail that they had to be large enough to see small things. Some of the prints in the exhibition were as large as 40×60, so the reduction to 12×12 was already significant. I went with both the premium paper with a lustre finish and the standard papers. I was concerned that the standard would have too much bleed through, but I was surprised that there was almost no difference between them in that respect.

There were two major differences between the Blurb edition and the final RIT Press edition. The first is that RIT Press used a matt paper with a gloss varnish over the pictures. This set the photographs apart and made them almost leap off the page. The other thing is that they used a matt lamination on the cover, thereby protecting it from scratches and fingerprints.

I was happily surprised by how well the photographs in the two editions matched. They were surprisingly consistent in color, saturation, and contrast.

Was there anything you learned about the book-making process that surprised you or anything you want to pass along to anyone how has yet to get that call from the publisher saying “We want to do your book?”

Although it’s every photographer’s dream to have a book of their work published, it needs to be approached with caution and care. There are many questions that need to be answered. Why a book? Who’s going to buy it? Is there an existing customer base, either for the subject matter or your work? Can you design it yourself or will you have to hire a designer? Do you know someone who can write a forward or essay? Is there a museum or other venue you can partner with to share the burden?

Traditional publishers generally require a financial commitment to fund design and printing. This can be a lot of money, as much as $40K. Where’s that money coming from? Kickstarter? For the record, Kickstarter is a wonderful platform, but TONS of work to make it successful. I was extremely happy to collaborate with RIT Press on our Kickstarter. We shared the burden on the creation of the campaign and its promotion and they handled most of the fulfillment, which was a huge endeavor.

It’s also important to educate yourself with the limitations of the printing process. You need to be comfortable with the idea that the four-color process is a translation of your vision, not the same kind of exact reproduction that fine inkjet prints have become.

I recommend seeking out experts in your personal network for their advice. Early in the design process, I showed a PDF to friends of mine- she’s a graphic designer and he’s a photographer with several books to his credit. This version had every photograph floating in white space, the same way you might see them on the gallery wall. My friends told me to consider cropping some to bleed to the edges of the square pages, or let some bleed across the gutter or let an occasional page stay blank. All of these techniques change the rhythm of a book and keep the layout from feeling like a boring flip book. I incorporated their suggestions into my design and suddenly Late Harvest sang! It made a huge difference.

What’s next for you?

I plan Late Harvest to be the first volume of a trilogy. I’ve already shot volume two, during six weeks on the back roads of Appalachia in 2019. I plan to have an edit ready in the next four months and do the first layout and design during a residency in June. And I’m planning part three which will be the back roads of the Black Belt of Alabama and the Mississippi Delta, hopefully shooting in the summer of 2021. Blurb will play an important part in bringing both of these books to life.

Late Harvest is available for purchase from:

RIT Press

Amazon

or direct from the author himself

The post Author Spotlight: Forest McMullin appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Whether you’re brand new to book-making, an endless innovator, or the quickest thinker/maker/doer on the block—we’ve got a design tool that fits your project, timeline, skill set, and personality. Take our tool quiz to find your perfect match!

1. When I start a new project, I like to:

A) Start from scratch and discover along the way
B) Build on one idea and follow a basic outline
C) Jump straight in and keep it simple

2. Everyone knows what to expect when I tell a story:

A) Pull up a chair, it’s going to be a while
B) Stick to the plot and finish strong
C) Pics or it didn’t happen

3. When it comes to new technology, I am:

A) An early adopter with a knack for technical details
B) A patient practitioner ready to learn new skills
C) Comfortable thinking on my feet, learning on the go

4. One thing I tend to do at restaurants is:

A) Order something that’s not on the menu (I probably know the chef)
B) Look at the menu, but I already know what I want
C) Take the daily special to go

5. Out on the road, my travel motto is:

A) The journey is the destination . . . Take the scenic route!
B) Show me a list of hot spots! I appreciate a head start.
C) Go with the fastest route. My itinerary is full!

6. My ideal book has:

A) Carefully edited photos with captions, essays, maybe even an index
B) Straightforward layouts with simple headers and captions
C) Mostly images

7. My design philosophy is:

A) Think outside the box (rules are meant to be broken!)
B) Lead by example and use proven strategies
C) Follow the leader and go with the flow

8. When I get flat-pack furniture, my approach is always the same:

A) Read the instructions before starting
B) Watch a how-to video first
C) Have it delivered pre-assembled

9. To complete my book project start to finish, I plan to spend:

A) 1 month or more (as long as it takes)
B) 2 days to 2 weeks
C) Less than 1 hour

10. The pair of words that best describes my creative process:

A) Innovative and experimental
B) Idealistic and organized
C) Energetic and goal-oriented

11) If I’m shopping for a friend or family member, the gift I choose is probably:

A) Unique, elaborate, and personalized
B) Based on research using “top 10 gifts” lists
C) Whatever is in the window (hello, last-minute shopper!)

Congratulations, you breezed through the questionnaire!

Now, simply add up how many A, B, and C answers you selected to discover your tool persona.

Mostly A’s: InDesign Innovator

As an Adobe InDesign Innovator, you are agile and imaginative with a keen editorial eye. So it’s no surprise you matched with the book design tool that creative pros love. Every page is a blank canvas where you can experiment with modern compositions and perfect pops of color. Our Adobe InDesign Plug-In lets you create Blurb-ready templates and upload your project without leaving your InDesign workflow. You can take your time creating custom templates and layouts for every inch of your book, before revealing those gorgeous pages to the world.

Feeling inspired to start something new? Download the Plug-in today.

Mostly B’s: BookWright Visionary

As a BookWright Visionary, you like to dream big as long as you have a clear plan to meet your goals. Starting new projects is exciting and rewarding because you believe in your ideas and know where to look for answers. Enter: BookWright! Our free book design software gives you complete creative control, plus tips and video tutorials when you want a helping hand. Try our customizable templates to get a head start on your book design, or start fresh with your own layouts. For a savvy, organized maker like you, it’s all about balance.

Time to make the magic happen! Download BookWright now.

Mostly C’s: Mobile Marvel

As a Mobile Marvel, you are a spontaneous creator, always collecting new pics and inspiration to post on Instagram or Facebook. Once you decide on a new project, you take a no-fuss, no-frills approach: dream it, do it, done! Blurb’s mobile app is made for you because it’s the easiest way to create, print, and share a photo book in minutes. Just autoflow images right into your book, then choose from 3 great page layouts. Keep the creative process simple and streamlined, so you get the clean, bold lines and bright designs you love.

Ready to bring your beautiful book to life? Download the Mobile app!

If you want to keep exploring, check out all of Blurb’s book-making tools, including the PDF to Book Uploader and Adobe Lightroom Built-In Book Module.

The post Quiz: Which Design Tool Are You? appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Over the past six years, Lucas has raised more than $150,000 for Best Buddies. With the money he’s raised, his school has been able to start a club, which has spread awareness about the organization and its important mission.

His next fundraising goal is to complete the 2020 Best Buddies Walk for South Florida taking place on Saturday, March 14. To help raise money for this, Lucas designed and self-published his very own book, 365 Quotes of Kindness, and set it up for sale. The book costs $30, with 100% of the proceeds going to Best Buddies.

You can buy your own copy of Lucas’ book or make a donation here.

1. Where did the idea for 365 Quotes of Kindness come from?

The idea came from a day when I was home from school with a migraine and I finished reading a book called Wonder. Later that day, I went to Target with my mom, where I came across a version of the book called 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Precepts. It has lots of quotes in it and it inspired me to make my own quote book.

2. Tell us a bit about Best Buddies and your upcoming fundraising walk.

Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that helps people with intellectual developmental disabilities find jobs and friends. The walk on March 14, is a way to raise money for the cause.

3. Why did you choose to self-publish your book with Blurb?

I chose Blurb because my mom has always made her books with them.

