#ALWAYSLEARNING
Smyth-Sewn? That was a new one to me. Here’s how a Smyth-Sewn book looks before the cover is applied. See those threads?
You’ve already been introduced to one of the key folks behind the scenes of Letters to a Future Champion, MK Rotenberry, in this series of blogs. MK’s signature “hashtag” on her social media posts is “#AlwaysLearning,” referencing the ongoing learning process under way when you are pursuing your goals.
Mr. Pulver was a big believer in that as well, preaching the value of curiosity, education, and a varied skill set.
That was never more true during the process of getting this book to the printer and now launching it.
For starters, I can’t type! But we got there, with heavy usage of my favorite button on the keyboard, “delete.” I also knew nothing about the “track changes” feature on the edit tab. I would say it is virtually impossible to write and edit a book today without mastering that magical tool. I was an adequate photo scanner until faced with scanning hundreds of articles and photos for both the editor and designer, at a quality that could be used in a Smyth-sewn book.
Oh, yeah, there’s another one: Smyth-sewn vs. “perfect” binding. The latter relies on glue to hold a book’s pages together. Try taking a glue-bound book in a sauna. I found out that doesn’t work very well. Smyth-sewn, as the name suggests, actually sews the pages together first, then applies glue.
Other challenges I faced: First time with building your own website? Yes, that’s this project again! Also, taking social media to a new level, understanding how Shopify works, getting required tax numbers … the list goes on and on.
This process has been one Mr. Pulver would have enjoyed because it wasn’t “check the box” and move on, it was learning new skills at every turn and being creative along the way. At times it was uncomfortable and embarrassing for me to admit that I didn’t know how to do some of these seemingly basic tasks well, but I also believe we have to be uncomfortable to grow. And how I am growing (notice I used an active form of the word— not past tense!)
Yes, we are #AlwaysLearning
