Books for Creatives

I recently hosted a book white elephant at a party, and it was such a hit that I want you to steal the idea.

It was simple to arrange and to host. You know that holiday gift exchange where everyone draws a number and then goes in numerical order to choose a gift? This time I used a bookish theme.

I asked guests to bring a wrapped book. Any book. Many of my friends are authors, so I made sure they felt comfortable bringing their own books.

I painted macarons on the number cards and made macaron bookmarks for everyone, because who doesn’t love the color of macarons?

When a book was unwrapped, the giver said a few words about why they chose this book. Everyone loved their book. The person who got a copy of my The Busy Woman’s Guide to Writing a World-Changing Book said it was a ‘sign’.

I also brought a ‘trick’ book – one of my favorite blank books, a Hahnemüle Diary Flex. This is one of my favorite journals, so much so that I give them to all my clients. They are refillable; I used five inserts for notes while writing my last novel. The lucky winner of this book passed it around for everyone to make a note.

The bulgy book you see in the photo contained a book about maple syrup in Canada plus a tiny bottle of maple syrup.

I was a little nervous that people would resist, or forget, or not want to participate. But everyone was into it! The party was fun before we did the book ritual, but afterward, there was a palpable difference in the room. More ease, more warmth, and the kind of rich connection that books can make between people. We had six nationalities in the room, and books connected us all. Priya Parker, author of one of my favorite books, The Art of Gathering, would be proud!

It was a resounding success, so we decided to make it a tradition.

Try this at your next gathering! If you are a book lover like me and can’t get enough of books, this sparks connections among guests and is a great conversation starter.

It’s high time I shared an appreciation for something that has formed me and served me my entire life. I’ve been a regular visitor to the library since I could read. And by regular, I mean more than once a week. I don’t know who I would be without the library.

Growing up, I lived in rural Ohio. Because of living in the boonies, I qualified for the books by mail program. OMG! Books mailed to me for FREE on demand! I’d open the packages with glee. I’d enter the titles and authors in my giant hardcover reading ledger.

I used to play ‘library’ and interviewed for a job at the Denver Public Library in my 20s. I ended up working a few blocks away at Capitol Hill Books instead.

Is there anything better about the United States than its libraries? (Perhaps its postage stamps.) Books – all the books and magazines and movies you could want – for FREE!

My local libraries are havens of learning, community, and the vitality that makes a place worth living in. A range of people are served by the library’s spaces and computers. Last week I had the chance to visit two new (to me) libraries in one day!

The Park Hill Library branch is within walking distance of home, and this makes for a great midday exercise break. It has been closed for renovations. It reopens this week – thank goodness!

But the closure gave me the chance to visit the Sam Gary Library. It’s much bigger than Park Hill and is abuzz with life.

The Book Case podcast recently interviewed a few librarians. One, Kate Snyder, directed a documentary called The Librarians. If you love the American library system even a little, I highly recommend this movie, which you can find on PBS.

When I do my daily gratitude practice (an essential element of my QEC coaching), the library always fills me with joy and gratitude. I love these places that so clearly reflect my values of learning, growth, connection and creativity.

Want more librarians and booksellers? Here’s a list of them on Substack.

Imagine, if you had more money than you could spend, what would you do with it? Here’s what this gazillionaire did with his fortune.

What civic service have you directly benefited from your whole life? Share your thoughts in a comment below. 

I used to keep a list of the books I read. I don’t recall why I filled this little notebook*, because this was back in the ‘90s. I worked at a bookstore, and I was gobbling books up as fast as I could. Month by month, I chronicled the books I read and the ones I half-read.

Somewhere along the way, this practice ended. Perhaps I was more in love with the notebook than the process. I tried to pick it up again but it didn’t stick. One year, I used Goodreads as a place to chronicle my books, but that digital method didn’t light me up.

Now, I use my library reading history and my book group list as a partial way to keep track. I wonder what would help me get back into this practice? As a coach, I would ask:

• What’s important about keeping track of the books you read?
• What values are you honoring when you do this process?
• If it’s important to do this, what would make it easy to record the books you’ve read?

I haven’t answered these questions yet, but I wanted to share them with you for any habits you may have let fall to the wayside. If I were to resume, I would use this notebook, which I found on my shelves while searching the archives.