4. How did you find all the quotes for your book?

I asked my family, friends, and classmates for quotes. At first, it was hard, but I kept asking friends and family every time I saw them. Soon I had enough to make into a book.

5. How will you be promoting your book?

I will promote this book by selling it to family, friends, and anyone else who wants to support Best Buddies. People can buy a copy of the book on my fundraising page.

6. How did you decide on the design of your book? How did you choose the colors and page layouts?

I looked at other books I was reading for inspiration and ideas on layout and design. My mom also helped me. Designing the layout was my favorite part of making the book.

Lucas used our free desktop tool, BookWright to make his book. 

7. What’s your favorite quote from your book?

My favorite quote is one from Mark Twain: “Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

Inspired to start your own project? Get started today with our free desktop tool, BookWright. 

The post Behind the Book: Fundraising for Best Buddies appeared first on Blurb Blog.

1. What was the inspiration behind A is for Anteater?

The inspiration behind the book was my daughter’s interest in animals from a very early age—we decided to spring for a family membership to the San Francisco Zoo, and it has already more than paid for itself. Also, one of her favorite things to do is ‘draw on paper,’ and she often requests that I draw a particular animal—combining it with the ABCs seemed like a natural next step!

2. Why did you choose to self-publish?

I wanted to give her a real book for her second birthday—something that felt professional and held up next to her other animal books. I had used Blurb in the past for work, to do layouts and premium print projects in a marketing role, so I was comfortable with the system and confident that it would print up very nicely.

3. Tell us about the process of designing A is for Anteater. How did you decide on the layout, color scheme, and typography? Which tools did you use?

All of the drawings came together very quickly—I sat down one morning at the kitchen table and did nearly all of them at once in a small notebook. But then, there was the matter of getting them into a digital format, and deciding on colors, fonts, etc.

The first step was to scan and carefully pull each drawing into a new file using Photoshop—it was there that I added the colors to each letter as well. Initially, I thought I would use my own handwriting or script font, but then, laying it out in BookWright, I felt that the contrast between the fluid, organic drawings and a modern, sans-serif font had a nice rhythm to it. After that, I’ve always loved warm yellow and gold, so I added the endpapers in that color.

4. Did you encounter any unexpected challenges when creating your book? If so, how did you overcome them?

I would say the most challenging part of it was figuring out how to remove the drawings from their original context in the notebook and preserve their natural feel in a new context. I think something that helped achieve that was leaving the color of the paper inside the animal drawings (a nice cream-white), which gives them a certain added softness which they may have lost with only outlines.

5. What do you think makes the best kind of children’s book? What can writers and illustrators do to make excellent children’s books?

It’s hard to say exactly what qualities add up to this, but I think the best children’s books are the ones that parents and kids come back to again and again. Usually, it means there’s some combination of beautiful illustrations, an interesting twist, or a good sense of humor.

6. What role does print play in a digital world? What do you think the future is for books for creatives, child readers, etc?

Print plays an increasingly important role in a digital world, in my view. Given the abundance of digital content, print elevates the material by its very nature—you can’t replace the feel of a beautifully produced book or magazine. Also, I think from a child’s perspective, it’s more important than ever to have books around—we are so inundated with screens nowadays, and books allow much more room for imagination and our creative mind to invent new pathways. In my view, I think it’s important to make time for that before engaging too heavily with technology—digital media is great, and it’s certainly not going anywhere, but it’s not a replacement for the printed word or image.

7. Between photography, illustration, and design, what’s your favorite medium to work in? Do you ever mix mediums?

I love all of them, but for me, my work in photography usually serves the needs of my artwork—I take pictures to remember certain scenes or compositions that I’d like to draw or paint. I love design as well because it’s very freeing to have total control over how your work will be displayed and viewed by an audience.

8. How did you get started as a writer and illustrator?

My grandfather, Donald Teague, was an illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post for many years in the first half of the 20th century. I grew up going to his house for nearly every holiday, visiting his studio, and even getting to ‘collaborate’ on some sketches with markers on the living room floor. Ever since then I’ve loved the idea of figuring out how to follow in his footsteps somehow—hopefully this is the first step!

9. Where do you look for creative inspiration?

It might sound trite, but the world around me. I have always felt more like myself when I’m drawing from life. Watching my daughter grow and learn, and soak up her surroundings is a constant reminder to not take anything for granted, and to always try to learn as much as possible—seeing the world through her eyes is a constant inspiration. My grandfather’s work, as well as my dad’s writing,  have both inspired and motivated me as well. I also think that digital media can be great in this regard—Instagram, in particular, is actually a good place to look for artistic inspiration. There are so many talented painters, illustrators, graphic designers, and even writers on that platform.

10. What books or other resources have been essential to you? Do you have any tips for other people seeking creative guidance or motivation?

One book stands out for me as far as being a creative in today’s world, and that is The War of Art, by Stephen Pressfield. It’s sort of an artist’s manifesto—short chapters that hone in on challenges that many artists face, as well as solutions or suggestions for how to overcome those challenges. Also, a close friend recently gave me a copy of Find Your Artistic Voice, by Lisa Congdon, which I’m getting into now.

11. Any new projects in the pipeline? What would you love to work on next?

I’m currently working on another animal-based book, which is also tied to San Francisco. My family and I enjoy visiting the Presidio here in San Francisco, and my daughter is always the first to pick out all the animals there. This one will have a narrative, and I’m sketching out the storyboards now. I’m hoping to be able to complete a draft before the holidays—so, wish me luck! You can check out Bryan’s latest projects on Instagram.

 Do you have an idea in mind for a children’s book? Download BookWright and get started on your project today.

The post Behind the Book with Bryan Kitch appeared first on Blurb Blog.

In this getting-started guide, we take the guesswork out of the publishing process and show you how to self-publish a book on your terms. First, let’s cover some self-publishing basics. 

What is self-publishing?

Self-publishing is the process of producing and publishing creative work without the support of a traditional publishing house. For authors, it means taking ownership of the writing and editing and the book’s design, formatting, printing, and promotion. And it’s in that journey where self-published authors can explore creativity without boundaries. 

With the rise of online publishing tools and distribution platforms in the past decade, self-publishing has become a viable and economical option for many authors. Writers and creatives prefer the self-publishing route for several reasons: Not only does it allow you to retain creative control and a greater share of the profits, but it’s a practical alternative for creators sharing perspectives on niche topics with very targeted audiences—the kind that wouldn’t get picked up by traditional publishers.

A brief history of self-publishing

Self-publishing has a long history that dates back to the 17th century when many authors printed and distributed their books and pamphlets without a publisher. Some early examples of these self-published greats include John Locke, Emily Dickinson, and Marcel Proust. Self-publishing was incredibly important because traditional publishers were selective and intense censorship was common, making philosophical texts like Locke’s Two Treatises of Government impossible to publish traditionally.

Later on, with the emergence of the vanity press (or “vanity publisher”) in the 1920s and 1930s, anyone could pay upfront and sign away their rights to have their “vanity” book published by these publishing houses. This option would inevitably earn a reputation for poor-quality books and deceptive publishing scams.

Self-publishing gained much more traction in the 1960s and 1970s when print-on-demand technology became a mainstream option. This enabled writers to print small quantities instead of paying for high-volume printing upfront. And in recent years, digital publishing and ebooks have made it even more accessible to self-publish a book. In addition to digital book creation platforms, access to online distributors like Amazon and Barnes & Noble make it easy for authors to market and promote their work.

Traditional publishing vs. self-publishing tradeoffs 

When it comes to traditional publishing versus self-publishing, there are advantages and disadvantages to each. 

In general, the traditional approach of working with a publishing house can be more lucrative for creators, often giving greater credibility and prestige to a published book. The backing of a book publisher also means you’ll have a professional team to support editing, branding, distributing, and marketing your book.

