Book Collecting 101

I’m continuously talking about all things vintage and posting photos of antique books. Most people I tell that I collect antiques, books in particular, make some sort of statement that I am an “old soul” or “born in the wrong generation.” I tend to disagree. Anyone, whether they have an “old soul” or not, can appreciate the beauty and poetry of the past.

Personally, I collect because of, as I’ve said many times before, I’m drawn to old stories. I am drawn to the stories written in the books, but also the stories the books themselves have to tell. The inscriptions on the flyleaves intrigue me; the natural wear of covers and yellowing of pages whisper to me all that they have experienced, all the adventures they have been on.

If you find yourself drawn to the old, never-checked-out books at the library or the intricate covers of the books behind glass at your local used book store but you feel that these books are unaccessable to you for whatever reason, I’m here to encourage you: collecting antique books is not impossible or only for the high-brow. This hobby can, for one, be a good investment, but it can also be very affordable. It all depends on what you want from your collection.

I started collecting about six years ago now and I know one of my biggest set backs (if you even want to call it that) is that I would buy anything and everything I could get my hands on. That is definitely a way to start a collection, to say “ooh pretty book” and buy it, but in reality, it is largely inefficient, especially if most of the antique books put in front of you are massively expensive.

I have two main pieces of advice: pick a genre or a general topic or time period that you want to collect from and don’t think that if a book is only a few dollars that it isn’t valuable in some way.

It may take you a bit of research or some time collecting for you to land on a specific type of book you’d like to collect. Personally, it took me four years, and even then, my category is very broad. I tend to stick to the Romantics and the Victorians, both British and American. I have a friend who mainly collects classic Sci-Fi and Russian Lit. It may take you a while to narrow it down, but keep that in mind as you start to find books.

Which brings me to how to find old books. There are a few ways to go about this. If you don’t know what you want, your local used book store is probably the best place to go. Even Half Price Books usually has a collector’s books section. If you have more of an idea as to what you want, you can try Abebooks.com , the main website for buying and selling antique and collectible books. My etsy shop also has some books that I am selling, since as I said before, I started out buying anything and everything. If you don’t see something you like in the shop, feel free to message me on etsy and I’ll see what I have or help you find what you’re looking for elsewhere.

Antique books hold a poetry and sort of adventurous history about them; they are full of stories and not only the ones printed on their pages. It doesn’t take an old soul to appreciate the stories of the past. Find the stories you love.

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A list for the anxiously-creative

Being cooped up puts me in the mood to create, but necessarily sit down to work on my WIP. I get an anxious energy to do without the mental capacity to focus on a long, complex project.

Here is a list of ways to work on writing-esque things without killing your quarantined brain.

• Create mood boards for your characters
• Compile a playlist for your WIP or your favorite character
• Make a list of potential character names — jump down the babynames.com rabbit hole
• Describe things around your house in obscenely-poetic phrasing
• Start world building that fantasy society you’ve been dreaming of creating.
• Drink some coffee.
• Work on organizing or redecorating your writing space — create your dream nook!
• Plan out your writing goals for this year and brainstorm ways to get/ remain inspired

What are your favorite ways of staying creative when stuck inside?

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Word pictures

The connection between visual art and written art is not an obvious one, but it is a strong one. It is possible to enjoy one without the other, but having an understanding of both creates a whole new feeling and a deeper understanding.

With classic literature, an understanding of the art from the period in which the piece was written will help you better understand the nuances and subtle jokes within the story that you may not have gotten otherwise.

This theory can be applied to any genre, though. Even a general knowledge and appreciation for art will add a new layer to your intake of any story. Knowledge of color and symbolism may help you catch some foreshadowing in your favorite fantasy novel. Or perhaps the rhythm and pacing of a story will remind you of a specific style of painting you appreciate. Or the setting described in your favorite YA novel will remind you of a certain gritty-style photograph.

All of these nuances of detail and association elevate your experience with literature and vice versa. Picture books do this for us. The art is right there next to the words, allowing the colors and lines to evoke feeling and understanding beyond what the text holds on it’s own. In other genres, though, most of the time we must find these layers on our own. Whether it’s pairing Dickens’ Great Expectations with Turner’s Rain, Steam, and Speed or Bardugo’s Six of Crows with your favorite European-Urban photo you found on pinterest.

No matter your taste in art or literature, they go hand in hand. Enjoy not only reading your favorite stories, but seeing them, too.

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Words and poets and grease

Books that changed my life part two

“Stay gold, ponyboy.” One of the most impactful quotes in all of young adult canon. At least it is to me.

Growing up, I struggled finding books I was “allowed” to read. The books my friends were reading were mostly forbidden by my parents, for good or for bad (I’ll leave that debate for another time). With a reading addiction as strong as mine was (and still is) I struggled with this conundrum, and throughout this time of limited reading material, my mom tried her hardest to keep a book in my hand at all times. This led to her suggesting some of her favorite books that she read in high school, one of which was The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.

Not only did I love this book and the characters in it, but I read it six times. Four times consecutively. From a reader’s perspective, the plot and characters are so well done that I was immediately immersed in the world of greasers and socs.

From a writer’s perspective, S.E. Hinton became my life goal – she published The Outsiders at age 18 and I made it my goal to write and publish a book with such unique voice and relatable story by the time I graduated high school. That goal was not met, but I knew it was ambitious and I’m still striving to be as unique and solid of a writer as Hinton is, even if high school and college have since passed me by.

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Reset.

Today’s writing tip: breathe.

Sometimes, the best thing for your writing is… not writing. I know it sounds counter-intuitive and it is the last thing I thought would ever come out of my mouth. But sometimes you just need a break.

I’m not saying quit writing altogether. I am saying it can help to step away from a project, or from large projects entirely. Take some time to simply journal, relax your creative mind, and reset. If you find yourself zeroing in on a project so intensely that you can’t see straight, you may need to take a break from it and re-evaluate your perspective. Take a breath, focus on your mental state (make sure you’re getting enough sleep and not kicking yourself for not being perfect), and take some time to write something small, like anything you’ve been thinking about or what you dreamt last night.

Even if you want to keep pushing through that project that seems to be kicking your butt, remember to breathe and take care of yourself. The writing will come.

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Quicksand

So many things are changing. Shifting like quicksand under my feet. This sand, though, isn’t pulling me under; it is propelling me forward into places I never would have gone otherwise. And I’ve kept my footing, for the most part. Sometimes it moves too fast, though — takes twists and turns I would never have thought to expect — causing me to fall on my rear and slide through the mud until I can get my feet back under me, get accustomed to my surroundings. And then I do it all over again.

I like to blame the quicksand for those phases when my brain feels too much like mush to write a word. The quicksand is zapping my energy, I say. I can’t stand up straight for extended periods of time, let alone create a world in my head. I squeeze my eyes shut and hope for the best instead of keeping them open wide, taking in the new (if precarious) adventures.  

Until a word smacks me in the face. Usually, it happens when I’m reading my Bible, grasping for straws of peace. Usually, it’s the word “Create.” And I remember to open my eyes, even as I’m sliding down a muddy embankment, covered in my own self-doubt, as I stumble and slip sloppily forward. It is then that I realize I don’t have to feel great or be perfect to write — or write well, for that matter. I don’t have to know what I’m doing. And there is peace and beauty in that.

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