025 - That I Like Paperback Books More

Today I noticed that even though I'm an author whose books are mostly in e-book format, I actually prefer paperback books more when I’m the reader. I’ve also noticed that teenagers around me tend to be the same way … and the other day, my dad just told me the same thing. It feels similar to the way vinyl has had a resurgence in popularity even though digital music is “better” in many ways.

The creative lesson I took from this Noticing is that in our digital age, there might be an under-realized and innate desire for tangible, knock-on-real-wood experiences. It suggests to me that while technology is convenient, there's still a deep-rooted need within us for things we can physically touch and interact with. In storytelling and art, this might suggest that we sometimes make a point to ground our works in tactile details or experiences that resonate with that need in human nature.

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