However, today’s publishers mainly work with experienced writers who’ve amassed a reputation or a large audience via blogging or other high-profile writing—or celebrity status. That’s mainly because publishing companies foot the bill to publish the book and bear the risk of funding, producing, and distributing the finished product. Because of this financial risk, publishing houses are highly selective in whom they work with and what they publish.

On the other hand, self-publishing provides greater creative control, editorial flexibility, and faster turnaround. It’s also a more accessible option for the vast majority of writers who don’t have an impressive track record to land a book deal with a publishing house. 

However, self-publishing can be more costly up-front as the bookmaker assumes all financial responsibility. There’s also no guarantee that a self-published book will become a bestseller, so it’s wise to have realistic expectations and goals for your piece once it’s out in the world.

How much does it cost to self-publish a book?

The cost of self-publishing a book depends on the services and options you need, as expenses are different if you need editing and design or formatting and printing. 

Based on estimates across various genres, the cost of self-publishing can vary greatly, with text-heavy books costing $3,800 to $6,000 or more to edit, design, and produce. But, of course, plenty of creators also create and print their books for less than $500. That’s why it’s essential to research, compare prices, and have a clear budget in mind before embarking on the self-publishing journey.

You can take two paths to self-publish printed copies of your book: print-on-demand (POD) and volume printing (offset printing). POD involves printing a specific number of books, including one at a time. While more expensive than volume printing, POD provides greater flexibility for self-publishers. POD is also quicker to get your published book, as books are created in the same facility without shipping components to different sites for assembly.

On the other hand, volume or offset printing is the traditional method of publishing books in large quantities. This process involves printing many book copies in a single run, which is usually more cost-effective—and can be the only option for books requiring special treatments like a unique size or specific paper type. But volume printing can be more costly upfront to self-publish a book, as you’ll need to pay for more copies and make sure you have zero errors before you print.

How to self-publish a book

If all of the above points toward self-publishing, it’s time to start! Whether your project is a personal memoir, expert field guide, or future bestselling romance, you decide how to create and self-publish your book. However, several best practices can help you go from a dream to success.

1. Research your genre and topic

Your self-published book’s success relies heavily on choosing a topic you’re passionate about and one that will resonate with others. It can be tempting to jump into writing without thoroughly researching the market, but doing so could make it more difficult to attract readers. Invest time learning who reads your genre and how they expect to find your book. This research will come in handy for writing and marketing your book once printed.

It’s a good idea to hone in on a reader need that current books on the market don’t satisfy. It may be a very specific niche or a topic that isn’t well represented. Just make sure you’re also choosing a topic you are knowledgeable about and interested in, as this will make the creation and production process much more enjoyable. Your passion will also be reflected in your writing, increasing the chances of your book resonating with your target audience.

Need help dreaming something up? Check out book ideas you can start writing today!

2. Write your book

Once you’ve defined your topic and found your genre, the next step is to start writing your book (if you haven’t already). Depending upon your goals and the nature of the book, the writing process can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years. No matter how long it takes, remember that writing a book is a marathon—not a sprint.

Organization and consistency are vital to writing a book. Try out tools like Scrivener and Vellum to outline your book and keep the components of your book streamlined and easy to reference as you flesh out each section. It’s also helpful to set a schedule and stick to it, whether writing a certain number of words per day or dedicating a specific time each day to writing. Set realistic goals and timelines, so you don’t become overwhelmed with the process.

3. Edit your work and get feedback

After you’ve finished writing the first draft of your book, it’s critical to edit your work thoroughly. Before you hand off your work to anyone else, work through a few drafts to iron out the flow and avoid any obvious grammatical errors. But you don’t have to do it alone. Many online tools and resources can help you check through and fine-tune your content.

Once you’ve made your initial revisions and feel good about your flow, send the manuscript to beta readers—or supportive friends and family. This is a great way to make sure there are no mistakes in your book while also getting feedback on how it reads and how it can be improved. Be open to criticism (and don’t forget to thank everyone who reads your work)!

Editing your work can be difficult, so consider hiring a professional editor or proofreader to help incorporate the feedback you get. This investment can pay dividends in helping to improve the quality of your book and increase the likelihood of it being well-received by your target readers. So many self-published books end up with negative reviews for simple copy issues.

4. Format your book

Once you write, edit, and proofread your manuscript, the next step is to format it for self-publishing. Formatting involves laying out the text on each page, placing images, and ensuring that all elements are consistent throughout the book. You’ll also need to decide if you’ll sell your book in hardcover, softcover, or ebook formats—and make a document for each format.

If you feel uncomfortable with the formatting process, there are professionals who can help. You can also try tools like BookWright, Blurb’s bookmaking software, Adobe Lightroom, and InDesign to streamline the process. If you’re formatting your book, check out professionally-designed downloadable templates to help get you started.

5. Design a book cover

If anything will make or break a potential book sale, it’s the front cover. A well-designed book cover can help your book stand out and attract potential readers. Your self-published book cover should be eye-catching and intriguing, giving enough personality to pique a reader’s interest.

You can hire a professional cover designer or use a cover design tool to create a front cover that reflects the content and voice of your book. Use high-resolution images and choose colors that complement your book’s theme. Of course, this applies to ebooks, too. 

We asked Alex Palacios, a Blurb art director, to share her top tips for a standout book cover. This advice applies to both designers and non-designers alike.

6. Set a distribution plan

Once you have a finished digital version of your book, you must decide how to print and distribute it. Again, think back to your research at the beginning of your journey. Where does your target audience find books like yours? Do they prefer ebooks or physical copies? 

Depending upon your answers, you might want to sell your book through your website or online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books—so you’ll need to figure out how to send copies to those readers. You can also consider if you’d like to sell in traditional brick-and-mortar stores and the process for distribution there.

Be sure to research your options before settling on a distribution plan, and remember that how you distribute your book will depend on where you want to sell, how much profit you’d like to keep, and how much effort you’re willing to put into marketing. 

7. Choose a self-publishing platform

Narrowing down the right self-publishing platform can be tricky—but it’s a little simpler with your distribution plan in mind. Do research to compare the different services available and how they align with how you plan to distribute your book, and how much profit you’ll get to keep from each copy.

Some popular self-publishing options include Blurb (that’s us!), Amazon, and IngramSpark. Compare each to find the sweet spot between format, distribution channels, print quality, price point, and printing timelines.

You’ll also want to choose whether to do print-on-demand (POD) or offset printing. POD is a favorite because you can print as many or few books as you need when you need them, and many platforms send those copies to each buyer as well. Offset printing requires a minimum order of several hundred copies and usually has longer lead times—but it typically offers lower per-unit costs for each.

There are a variety of approaches! Put in the time to research how each platform works, how much each service costs, how long it will take to get your book into readers’ hands, and how you’ll make money.

8. Self-publish your book

Once you’ve made a decision, it’s time to print! This is when you go from idea to book, so savor it.

Upload your digital book to your chosen platform and print a single proof first. You’ll be able to catch any formatting issues, copy errors, and quality discrepancies—and you’ll get to test how quickly your readers will receive your book. Then, it is time to publish your book when you are thrilled with the proof copy you have in your hands.

9. Market and promote your book

Once your book is published, it’s up to you to get the word out and promote it to potential readers. This can involve using digital means like social media, blogging, influencer outreach, and offline strategies like participating in book events and festivals. 

Creating an author website, writing a blurb for your book, building a mailing list, and utilizing ad networks are also effective ways to promote your book. You can leverage many different marketing activities to promote your book. Here are a few more:

• Add keywords to your book listings on Amazon and other bookselling websites to show up higher in the search results.
• Build your social media presence and online audience to establish an author profile and create buzz around your book. 
• Reach out to podcasters, radio personalities, and other media outlets to discuss your book.
• Approach local bookstores, libraries, clubs, or community groups to arrange readings and signings. 
• Connect with bloggers and digital publishers in your niche to contribute a guest post or land featured content opportunities promoting your book.  
• Ask for reviews to boost your self-published book and build trust with new readers.

