Tara and I became super fans of Keri Smith when we cracked open her book, Explorer of the World, while on a business trip to Atlanta. So when we came across Smith’s Finish This Book while on another branding adventure in Lawrence, Kansas this weekend we knew we had to pick it up. We didn’t quite realize the creative adventure this book would take us on as we road-tripped back home. My 11-year-old self would have flipped out over how cool Finish This Book is - okay who am I kidding, the creative professional I am today also flipped out (and learned a lot) over Smith’s newest book.
Here’s how it goes - on a dark and stormy night (the way all good stories begin) Keri Smith stumbles upon scattered pages from an abandoned instruction manual in a park. And now she is counting on you, the reader, to help her solve this mystery. Finish This Book is broken up into four interactive sections including Secret Intelligence Training, Documenting and Observing Methods, Artifact Examination Techniques and finally The Instruction Manual. You are instructed to complete an exercise on each page - it is up to you to populate Finish This Book with the necessary content in order for it to be a book at all.
What Keri Smith does with Finish This Book is give you permission (and resources) to be a creative problem solver while finding your own unique voice and creative authority. She facilitates a creative process that takes something huge - like writing a book - and breaks it down into small but powerful exercises. Smith holds you accountable and empowers you with the responsibility of making choices and putting them down on paper - so when you do get to the end you’re not back-pedaling or doubting yourself. And when you turn the last page you’ve not only finished the book - you have become a creator in the process. Through a series of logical steps you have found your voice and you have written a story.
I can’t tell you much more without spoiling the book. So I beg you - go out and buy it for yourself - or your creative department. And if you don’t have the time (or courage) to finish it please - pass it on to a brave and curious 11-year-old you might know.
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Thank you so much for posting this. Seems like a great holiday purchase for a certain age group that's hard to please.
(Wait, there's a "please answer equation" to post this? No warning there would be MATH involved. :-) )
Elizabeth - You are so welcome! And about the math - I KNOW. My web developer promised they would be easy equations but I still find myself counting on my fingers to post. ;)
I just bought a copy for myself and for my sister for Christmas, per your recommendation. Which I of course promptly mailed...because lets face it, there is no way I could keep something this amazingly awesome from her. Your Braid business endeavor (which my sister and I both found independently, and then e-mailed the link to each other on the same day) is an inspiration to us both and a constant topic of conversation between us. It gives us hope that even though she is married and living in L.A. and I am in the Bay Area that our dream of starting a joint freelance company could become a reality. And we might even be able to do it without killing each other in the process. *Insert sister power chant here*
Elise - Yay! I hope you both enjoy the book.
Your comment has totally made my day. I'm so glad to hear that Braid is an inspiration to you two! I have no doubt that the both of you could start an amazing business together. Do you both currently share a passion for something that you're considering turning into a business venture? Or are you still brainstorming what that business might be?
I have all of Keri Smith's books. They are awesome and I love them.
This looks like such a fun road trip addition too! I'm going to have to pick it up and save it for a rainy day.
BadRobot - I only have Finish This Book and How To Be An Explorer of the World but I think I'm going to have to pick up her other books as well.
Rory - Super fun for a road trip (or a rainy day).
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