*I thought that aforementioned little notebook was right there on the shelf. I spent some time looking for it. Then I realized that I waste a LOT of time trying to find images to go along with these boosts. I decided you and I would both rather me spend my time writing and coaching and making things than search for photos. 😵‍💫

Coaching Paul Wyman was a joy. Paul, a seasoned coach, wanted to take a program he designed and make it into a book. When he came to me, he had done several drafts but didn’t feel able to pull it all together. Smart, accomplished and driven, he is like many of my clients who have a specific idea but struggle to organize it.

It seems counterintuitive that someone would have a model they teach, live programs that they deliver and a solid sense of their material – but still struggle to turn it into a book. But this is super common. Writing a book is its own animal.

But we did it. Paul was able to find time and space to bring his draft into finished form. I don’t often edit clients’ books, but Paul also hired me to edit his manuscript. Now, his book, Part of Me: Learn Who You Really Are, What’s Driving You, and How to Get Out of Your Own Way, is now available in paperback. Paul trains coaches in Inner Team Dialogue, and works with executives and leaders to help them understand themselves better.

It was such fun to work with Paul on this book and I am thrilled by how well it turned out and how quickly he brought it to the world. From the acknowledgement page of Part of Me:

A huge thank you to my brilliant writing coach and editor Cynthia Morris, for her unwavering support as I discovered my winding path to being an author. This book wouldn’t exist without her clarity, flexibility and insight.

About Part of Me

Based on the premise that we have many parts to our personality, Part of Me reveals not only answers what parts are, it reveals how they work, how they can help you understand your thinking, your emotions and your behaviors, and most importantly, how you can work with your parts to get out of your own way.

This book takes self-awareness to the next level. Fifty of the most common parts of the personality are profiled in detail, so you can identify which is most active in you, which is causing the problems you repeatedly experience, and what to do to get your Inner Team working for you, not against you.

In case you didn’t know this about me, I am a culture monster. I soak up movies, books, podcasts and TV shows like they’re a limited resource. Honestly, I relish my travel times because I get to be in the real world and dial back the gobbling up good stories.

The last two novels I read with my book group were outstanding! It’s rare to read such good books, the ones you can’t put down and then want to force on everyone you encounter.

North Woods by Daniel Mason is lovely, lovely, lovely. His writing is evocative and descriptive and brings so many emotions to the surface for me. Set on one plot of land in Western Massachusetts, this novel spans decades. We get to witness each inhabitant of the home come and go. This long view of time and nature somehow gave me hope. Beautiful.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver won the Pulitzer Prize in 2023, and I can see why. You might have heard how she modeled the story on Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. This is true, but it’s not a reason to read about a character growing up in Appalachia. I love stories that bring ‘issues’ to life. We all could use more empathy and understanding of the forces at play, and Kingsolver’s storytelling skills are at their finest here. She had me at the first line. “First, I got myself born.”

And here’s a random recommendation. I’ve watched it twice: The Old Man and the Pool by Mike Birbiglia. This Netflix comedy special has me obsessed. It’s a masterclass in humor and storytelling, especially about a very serious subject.

Mike’s use of repetition is masterful. Watch how he weavess one main idea and uses phrases repetitively for great comic effect. Also genius is his weaving and balancing of levity and seriosity. Mike does such a good job of speaking about his health challenges without insulting himself or leaning into self-deprecating humor. Also, his pacing is genius as well as his physicality during the show.

What great examples of storytelling do you recommend to me? Share them below. I’m looking for a good novel to bring with me to Lisbon and Paris. 

I feel like I shouldn’t say “I’m writing a novel.” The truth is, I am learning to write a novel. It’s been a long time since I wrote my first novel, and the world, and I, have changed.

There are so many resources for writers. I’ve been reading books and taking classes. Working through a novel gives me the chance to practice what I am learning immediately. It’s challenging, and I am grateful for all the resources that are helping me. A few of them are:

Books for novel writing

Jane Friedman hosts online classes for writers featuring different teachers.

Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin has been super helpful as I go through my first, super rough draft.

Save the Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody offers a template for character arcs using beats.

Story Genius by Lisa Cron gives another method for ‘looking under the hood’ of the character arc.

Story Wheel is another character arc resource

What resources are helping you learn and create this summer? Share them here.