Consider developing a budget for your book marketing and promotional campaign. While there’s a lot you can do organically at little to no cost, building awareness and getting in front of targeted audiences usually requires some monetary investment. Make sure to test, learn, and retest when spending money on marketing!

Ready to self-publish your book?

Before the advent of self-publishing, anyone looking to get their book out into the world needed to enlist the support and resources of publishing companies. Today, more and more authors are turning to self-publishing resources as a more feasible and fulfilling alternative.

Self-publishing a book may seem daunting, but you can turn your writing into a published book with the right tools, resources, and effort. We can’t wait to see what you make!

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Self-publish a book with Blurb today.

The post How to self-publish a book: Guide to getting started appeared first on Blurb Blog.

A pregnancy journal is easy to start and can come in many different forms. Some parents-to-be prefer to write letters to their unborn baby regularly throughout their pregnancy and put them into a photo book to one day share. Others opt for a pregnancy memory book where the pages are filled with photos of every ultrasound, inch of growing belly, family members, and more. If putting pen to paper is more your style, consider starting a pregnancy journal book where you record your changing emotions, future wishes for your little one, and anything else that comes to mind.

Deciding which pregnancy journal fits your personality

Journaling comes in many different formats. Choose one that most appeals to you and suits your personality. Here are a few options:

Traditional journal

Opt for a traditional journal if you are looking for a more personal way to record your private thoughts and experiences throughout your pregnancy. Writing in a book will give you a place to relax your mind, step away from daily stressors, and reflect on your own pregnancy journey.

Tip: If you write on loose lined paper, you can scan your letters onto your computer and put them in a hardcover photo book, preserving your words for even longer.

Digital journal

This is a great option for families who want to be able to share their pregnancy experience with other parents-to-be in an online journal or create a blog to share with loved ones who don’t live close by. Digital journals are free, and some online websites even give you the option to download a PDF or ebook as a keepsake memory when you are finished.

Pregnancy photo book

Perfect for those who want their pregnancy memories to last a lifetime. You can start with a free, customizable template or create your own page layouts in Blurb’s free desktop software, BookWright. The best pregnancy photo books combine images of yourself and your loved ones, as well as scanned images of mementos, letters, and notes. You can add as many details, experiences, and keepsakes as you want to each page—and one day share the photo book with your child.

Video diary

If you want your partner to be a part of the process, consider recording a pregnancy video diary using your phone or a camcorder. Once a month (or however often you would like), interview each other and ask questions about what each person is expecting when the baby is born, how you are feeling about being a new parent, and what you are most excited about once the baby has arrived.

Getting started

Each trimester has moments that you will want to capture, so getting started can feel a bit overwhelming at first. You have enough on your mind as a parent-to-be, so don’t put any added pressure on yourself to keep a strict journaling schedule. Some people find that journaling at a specific time helps them to keep to a schedule throughout their pregnancy, while others prefer to update their journals when the mood hits them. This journey is all about you and what fits your needs.

If you want to keep yourself on track, consider marking your calendar with a set time each week or bi-weekly to sit down and add to your pregnancy journal. You can also make a note to journal after every doctor’s appointment or at the end of each trimester.

What to include in your pregnancy journal

There really is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what your pregnancy journal or diary should have in it. No milestone is too big or too small, but here are some important ones you might want to keep track of:

• When and how you first found out that you are pregnant
• When and how you told your family and friends
• The first time you heard the baby’s heartbeat
• The first time you felt your baby kick
• Your list of potential baby names
• Your baby shower or sprinkle

Your pregnancy diary after the baby has arrived

As most new parents can attest, there isn’t time for much once your baby has arrived. That said, many people like to continue their journal to document the first year of their baby’s life. This is a great time to start a personalized baby keepsake book to record your baby’s first food, first steps, first tooth, and the hundreds of other incredible firsts that will happen along the way.

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Ready to get started on your pregnancy journal? Our free desktop software, BookWright can help. Learn more today!

The post How to make a pregnancy journal appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Low-content books can easily fit into your spare time and can be as simple or complex as you want them to be. Plus, with more than 246 million notebook units shipped worldwide in 2021, it’s clear that there’s a massive demand for these products!

In this guide, you’ll learn how to make custom notebooks to sell that are both stylish and functional. So get ready to roll up your sleeves and start crafting!

Finding your target audience

Before you start whipping up prototypes, it’s essential to identify your audience and the type of book they want to purchase. While customers buy millions of notebooks yearly, that also means there are already plenty of suppliers. You want to create custom notebooks and journals that people will purchase from you—not competitors who already have a head start.

Discovering your target audience begins with understanding who currently buys these products. To do your research, take a look at popular notebook and journal brands as well as any small businesses or boutiques in your area that sell similar products. What type of customer are they marketing to? How are those customers reacting online? And of those audiences, which do you think you could speak most authentically to? 

Once you have answers, consider what type of notebook would be most useful or appealing to your ideal customers. For example, if you’re targeting busy executives, a high-quality daily planner with space for notes and to-dos would likely be popular. But if you’re going after the college market, a more affordable and low-fi notebook might be better.

Pick your niche

Narrowing down your target demographic into a particular niche will help you design a book that’s appealing to them and different from all the other options on the market. Melissa Schulz has worked in the licensing world for 25 years and has extensive experience in designing for journals and other paper products. So when it comes to creating a custom notebook with profit potential, she knows what it takes.

“It’s crucial to envision how your notebook or journal could be used and keep this at the forefront of your mind as you’re designing the layout and choosing images or text,” Schulz explains. “Will it be used to take notes? Is it a sketching journal? An idea journal? A gratitude journal? A travel journal? A pregnancy journal?” 

This narrow lens will help you determine your product’s size, shape, style, and overall aesthetic. So if your target is urban millennials with kids, and your niche is those who love hiking and camping, you might choose to use earthy tones and natural materials like wood or stone in your design. Alternatively, if you’re targeting teens and focusing on fashion-savvy girls, you might opt for a sleek and chic notebook with gold accents.

Pro tip: It’s also helpful to choose a theme or subject you’re passionate about, as this will make the design process much more enjoyable.

Look at your competition

“As with any product development process, it’s essential to explore what’s already out there and selling well,” Schulz shares. She notes that when it comes to making journals to sell, it’s critical to take a look at what your competition is doing. While you don’t want to copy any ideas flat-out, looking at top-selling companies will help you better understand the market and what people want.

“But don’t restrict your research to other notebooks and journals alone,” Shulz continues. “I would also recommend looking at successful stationery and greeting card industry trends. Look out for popular colors, styles, and icons you could apply to your product.”

To start your analysis:

• Look at some top-selling books for your target audience and niche on Amazon or other similar sites.
• Note common themes, repeated keywords, or design elements in these products.
• Brainstorm how you could incorporate these elements into your design.

If you notice that animal print journals with motivational quotes rank higher than those without, you might consider adding them to capitalize on the trend. By doing your research and looking at what’s already out there, you’ll be able to create a journal that is both unique and appealing to customers in the current market.

Design the perfect front cover

Your cover design is one of the most critical aspects of your project. Not only does it need to be visually appealing, but it also needs to accurately reflect the theme and tone of your product.

When designing your journal covers, consider what colors and images will best represent your product. To create and sell a travel journal, you might want to use bold, adventurous fonts and include a postcard picture of a classic travel destination. Alternatively, if you’re selling a notebook for people with anxiety, you might opt for a calming color scheme and include a graphic of someone relaxing near water.

In addition to choosing the right font for print, colors, and visuals, you’ll also want to ensure that your cover design accurately reflects the tone of your journal. For example, if you’re selling a lighthearted notebook for comics, you’ll want to ensure that your cover design reflects that humorous tone. On the other hand, if you’re selling a more serious journal intended for reflection and introspection, you’ll want to choose a more subdued, thoughtful cover tone.

