a serious note from the author
Written on December 16, 2007
Dear Reader,
I’ve been receiving some email from “wreck this journal” users who are mentioning that they are having trouble wrecking their copies. I wanted to mention that this is in part the point of the book. That we will all come up against some kinds of blocks or impasses (some pages are harder for us than others), based on our own personal relationship with destruction and our own perfectionistic tendencies. I would like to state for ther record that this is perfectly normal and expected. I myself have found there are some pages that I like to avoid, but I do know that those are the places that I probably need to visit the most. The hope is that somehow we can work through these blockages using the book, and maybe they will translate to bigger things out in the world, (or not). But in my experience usually they do. I am much less afraid of mistakes than I used to be. Time to jump in and get REALLY dirty. I know it’s scary sometimes, but you’re only here once so you better wreck as many pages (and things) as you possibly can, (otherwise how will anyone ever know you were here?). Maybe getting a bit angry will help. If it helps you can pretend to be angry at me the author for putting you through this ridiculous experience.
Note to those of you who are tempted to keep your copy in a perfect, pristine condition: This is definitely NOT THE POINT!!! You are hereby instructed to dispose of the entire book immediately! (through fire, loss, passing on your copy to someone who is capable of destroying it, give it to your dog, throw it out of a moving vehicle, put it back on the shelf where you bought it, mail it to your mother, give it to a child, or any number of methods of disposal that are not listed here). You are no longer allowed to have the book in your possession! You are banned from ownership of this particular book until you can find a way to follow the instructions. Or until further notice from me, whichever comes first.
Filed in: news.
[...] note from the author [...]
You know - I think this is going to be really good for me… (and hundreds like me).
Time to be free and finally break away from the predictable - time be be a little random.
God knows the world could use some more randomness from the humans. We’re often pent up and too predictable. Too in order.
Thanks.
Oh.. I already spilled coffee on my journal…. and I just got it yesterday.
=)
I hope you put out a new book every year…. mine is getting full…
I love your book!! I got mine over the summer and have had tons of fun breaking out of the norm and destroying this book. Sent it through the mail over Christmas….just got it back a couple days ago. So much fun…had to buy one for my son cause he kept wanting to use mine! Keep up the brilliant work!
I first saw this a few weeks ago while Christmas shopping… I thought, no way, what a silly idea…. and passed right by after quickly thumbing through it…. then it came up on a related items search on amazon so I started reading reviews on it… and started thinking, “wow, this sounds kinda fun… maybe I’d like this!” And by lunch time I went tearing off to the book store and got one… started by putting office supplies into it…. it IS fun… and so far I’m enjoying it and will be adding my new pages in it to my blog once I have a little time. It’s a weird but great idea… I’m one of those who has trouble defacing and harming books…. but I’m really gonna try to mess this one up good… it’s like a challenge or dare… like being given permission to be naughty…. how fun is that? So if you are like I was, hesitating, not getting it… think twice and jump in…
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I finally did it. I got the book and flipped through page after page, trying to figure out the least destructive exercise in the book. Kind of defeats the purpose, does it not? Well, I finally just went for it and tore strips. Weird how such a small act is so freeing. Can’t wait to do more.
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Jessie…
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Bought this a few days ago (the twenty-sixth, to be exact), & it’s already fairly beat up. Cracked the spine right after I bought it. On the first day, I dropped it, let it go downstairs (a la Slinky, only… not), it even got to take a shower & get scrubbed. (Aww.) Also threw it at a door, something I would never do with a “regular” book or my sketchbook (I’d be too worried that it would burst; all my sketchbooks have this bad habit of wanting to fall apart, & the current one is no exception. It needs to be taped up, badly). Realized that it’s really a toy, only in a book form. You can scribble in it & all, but you can also toss it around & generally play with it.
Made the paper chain yesterday. Stuck at college, with nothing to do & nowhere to go while I waited for pickup, I put it together (I’d already colored it in). The first paper chain I’ve made in ages. It now resides over the resident art table (a complete mess of my stuff; eheh), looped over the Christmas lights.
Myabe that can be my thing this semester. Ere May, I will be able to supply the world with paper chains. (Or maybe they’d catch on fire & burn the house down.)
But yes, anyways. Am having no problem wrecking the book & toting it around with me. I really want to burn the one page, but the clicking igniter in the bathroom won’t work anymore, & I don’t like matches. And if I tried to hold it over a candle in the living room, my mother would most likely have a heart attack.
(And to think, I just stumbled upon your site one day– Google once again turning up results that had nothing to do with my inquiry– & clicked on the link to the book. Talk about serendipity.)
Jessie…
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i had a lot of trouble with the “drip something here to make a print” page. i started with wax from a melted crayon but it didnt really spread and goo liek i wanted it to. then i broke a pen and used ink and the print was great. but small. i wanted to fill the whole page. so next i used chocolate syrup and it just looked like runny poo. so i broke another pen and this time used all the ink. and when i was finished..well it looked liek crap. it was ruined. very hard for me to accept. i had wrecked it. and i hated myself for it.
so i guess my point is that i dind’t realise how chalenging this journal would be. its really stretching me.
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I fully intend at one point to tie it to the back of my moped and ride through Key West with it and if it survives and I’m done demolishing it, I will throw it into the razor wire on the fence at work and watch it shred to pieces :3
Thank you for your creativity and time that you put into these projects.
~Maso
Wow Keri, I am in love with your book! I am a mixed media artist with artist block. I haven’t really created anything since August of last year. I am in need of inspiration and what better inspiration but a journal that “tells me what to do”. I do have to admit that I already use some of the items in my art that you are telling us to “wreck this journal” with…..office supplies, various pens, magazine images, etc. I have even burned pages in my art books. I am telling everyone about my good fortune (my dear friend Timona bought it for me). Check out my blog post:
http://pennyrabbitart.typepad.com/penny_rabbit_art/
….I’m going to post the “wrecking” that I do to my blog…..I’m so jacked about this journal!
Penny Stuart
Hello. I am a children’s clerk at Borders and I have been trying to get Wreck This Journal moved to the adult section (or at least young adult) for some time now, but Borders corporate won’t budge. It looks like a really cool, cathartic book, but I don’t get the impression that this journal is intended for children of elementary and middle school age, but that’s the section we have it in. What would you say? Where would you rather see this book in a store? Art? Writing? Humor?
I’m really so happy to have stumbled upon you! I was randomly looking up illustrators on Google and i recognized your style of illustration from your home page (plus the link that said “Wreck This Journal.” I got my copy of “Wreck This Journal” at an Urban Outfitters in Chicago, and I have had tremendous joy following all the directions (and adding some of my own!) to destroy the book. I’m not sure why this provides such entertainment (and this slightly disturbs me) because I’m a college art student focusing in illustration and I typically try to create beautiful things… I suppose this is a creative and interesting way to release my energy in a different way. Anyhow, I just wanted to say nice work and if you have any tips for a young (and hopeful) illustrator, I would be more than happy to hear them!