Last month, I had the great fortune to speak to a book club in Costa Rica about my novel, Chasing Sylvia Beach. I am so honored when people read (and like) my book. It’s fun to hear their thoughts about it and answer questions. 

When I published CSB, I focused on the themes of the book as a way to spread the word. I always want to know what’s going on underneath. 

Discussing the themes with the Costa Rica group was even more special. Sylvia Beach was an American who moved to Paris and refused to leave when the Nazi Occupation happened. I was obsessed with her in part because to live in another country is not easy. It’s a big choice and one that affects one’s life dramatically. 

We talked about being an expat, and I was able to hear about why and how these book group members had moved to CR. What values were they honoring? What was important to them? What did it take for them to live in another country. 

This conversation was rich, enlivening and fun. It was a great example of my belief that books are conversation starters. We can go beneath the surface of plot and story to delve into things that affect our own lives and move us. 

I hope the books you read and the conversations you have about them touch you in a meaningful way. If your book group reads historical fiction, give Chasing Sylvia Beach a read and invite me to join the discussion.

Leave your comments below.

Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Willams. I love historical fiction by women about women. Add a book about words and I am IN!

Matrix by Lauren Groff – This may be my favorite novel I read all year. I loved the writing and the story.

The Sentence by Louise Erdrich is a fabulous, rich pandemic novel. Set in Minnesota, I got a lot of insight about the Native community there.

In the Country of Others by Leila Slimani is a historical novel telling the story of a Frenchwoman married to a Moroccan and their life in Morocco. It’s the first of a trilogy and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

Saved by a Song by Mary Gauthier I love the blend of memoir and how-to. This book shares what it takes emotionally to craft a good song. Loved it!

In Love by Amy Bloom may not seem like something you’d rush to read. But the story of how her husband chose to deal with early-onset Alzheimers was inspiring and taught me a lot.

Free Time by Jenny Blake gave me so many new ways to think about how I do my work. Super inspired, and my assistant Ulli and I had a mini-book group around this book.

Life Is Better When You Draw It by Koosje Koene will inspire anyone who wants to have more fun drawing. Koosje was one of my co-leaders on Paris Sketchbook, and I was delighted to get her book from her in person.

Movies and shows I’ve loved

Stutz On the flight home from London, I watched Stutz, which I’d downloaded on Netflix. This film by Jonah Hill introduces us to his therapist, Phil Stutz. I just loved this documentary. It gave me a lot of new perspectives on personal growth, plus tools I can use. I was inspired by Stutz, his life story and his belief that therapy should help the patient feel better right away. I don’t know if you’ll like this. But any time there is a therapist and patient relationship onscreen, I am riveted.

Blown Away Have I talked about this show? I never watch competition shows. But this one about glass artists totally sucked me in. There are three seasons plus a limited holiday season. The title is so perfect – I truly was Blown Away.

The Patient – I avoid shows and movies about serial killers, but this one starring Steve Carrell drew me in. I love shows about therapists (see Stutz above) so that got me hooked. This show gave me a lot to think and talk about but it’s not for the faint of heart.

What are your favorite books and movies from this year? Share in the comments below.

I succeeded with my novel goal! 50,201 words by November 30th. I wrote what I call a shaggy first draft. There are a few more scenes that I want to write. I printed it up and am reading through it, making notes for the second draft. I have no idea what will come of this project, but I’ve gotten a lot from doing it. I used NaNoWriMo some years back to draft a story of when I lived in Portugal.

This time, I had an experience in France that begged to be written. I did it, and I feel a shift in my creative agenda. I feel less focused on where a project will go. I am more in love with the feeling of engagement I get when I am working on a creative project. Even if it’s just for me, I get enormous joy from it.

One of the benefits for me of focusing on a project is I get to learn. I used two books to help me with this project.

Story Genius by Lisa Cron gave me a lot of insight into what makes a character compelling. Lisa wrote Wired for Story, so she uses neuroscience to help us understand what makes a story stick. She busted many myths about writing, including some that I teach others! I am always open to new perspectives, and I appreciated feeling like a student again.

Novelist as Vocation by Haruki Murakami was on a table in Foyle’s Books in London. It came with a free notebook, so of course I was drawn to it like a mouse to cheese. I’d read his book of essays about running and love his essay style. Reading this book was like having a wise mentor at my side.

What books have helped you write or create? Share your faves below.