No matter what type of journal you’re selling, it’s necessary to put thought into your cover design. By taking the time to create a standout book cover, that’s visually appealing, you’ll be able to attract more customers and sell more journals.

Personalize the interior pages

Although there is a market for blank journals, differentiating yours from others often depends on what’s inside. There are endless possibilities for personalizing the interior pages of your journal.

Increase sales by adding your illustrations, maps, charts, graphs, quotes, prompts, or anything else that will make your journal unique. So for that journal for people with anxiety, you might consider adding relaxation breath exercises or positive affirmations. And that travel journal? You could include map pages, packing lists, and even suggested itineraries.

Regardless of how you personalize your notebook or journal, you’ll want to use a tool to help you add the finishing touches. Some of the most straightforward include:

• BookWright: This free software is designed specifically for bringing your design to life quickly and effortlessly. There are even complete layouts and page templates for notebooks, so you can make a customized book with BookWright without any design experience.
• InDesign: If you’re looking for more control over the look of your book or have some previous experience with Adobe products, then InDesign is a great option. While it does include a hefty price tag, the program offers an endless range of features and capabilities. And be sure to check out Blurb’s Adobe InDesign Book Plugin offers complete creative control.
• Photoshop: Photoshop is another excellent option for those with creative experience and money for a subscription. While it can be used to create a bespoke book, it’s also possible to find pre-made templates to fit your needs.

No matter what tools you use, the important thing is that you personalize the interior pages of your journal to make it unique. By adding your illustrations, quotes, and other design elements, you’ll be able to create a journal that stands out from the rest.

Visit our blog for ideas on how to make a custom notebook or journal

Print your journal or notebook

One of the most critical steps when creating a journal to sell is to figure out how you will print it. Print-on-demand (POD) has revolutionized the world of print publishing. Unlike traditional offset printing, which requires large print runs to be cost-effective, POD printing with companies like Blurb allows bookmakers to print books as needed.

And if you do print your project with Blurb, you’ll also get an automatically generated ISBN, which allows you several options for where to sell your book and a personal storefront on the Blurb Bookstore. The Blurb ecosystem even handles shipping and fulfillment without distribution fees or commissions. A partnership with Ingram, the world’s largest book distributor, also gives your title global reach via online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and indie bookstores.

There are many reasons to print on demand. It removes the need to stockpile inventory or worry about overprinting. POD also offers shorter lead times and the ability to customize books with multiple cover designs or interior layouts. As a result, it’s become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly for publishers of niche or specialty books. While offset printing remains the best option for large print runs, POD is often cost-effective for smaller quantities.

Since you’re figuring out how to create a journal to sell, you’ll want to choose the most cost-effective yet high-quality production option. This will leave you plenty of margin for profit. Ready to learn more? Here’s a guide on how to price your book.

Do your (keyword) research

Keyword research is finding exact words or phrases people are searching for when shopping for notebooks and journals. This is an essential step when making money selling journals, as this investigation will help you determine what terms to include in your product listing.

The difference between being found online and getting lost in the sea of other notebook sellers is determining the right keywords. Since 92.42% of keywords get 10 monthly searches or fewer, you’ll want to ensure that you’re using keywords that are relevant to your product but also ones that aren’t too competitive.

To start, try thinking about what keywords you would search for if you were looking for a journal or notebook like yours. Then, use a keyword analysis tool like Google Keyword Planner or KWFinder to determine the monthly search volume for each keyword.

You can start narrowing down your list of keywords to include in your product listing. You’ll want to choose a mix of highly searched for broad terms, like notebook, and lesser volume long-tail keywords, like baby whale to-do list book. Including general and specific phrases will help you reach a wider audience while also appearing higher in niche searches.

Learn how to master SEO as an author.

Market your product

Finding the ideal audience, designing the perfect product, and then actually producing it are only the beginning when selling journals. You also need to let people know that your product exists! Marketing is key to the success of any business venture, and promoting your journal is no different.

There are a variety of marketing channels you can explore when it comes to getting the word out about your product. At the least, you’ll want a sales page for your creation—with gorgeous photography or mockups of your books and all of the keywords you’ve found in your research. Of course, that free personal storefront from Blurb will do the job well—or an Amazon or Barnes & Noble book page.

Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook are great ways to share your sales page, as they allow you to connect with potential customers where they already spend plenty of time. But marketing methods don’t stop with social media alone.

Some of the most effective marketing and self-promotion strategies for creative entrepreneurs include:

• Building a website or blog to showcase all your products together
• Participating in real-life fairs, holiday markets, or other events
• Assembling an email list and sending regular updates to your fans
• Creating paid online advertisements to reach a wider audience
• Pitching your books to magazine and blog gift lists around the holiday season

Since notebooks and journals are ideal for gifting, you’ll also want to consider more marketing during the holidays. “For a lot of products, big holidays and seasons dictate when you promote and sell,” states Schulz. “Most notebooks and journals will be relevant and sought after all year round, however, the holidays offer a great opportunity to meet customer demand for unique gift ideas.” 

Make a series

If you want to sell more journals and notebooks, you’ll likely need to make them regularly. Those who can publish new journals or notebooks on a recurring basis are generally more successful.

One of the most significant benefits of publishing regularly is that it helps you develop a following. When people know that you publish new content consistently, they’re more likely to check back frequently, buy your past work, and even share your books with others. This not only helps you reach new audiences but also helps you build relationships with existing fans.

In addition to helping you sell more journals or notebooks, publishing regularly also has other benefits. By practicing your bookmaking art often, you’ll likely improve your marketing and design skills, increase your audience engagement, and build a better reputation as an author or artist.

Wrapping it up

Selling journals and notebooks can be a fun and rewarding experience, but it’s also a lot of work. It’s important to remember that success doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll need to put in the time to research your audience, design a beautiful product, and market it effectively and consistently.

If you can do all that—and if you’re willing to publish new journals or notebooks regularly—you’ll be well on your way to becoming a booming journal seller.

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So what are you waiting for? Get started on your journal or notebook today!

The post How to make a notebook or journal to sell: A guide for creative entrepreneurs appeared first on Blurb Blog.

November: Gifting Made Easy – Notebooks & Photo Books in BookWright

• Explore Blurb’s new custom notebooks and journals
• Discover inspirational ideas for making a notebook or photo book
• Get a quick introduction to BookWright, Blurb’s free bookmaking software
• Find out how to choose the right paper type and trim size

Watch the Webinar

Top 10 Questions from the Audience

1. Why do books make great gifts?

I think books make great gifts for several reasons. Books are inspirational, whether they’re literature based or image focused. They inspire us to learn, to remember, and to imagine. Books are also an inexpensive gift, comparatively speaking. They make great stocking stuffers. Small, light, easy, and customizable for each family member. Sure, you can go online and buy something mass produced or you can make an intensely personal book. Books are timeless, especially when they are about family which is the perfect subject matter for the holidays.

2. How do I find Notebooks in the Blurb software?

Easy! Download and launch BookWright, Blurb’s free book-making tool. On the left-hand side of the Bookwright window, you will see “New! Notebooks.” Click that button and you are on your way.

3. Can I use multiple types of page styles in a single Notebook or Journal?

Yes. This is one of the key elements of Blurb’s journal offering. Notebooks and Journals are completely customizable. You can combine options like blank pages and grids, or narrow-ruled mixed with wide-ruled, etc.

4. What are the Notebook size options?

Blurb offers 5×8, 6×9, and 8×10 notebook and journal options. These are all available as Softcover, Hardcover ImageWrap, and Hardcover Dust Jacket.

5. Are there any other tips you suggest for notebook- or journal-making?

First and foremost, use your own visual content. I use photography, notes, drawings, and other visual ephemera. I drag and drop the content into the layout and then often end up writing over all of it. The “shapes” tool in Bookwright is a great feature. For example, I can create circles or triangles and then drag photographs into those shapes. I also tend to prefer thick journal books, so I normally make my journals over 100 pages.

