The Magical Practice of Book Elves

Synchronicity is a friend to all curious people.

One of the practices I’ve always relied on in my creative life is the serendipity of the perfect book or perfect line popping up into my life exactly when I need it.

Often, when I’m feeling unmoored, I’ll even browse a bookstore or library, just to see what books, pages, or paragraphs seem to want to find their way to me. (I once had a life-changing book fall on my head in a used bookstore, so I don’t question this method!)

Sometimes, it’s just a little nudge from the universe that gives me a sense of grounding and reminds me that this too shall pass, with just enough substance to give me a creative boost.

But others, it’s like a jolt to the creative heart (or head) — pure poetry exactly when it’s needed — that catalyzes a tiny shift of thinking in a different direction.

You might not even realize how your subconscious is chewing on the words until a realization arrives much later, but because your brain is so good at working away at a problem, snippets of text or messages that find you at random times can help you unblock yourself like nothing else.

Why “Book Elves”?
I used to think of these serendipitous experiences in bookstores and libraries as “Book Elves” moments — where magical, bookish creatures would somehow tune into my mood and know precisely what words I needed to hear, kicking up a book or page that would help.

I’m continuing the tradition here for you in The Brave Edit, and I’ll offer up whatever book elves share with me.

Sometimes this practice will expose you to new lines. Lines of awareness. Lines of text. Lines of thinking.

Lines of change.

Like creative calibration in just a page or two, so you can then redirect your course or get back to you.

You can expect that books will come from all genres and categories, so I’ll sure you’ll get glimpses of science, poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and anything else that comes along. Exposure to a multitude of fields is how we cultivate creative connections, so this wide range of snippets is like making sure you’re keeping a rainbow of veggies on your creative plate.

With any random books you come across, it’s less about the book, and more about the direct revelation of seeing certain words on the page, in exactly the way they’re printed.

How can you try out a ‘book elves’ practice? It’s simple: Browse a shelf, open your awareness, & feel it out.
Your subconscious will automatically shuttle the words to the right problem in your mind if it applies, and you can also speed things along by getting a problem or question in your mind before you scroll to see what we serve up here. That will help you connect the dots. And if it doesn’t resonate, that doesn’t mean it won’t — just let the words come and go.

Here’s our first featured book! This one hit me at exactly the right time, and was perfect for the stage I’m at, sharing this new space with you.

I haven’t met a single creative person who hasn’t felt pressured to monetize their creativity or passions in some way.

I’ve got a long history of turning my creative hobbies into side hustles or businesses. Everything from art, photography, sculpture, singing, teaching, writing — you name it, if I’ve done it, I’ve probably found a way to turn it into something that makes money.

And yeah, money is great. But, the minute you turn your creativity into a side hustle or business, we often overlook the one major thing that can tug us away from our creative core.

When we monetize our creativity into a business, we (by necessity) have to start thinking of other people, and how our work will reach, help, or move them.
We’re forced to step away from ourselves, and often, that primordial creative nudge that sparked us in the first place.

The project’s locus of identity shifts from ourselves to others.

Sometimes, that’s not so bad. It can even feel freeing and wonderful, for the right projects.

But if you’re in any way feeling burnt out or depleted, going from “I’m creating for myself” to “I’m creating for other people” can knock you sideways, and give you even more to recover from.

As I’m working through a major overhaul and shedding of my own businesses, the reminder that I don’t need (or even want) to turn every project into a beast that’s financially successful is well timed.

Not everything needs to be marketable, make sense, or be summed up tidily in a sales page for anyone else’s eyes.

If it feels exciting and freeing — go for it.

If not, treasure the fact that it came to you, for you.

That’s always enough.

Does this resonate? This post is free to read for everyone, so send it along to someone who needs the reminder. Don’t forget to subscribe below to get The Brave Edit posts each week, including all columns, Tiny Island posts, and discussion threads for curious, creative people.