The Place To Always Find Creativity and Storytelling Inspiration; The Bookstore

One of my favorite films will and always will be ‘Almost Famous,’ Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical homage to the growth of a young journalist, William Miller, and the people that he meets and covers one magical summer during high school.

One of the key characters is Penny Lane, the ‘Bandaid’ played by Kate Hudson. In one scene Penny explains to William the path she takes in life, and it ends with a great quote about a trip to the record store.

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Penny Lane: I always tell the girls, never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriously, ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends.

While record…now vinyl…stores ebb and flow with the whims of real estate and pop culture, I always think about that quote when entering a similar spot…bookstores. While even the large chains like Barnes and Noble ebb and flow, finding local bookstores…Powell’s in Portland, The Strand in New York, even the Artist Shop at Terminal A at Newark Airport, and most recently a stop in Bell’s Books in Palo Alto, does the same thing for me.

It\’s a chance to look and listen to those around you and be inspired and discover great storytelling over and over again. Even most B and N’s have found a way to re-invent themselves with each outlet being a little special, with a chance to look, and learn from masters and young writers just arising. Like record jackets, I love looking at book covers, and try to figure out what catches my eye that might inspire me to buy…or if I am not sure, rent at a library…another great stop in for creative inspiration…before picking up a copy if I’m not sure.

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Also similar to the book shelves, magazine racks in said stores also serve for moments of reminding and inspiration. Those volumes still reaching print, even in dwindling numbers, serve as a reminder to where we can find homes for great stories big and small. Without those stops, some of the creative flow in communication and storytelling can get lost as we go throughout our day.

Now it is obviously true that the physical store is barely hanging on, but at least for me I will seek out and patronize the bookstore, the coffee shop, even the record store that I find at home and on the road. I draw reminders and creativity from the whispers coming from the products as much as from the always caring people that work there and are willing to help.

You always find a friend in the mix and a conversation to be had, just like Penny Lane found in her visits time and again.