6. What about photo books as gifts? 

For sure. I’ve been making photo book gifts since Blurb first arrived on the scene back in 2006. Photo Books are more expensive than Notebooks, but they serve a different purpose and are perfect for showing off visual content. So many of us spend copious amounts of time making images, and Photo Books are the single best way of displaying good photography. If we look at the history of humans and photography, we see a clean lineage of the book as a gift and the book as a family album. I really enjoy creating a book about each family member, so that over time, everyone gets a book.

7. Do Photo Books and Notebooks use the same materials?

No, photo books offer their own unique set of material options and the same is true for notebooks. One is not better than the other, so create what best suits your needs and budget.

8. Can I create a custom template for notebooks in Bookwright?

Sure. You create a custom template just like you would for any other book format. Name the template, save it to “my templates,” and you are good to go.

9. I tend to make books with Lightroom. Can I use Lightroom to make notebooks?

Currently, no. The best way to make a notebook or journal is with Bookwright.

10. Do you have any advice for using the notebook as a Journal?

Yes. Be creative, take chances, and use all the tools we used as kids. Scissors, glue, markers, paint, tape, etc. Write as if nobody will ever see what’s inside. I find journaling to be a very therapeutic endeavor.

Stay tuned for our next webinar in January 2019!

Custom Notebooks & Journals
Ready to make a completely custom notebook or journal? Choose from three sizes and mix and match blank, lined, square, or dot grid notebook pages. Get started today.

The post Hit the Books: Notebooks & Photo Books | Webinar Recap appeared first on Blurb Blog.

Have you ever made a cookbook before?

Goodness, no! Although I had long talked about somehow organizing our family recipes, I had never imagined a cookbook like this; however, I committed myself to the project at Christmas 2016. That year, I gave my parents the promise of “a family cookbook.” There were simply recipes I wanted “for posterity,” particularly given our Czech heritage and our many baking and cooking traditions. Gratefully, I made good on that promise one year later, when Blurb delivered my cookbook just days before Christmas 2017.

How did you decide the format for your book? What were you considering as you chose the size, paper type, and page count? 

I wanted the cookbook to look like something you’d pull off the shelf at a bookstore. So I chose the Standard Portrait size (8 x 10 inch), with a dust jacket, and premium matte #100 paper. Now that it is printed, I wouldn’t change a thing.  Friends often comment “It looks like it came from a bookstore.”  So, mission accomplished.

Although I guess this is technically a cookbook, it really is so much more to me. The book contains just as many stories and photos as recipes, which is exactly why I turned to Blurb to help me create it. I use my Instagram account to follow several photographers who inspire me, and several of them have used Blurb for their albums. I loved the look and quality of their albums and had always heard about the easy-to-use software. So when I was ready to make my cookbook, I turned to Blurb. I was not disappointed.

As for page count, my initial plan was to create something with a dozen recipes and a few photos, but that changed almost immediately. Once I started collecting recipes and photos with my mom and other family members, we just couldn’t stop. In the end, the book is 226 pages and we really could have added more; however, I think I was starting to approach Blurb’s page limit.

All of those recipes though—it was like a treasure hunt.  Over the course of the year that I worked on the project, the conversation would turn to the cookbook each time my family got together.  We’d remember another recipe and inevitably, a family story that went along with it:  “Do you remember that cake Grandma Pavek made with the broiled oatmeal topping? You made it too, Mom. That was so good. I don’t think we have that recipe yet.” And so the cake with the broiled oatmeal topping was added to the recipe list. (As it turns out, that particular cake wasn’t only a great recipe, but it also had a great story and its own Czech nickname! It’s on page 143 of the cookbook.)

What was it like gathering and organizing the recipes?

It was an amazing experience. But, oh my goodness! I had NO idea what I was getting myself into. As soon as I jumped in, the project became something much bigger than I imagined. I spent months researching, re-creating recipes, organizing, typing, editing, storytelling, and best-guessing. And I roped my entire family into the project with me, especially my mom and dad.  Honestly though, they loved it just as much as I did.

I started the process by listing every recipe I could think of and then asking my family what I had missed. That’s when the recipe list quadrupled in size. Once a recipe title made it on the “master list,” I had to hunt down the actual hard copy recipe with the ingredients and instructions. In our family, our cooking and baking traditions were inherited from both of my grandmothers, both of whom had passed away years before. Gratefully though, their hand-written recipes remained. I just had to figure out who might be the keeper of a particular one.  So, dozens of phone calls, emails, texts, and car trips ensued to locate all of the recipes.

As I began collecting recipes, I came upon another challenge: Often, my grandmother’s recipes were a simple scrawled list of 4 or 5 ingredients, and nothing more. No instructions of any kind.  I guess my grandmothers just knew what to do with those ingredients.  But gratefully, my mom was also the keeper of our family cooking traditions. So, when I came across one of those “ingredient-only” recipes, I’d call her and she’d create the instructions for me, step by step.  I’d put her on speaker phone, next to my keyboard and she’d describe the instructions, as I typed them into the recipe. Without question, those phone calls are among my favorite memories from this process. Working on the cookbook with my mom was a gift!

Once I had my master recipe list, it became pretty clear as to how the recipes would be organized in the book. To supplement the recipes, I also included every family photo I could dig up that was somehow connected to food. Sharing a family meal, setting a table, gardening, cooking, baking, blowing out candles, whatever. I included them all. I then created even more photos by asking my parents to cook and bake some of our family favorites (particularly some of the Czech recipes), and allowing me to take photos while they cooked and baked. And even better, these mini photo shoots often happened while my own kids helped.

In the end, the new photos become heirlooms all by themselves. Maybe the cookbook was just the excuse to make those happen. I also audio-recorded my mom and dad telling some of the stories that were connected to a few of the recipes. Together, I think those are the things that make the cookbook mean so much more. It tells our family story.

It’s amazing the stories that come from our food. Not only the stories for each individual recipe but the story they collectively tell about our family. The traditions they reveal.  About what our family values and cares about the most. It was also clear that the cookbook would have A LOT of sweets in it.  Cookies, cakes, bars, pies, desserts—you name it. By far, that is the biggest recipe section.  But I guess that baking cookies or a cake was something we could do together. Then, sharing the end result with family or friends—well, we also shared our love that way too.

What was your favorite recipe you found? Why? 

I can’t even begin to choose one. Likely, the recipes that are connected to my Czech heritage are really meaningful. In particular, I think my mom’s recipe for Kolacky, along with all the photos we took of her baking them, are so special to me. Because of the history. Because I remember all of the Kolacky variations she lists as part of the recipe from my own childhood. And because now my mom shares these baking traditions with my own kids.

I also love my dad’s recipe for a Czech soup called Booya. There is so much family history in that recipe. He learned it from his dad, who learned it from his dad (my great-grandfather.) I took photos of my dad making Booya for the cookbook, which was even more meaningful because he was going through chemotherapy at that time. Gratefully, he is cancer-free now. But capturing those photos and stories at that particular time is so poignant and meaningful. Even when life is difficult and painful, we can cook and share a meal together and remember the important constants in life.

I also made a point of scanning several of my family’s handwritten recipes and including them as photos in the book. It is one of the features I love most. It makes each recipe from my grandfather or grandmothers or mom or aunts even more personal.

Because the all of the pictures are such a big part of the cookbook, I have 2 photo spreads in particular that are my favorites.  I love the 2-page spread of family members blowing out birthday candles. Even my eighty-five-year-old grandma was caught in the act. To me, those photos are a reminder of everything we celebrated. Every birthday, every holiday, every picnic, every reason to cook and bake for someone. The food and the stories and the love really are all wrapped up together.

I also included a recipe for homemade ice cream, along with three photos: one of my dad and uncle licking ice cream beaters when they were maybe 5 and 7 years old, respectively; another photo of my dad making homemade ice cream when he was in his 20’s; and finally a photo of my own children making ice cream a few years ago. I love that history. Some great recipes clearly stand the test of time.

