Hit the Books with Dan Milnor: Your One-Hour Bookmaking Challenge

If you are passionate about creativity, you’ve probably heard someone say, “You should make a book,” and “It’s so easy.” 

Although it can be relatively easy to make a book if you allow the software to make decisions for you, most of us who want more control know that making a book is far from easy. Making a book takes patience, practice, and many skills most don’t possess, myself included.

Okay, so making a book is difficult. Great. 

You have probably also heard someone say, “Good things take time.” In the case of bookmaking, this is spot on. If we continue to learn, refine our skills, and devote the time required, we have a solid chance at leaving our mark on the bookmaking world.

But let’s talk about that time part of the equation. Time, yes, that thing that seems to be in short supply. That thing we attempt to set aside but rarely do. Time can be elusive, and unless we specifically plan for it, there might never be enough to accomplish our goals. So how do we do it?

How to make time for bookmaking

We live in an era when concentration is considered a “lost art.” The Digital Age, the Attention Economy. There is always something else to do. Check your social media, listen to a podcast, or have a taste of the twenty-four-hour news cycle. But most of the time, these are little more than distractions that keep us from ourselves and our best work.

Set a one-hour timer

If time is an obstacle for you, think about appetizers, not the main course. Think about snacks as opposed to full meals. 

Let’s talk about one-hour increments. That’s it—one hour at a time. This hour needs to be focused, dedicated, and distraction-free, and for some of us, this will take practice.

Remove distractions

So, how can you focus? I’m talking about eliminating shiny objects.

That means no music, no social media, no podcasts, no people, no pets, and absolutely no mobile phone within reach. 

If your work is good and has meaning, it will sing to you, and there is no reason for external music. Any other dialogue outside of what is happening in your mind is a distraction. Cut it loose and set it free. Your friends, family, or children will be there when you emerge from your one-hour cocoon, and once the mobile phone hits your hand, the experiment is over. The phone will win every single time.

Reap the benefits

If you stick to the rules, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Just one hour is all you need. Start with once a week or twice a week if you are feeling confident. My guess is you will not only adopt this approach, but it might just creep into your life in other ways and for other purposes. 

Undivided attention is a beautiful thing and is responsible for a variety of human accomplishments. Still, in today’s world, undivided attention must often be courted, groomed, and scheduled like any other task. 

So, schedule your time later today or tomorrow. You and your books will be better for it.

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Dan Milnor, professional photographer and Blurb’s creative ambassador, writes monthly pieces on bookmaking and the creative process. And Blurb is your creative platform for making and distributing high-quality, self-published books.