Tell us about your book design process. Did you do it alone? Did you have help? How did you know which layouts to use, and how did you choose your fonts?

I spent a lot of time looking at the designs highlighted on the Blurb website and I bookmarked my favorites. I also created a Pinterest board, to collect other ideas.  I’ve also collected cookbooks for years, sitting on the bookshelves in my kitchen. So I paged through my own cookbook collection and noted designs I liked. I knew I wanted something simple and clean.  But in the end, I just picked out fonts and layouts that I liked, and went for it.

What book-making tool did you use? What was it like to use it? 

I used BookWright. It was a fabulous program. It was very intuitive and easy to use. I created two templates for my recipes (either one-to-a-page or two-to-a-page) and then added photos and stories around the recipes. It was so easy was to change the look of a page, using a different-sized photo or layout. I could easily create several different designs before settling on what I wanted.

The greatest challenge was keeping track of all my photos. I included so many throughout the book, and it was difficult to remember which I had used, and which were yet to be inserted. However, my guess is that was a beginner’s mistake. When I do another project, I will consider my “assets” first and organize them a little better.

What was the occasion or holiday you chose for giving your book? Why? 

My mom decided to gift copies of the cookbook to all of our family for Christmas 2017.  Which meant I was an author on a deadline! The final draft needed to be uploaded by December 19th, in order to be delivered by Christmas Eve. So, it was a mad rush at the end, with countless hours the last few weeks. My husband and kids knew they needed to fend for themselves, because I was glued to the computer, typing away.

Finally, as December 19th arrived, the book was in pretty good shape. However, I didn’t have a cover design yet. PANIC!! I just hadn’t found photos that I thought represented the totality of the cookbook. However, as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

Throughout the cookbook writing process, I had collected family dishware, wooden spoons, and utensils, recipe boxes, glasses and more. Thinking I might use them in some photos from time to time.  Gratefully, all of these items were sitting on my dining room table that day. So, I put together an impromptu photo shoot on my kitchen floor. I arranged all these meaningful items in a circle, leaving room to add the book title in Photoshop. I did something similar with the back cover, arranging items my dad used in making Booya, his Czech soup. Somehow, on that last day with the deadline just hours away, I created the book cover that I love.

In the end, on December 19th, I uploaded my cookbook, with 18 minutes to spare. 18 minutes!!  And then I rested. (Ok, truth.  Then I went shopping and started cooking and baking myself, since the cookbook had consumed my life, and I still had the rest of Christmas to prepare for. Ha!)

How did it feel to unwrap your cookbook for the first time and see what you’ve made?

The books arrived 2 days before Christmas. Just as Blurb had promised. I remember arriving home after work and seeing the large box sitting on my front porch. I was so excited, and I was absolutely terrified. What if they didn’t turn out as I had imagined? What if those endless hours were for nothing? Would I ruin Christmas?! I think it took me an hour of staring at the box before opening it. But then I did.  And I cried. It was beautiful. It was much more than I could have imagined. And it was done.

What was your family’s response to receiving their cookbooks? 

Although my mom and most of my family had been part of the creating process over the past year, I kept the design under lock and key. So when everyone unwrapped their cookbook together on Christmas Eve, it was the first time they were seeing the finished project. Yes, I cried. Again. And I wasn’t alone. I think it was particularly meaningful for my mom and my sister. It was a moment I won’t forget.

What did you learn from the process of making and printing from a cookbook? Anything you’d do differently next time? What would you tell someone else who was making a book like this? 

The project took MUCH more time than I anticipated, but that was my own fault. It really took on a life of its own, as I kept adding more and more elements. Another photo shoot. More recipes and photos to track down. More stories to collect and transcribe. The final editing. But I knew that if I was going to put the time into it, I was going to do it well. That I’d to right by my families cooking heritage. And I did. I’m so proud of the end result.

Also, my inclination is to say that next time, I’d prefer to do it without a looming deadline. However, that deadline made me finish the book. Otherwise, I might still be tweaking it today!

Since making the book, I share it with others much more than I thought I would. Simply because I want people to do the same. So often friends and family members say “I’ve always wanted to do create a family cookbook.” And my reply is “DO IT!!”  It is truly an heirloom that tells so much of our family story. Anyone can do this. It was a huge project, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. And even more wonderful is that that these recipes are now so accessible, all in one spot, and so I use them. I pull out the cookbook at least once a week. And in doing so, I relive the memory of my grandmother or mom or dad baking or cooking the same thing. It is just a gift.

Would you make another book?

Yes. Absolutely. In fact, I have been working on a 2nd edition of the cookbook. But this time, I am taking my time, editing each page, correcting a few typos, and rearranging some of the photos more thoughtfully. I am also planning to add more stories and additional photos I’ve come across. And if there is room, I have just a few more recipes to add…

What’s one creative project you’d like to do someday? 

I am planning another book. On May 1, 2018, my husband and I purchased a cabin in northern Minnesota. It’s been a dream come true. 160 acres of forest and bog, with three miles of trails and a small private lake. As you can imagine, it has been quite an adventure as we navigate how to be good stewards of this beautiful land. I’ve been keeping a journal of our experiences at the cabin and of course, taking hundreds of photos. So, this first year at the cabin will be my next book. It’s already taking shape in my head…

A big thanks to Debra for taking the time to answer all our questions and share her insights. We really enjoyed the close look at tackling such a monumental project. 

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Ready to make your own cookbook? Get started with one of our high-on-design templates, or create your own custom layout.

The post What It’s Like to Actually Make a Family Cookbook appeared first on Blurb Blog.

How did you get into blogging?

The blogging aspect of my business plays more of a supporting role to everything else. It’s a great way to give my audience a more personalized perspective of what I’m working on.

How did you get your start in creative content?

Featuring my artwork on Instagram. Back then, I only thought of it as artwork to share for fun, but as more and more brands started contacting me for the production of image and video content, it eventually turned into a creative business—a content studio. As for my style, I think it’s just something that developed both organically and accidentally. It’s a mixture of photography, styling, and some digital manipulation. I’m a pretty resourceful creator, and some of my production tricks are responsible for my signature look. I also do pay attention to what performs well on social media, and what kind of pieces my clients are always requesting, so I tend to lean in those directions when I create as well.

What’s the difference between creating for a blog and creating for a print book?

The content I feature on my blog is short-form, fast-output content. It’s more about creating a relevant and up-to-date feed of current information. Creating a book is very different because you’re looking for that one special topic that will be timeless both visually and as a story.

How do you think digital and print can work together for someone’s brand?  

The traditional side of me will always love a print product. No matter what kind of artist or brand you are, it’s definitely a mark of achievement to have your work published in a book. I sell mine in my shop along with some other branded artwork. I may be a digital artist, but I certainly still have an appreciation for the physical.

It becomes more difficult every day for a print product to find its relevance in the digital world; however, I do think, that a branded book or print product has a place.

How did it feel to unwrap and see your Blurb books for the first time?

Very exciting! During the creative process, I did a lot of closing my eyes and imaging size, weight, texture, etc. You have your fingers crossed while you wait and hope that everything will look good. When you receive the tangible product, it definitely makes the effort feel worthwhile.

I don’t have any experience with other self-published products; however, in comparison to any other book I’ve ever held/read, my Blurb book looks and feels equally sound. I’ve designed several as gifts for friends and family because I know the quality is top-notch.

How did you decide on the format of your book?

I chose a tiny square book as a tribute to the format of my Instagram account! In regard to paper types and other options, I wanted my product to look and feel as elevated as possible, so I went with a thick pearly paper and customized the flyleaf to match the book.

What was it like to make your book?

I created my book using Photoshop because that is my software of choice when it comes to designing. The advice I’d give to anyone else would be to do the same: Create in whatever software where you feel most comfortable, and then use the Blurb upload guidelines to make sure all your technical specs are in order. If you’re new at designing, Blurb’s very own software BookWright is probably the best starting point.

If you could go back and talk to your 5-years-ago-self about your creative business, what would say?

I would tell myself to stay focused and be patient, but not to take everything so seriously. I would remind myself of certain things I’ve learned (and was probably experiencing then), mainly that while hard work and dedication do pay off, moments of failure are inevitable on the journey. Sometimes you lose a job, or you are unsure about whether or not you pleased your client. Unlike what I may have thought back then, bumps along the way aren’t the end of the world.

When you were a small child, what did you want to be when you grew up? How does what you’re doing now compare?

Well, I’m not a veterinarian or a spy, but at some point, I did want to be a fashion designer, so that’s kind of close! Haha, who knows? A big part of my mantra is just believing that I’m exactly where I should be at this very moment. At some point during my teen years, I started spending summers in NYC. That’s when I found myself becoming really drawn to fashion and photography. I leaned in that direction, and after years of art school and working freelance, you just become who you are. And here I am.

What are the best parts of your job? What are some challenges?

The best part of my job is being able to work with my favorite subject matter—shoes, bags and clothes! As an art form, I will never be sick of fashion, and so I’m lucky to be able to work with it. Obvious challenges are creative burnout, and the task of keeping your work relevant, and your clients happy.

What’s one creative project you’re dying to do?

I’ve done so many amazing projects recently! I’ve done collaborative fashion collections with top brands, my work (image and video) is being featured in various storefronts worldwide this holiday season, I published my first book, my studio has expanded, I’ve worked on campaigns that a few years ago I could have only imagined, I’ve designed shoes that are coming out in 2019… I’m so grateful for all of this, and what I’m absolutely dying to do now is take a vacation!

BookWright
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The post Passion for Fashion—A Peek Inside The Collecteur’s New Book appeared first on Blurb Blog.

But with endless options for imagery, layouts, and content, how do you decide on your next project? Get started with these 15 creative journal or notebook ideas.

1. Custom planner

Why wait until the start of a new year? Create a personalized daily planner you can start using today. Design calendar pages customized to your world so you can keep track of appointments, deadlines, special occasions, personal goals, shopping lists, notes, and ideas. Make a compact book that’s easy to take with you or a large planner that completes your office desk.

2. Bullet journal

This increasingly popular journal idea is so beloved because the journal is completely customizable. Opt for pages with dotted grids and turn the empty pages into whatever aesthetically pleasing spaces you need at the time. Create a daily planner, workout tracker, or the ultimate to-do list by turning the grid into sections of pure productivity.

3. Artist sketchbook

There’s nothing like having a trusty sketchbook on hand when inspiration strikes—some artists won’t leave home without one! Give yourself plenty of blank pages for doodles, storyboards, or ideas for your next book to take shape. 

4. Travel journal

Capture every moment of your journey by combining lined pages for storytelling with blank pages for sketches, pasted tickets, pressed flowers, and more. Keep an instant film camera on hand and paste a new snapshot into your journal each day, then pair it with a short, handwritten note to take you back to that day whenever you need. For travel journals, we recommend something small and portable with a flexible soft cover, so your memories don’t have to compete for luggage space. Our cover options range from blank, lined, square, or dot grid notebook pages that you can combine with photos or illustrations to suit your content.

5. Personal notebook

Journals are about honesty and self-expression. For this creative journal idea, write like no one’s reading, explore some of your most abstract ideas, or just recap your day. When you make your own personal notebook, you can include whatever pages you’re excited about. Maybe you have a section of blank pages for doodles next to a section of lined pages for your daily diary. Ultimately, the power is in your hands, and the space is yours to fill.

6. Vision board

One of the best ways to reach personal goals is to visualize them in advance and make plans to achieve smaller components of something larger. Build your own vision board or blueprint for success, one page at a time. From career aspirations and fitness goals to fashion aesthetics and relationship milestones, this is your blank canvas for manifestation. Leave room to include notes about your daily, weekly, or monthly achievements, and don’t forget to celebrate milestones along the way. 

7. Baby journal

Parenthood is a wild ride, and it’s hard to remember each special milestone with clarity. Creating a baby journal is a great creative idea because you can write down those precious moments, big and small, so that you can reflect on them later. Leave room for gratefulness exercises, tips for other parents that you wish you’d known, and pictures that you collect along the way. You’ll be happy you have it when your baby is all grown up, and you may even want to gift it to them. To commemorate milestones visually, consider creating a baby photo book.

8. Yearly journal

With notebooks and journals that can be as long as 480 pages, you have plenty of room to catalog every day of the year and then some. Grow, reflect, and remember with a record of 365 days in a single volume. Design your creative journal with inspiring quotes to keep you motivated, prompts that help you take stock of your mood, and gratitude questions to maintain your mental wellness. For this notebook idea, that will stay with you through a whole year, we recommend a hardcover. That way, it will last through typical wear-and-tear better, and it’s easier to hold if you’re in a strange writing position.

9. Recipe journal

Don’t let another delicious dinner go unrecorded! This creative journal idea is a must for anyone who loves getting creative in the kitchen. Preserve all of your favorite recipes, track your ideas for future dishes, and note ingredients that you need to explore. Diversify the journal sections with photos, notes, and drawings to make each recipe section unique.

10. Review journal

Are you the cultural critic of your friend group? Hone your expert opinion and keep track of the books, movies, and albums that you’re enjoying (or not). If you’re a mindful media consumer, you likely need a review journal to remember your first impression, share your key takeaways with friends, and explore new genres, authors, or subjects that have resonated with you. Customize the blank pages of this creative journal idea with places for the title, creators, important characters, plot points, and star rating to make filling out your reviews a breeze.

11. Favorite lists notebook

For this notebook idea, make a list of anything (and everything). Dream vacation destinations. Photoshoot ideas. Road trip playlists. Restaurants to try. Movies you love. Movies to watch. Novels to read. Stories to write. Flowers and herbs to grow. Musicians, artists, writers, and historical figures to research.

There’s no list too long or too short for a creative notebook like this. Best yet, this is the kind of notebook that makes an incredible holiday gift for everyone on your list—just personalize the cover and add a few quotes or images inside each journal, and your shopping list is complete!

12. Writing journal

Great novels, memoirs, and poetry collections often grow out of a single page from a writer’s journal. Make it a daily habit to jot down ideas that interest you or write out your stream of consciousness for an allotted amount of time. Working on a long-form writing project? Get strategic and divide your creative journal into sections by chapter, character, or scene. With so many customization options, you have free reign to design a notebook that matches your process.

13. Photo collage journal

To keep your creativity flowing, create a journal dedicated to photo collages. Not sure where to begin with this journal idea? Collage is about layering and juxtaposing images and text. Pick one photograph or image and see where it leads you. There are no wrong ideas. Mix photos and magazine cutouts with lines of poetry. Add paint or ink. Cut, copy, paste, repeat, and let your imagination run wild!

14. Gratitude notebook

Practicing gratitude can be a powerful source of happiness and well-being. Take a few minutes out of each day to write down someone or something you are grateful for—an act of kindness, a positive experience, or a simple moment of beauty in your day. Personalize a notebook with the dates and dedicated numbers for your daily gratitude list—and perhaps even some space for journaling to expand on your list and ideas from time to time.

15. Dream journal

Looking for inspiration at every turn? Some of your best journal ideas might be taking shape in the middle of the night! Make a morning ritual of recording as many people, places, and emotions as you can remember from your dreams—you might be surprised to find some recurring themes. You never know what stories you’ll want to tell or visuals you’ll want to recreate, so go for blank pages that give you room to let your dream recall flow.

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Ready to start your next big project? Put your notebook design ideas on paper with Blurb and make a notebook or journal today.

The post 15 ideas for a custom notebook or journal appeared first on Blurb Blog.