A book that conveys a sense of care [Yuzu-san's Kindle book: 7 Mental Habits for 'Not Trying Too Hard']

Yesterday, Monday, June 30th, Yuzu-san's third Kindle book was published!
By the way, even if you are not a member of 'Kindle Unlimited', you can currently purchase it for99 yen!
*For Kindle Unlimited members, it is included in the free titles.

I have been struggling to make progress on my own manuscript for Kindle publishing, and in the end, I finished my novel for the Creative Awards first, but Kindle publishing is also on my list of dreams I want to fulfill.

As someone who writes myself, my impression after reading Yuzu-san's book was that it was, above all,carefully crafted and overflowing with kindness!

▽Announcement note for the publication by Yuzu-san herself▽

What she has truly internalized is written with great care.

My premise is that there are many different forms of Kindle publishing.
However, on the other hand, I had a specific vision for how I wanted to do it when I publish my own.

That is,
・Vertical writing (I have no intention of criticizing horizontal writing)
・A layout that is easy to read and values atmosphere
・I don't want it to be a thin, template-like structure or something with content that isn't fully organized

I feel like the hurdle for me to publish my own work keeps getting higher as I write, but I didn't want to compromise on these points.

Yuzu-san's book truly realized that. At the very least, that is how I received it.

I myself am probably what you would call a worrier, or a sensitive person, or someone with HSP traits.
A long time ago, when I was told to change 'ureshii' (happy) to hiragana, I thought a lot about the meaning behind it.

Of course, some people might think, 'Well, wouldn't it be a safe bet to just write everything in hiragana?', but if you actually do that, it becomes hard to read even if it's all hiragana.

The word 'kata' (person/direction) is another example. I try to use the kanji '方' when referring to a person, but when it means 'direction', I write it in hiragana as 'hou' because it's hard to tell at a glance which reading is intended.

This is just one example, but there are many such hiragana notations with meaning and intent, and at that point, Yuzu-san's thoughtfulness and consideration were already gently spreading through the text.

Also, the point I mentioned earlier about 'not wanting the content to be disorganized' is, as I know from the perspective of a writer, truly difficult.

If it were just three main points, or two large sections with three small subsections each, it might be fine, but this time there are seven points, meaning there are seven large sections. You can tell that Yuzu-san was extremely careful to ensure she wasn't saying the same thing, and that it was MECE (Mutually Exclusive, Collectively Exhaustive).

She summarizes a few points at the end of each page, and in the bonus material, you can receive all the points summarized for printing, so when they are laid out like this, there is no room for deception.

Also, the pages dividing the sections have a design that really values the atmosphere, and I thought, 'That's nice.' Furthermore, although I assume this can be changed in the Kindle reader settings, I believe the initial setting had the paper color set to a soft tone.

Even though I hadn't touched the settings on my end, I felt very relieved that such detailed settings had been taken care of.

Of course, what I'm mentioning here might be obvious from a professional perspective. However, I felt a warmth in the fact that it was made with such care, without sparing any of these little efforts.

How she approaches her own experiences

This is also from the perspective of a writer, but whether it's a regular note article or a Kindle book, I think incorporating one's own experiences is a natural element to include as original content.

However, in Yuzu-san's case, it's not just that.
She doesn't overly romanticize her own experiences, nor does she lament or belittle her own situation.

Also, she has clearly taken into account that there will be readers with various backgrounds.

In particular, this time, Yuzu-san wrote not just from the perspective of someone with ADHD, but as a woman, and it touched my heart deeply.
Yuzu-san writes that she herself has ASD and ADHD.

When you look up ASD, it usually says that 'empathy for others' is low, but when I engage with Yuzu-san's episodes and works, that never felt right at all.
However, while reading, I realized something. This is the crystallization of her understanding those traits and making a concerted effort to manage them effectively.

Some people might already be practicing the content written in this book.
However, I now understand why so many publications are being released.

I believe it resonates so deeply precisely because it is written through Yuzu-san's own experiences, sensations, and sensibilities.

Of course, in my case, there is the independent contest I launched myself. During the first 'Tomoshibi Cup,' when I had even fewer followers and less recognition than I do now, I was anxious about whether I would actually receive any submissions. Yuzu-san's work was one that I agonized over until the very end, wondering if I should select it for the 'Tomoshibi Award,' which is equivalent to the Grand Prix.

▽ Yuzu-san's submission for the memorable 1st Tomoshibi Story Cup ▽

▽ A note where I introduced Yuzu-san's work ▽

Since then, Yuzu-san has submitted an entry to every Tomoshibi Cup, including the third one currently underway. Because I have been exposed to those works, I am sure that influences how I feel, but even so, I am truly glad that I encountered Yuzu-san's book this time.

▽ Announcement for the currently ongoing project ▽
We are accepting submissions until the end of this month, Thursday, July 31st!

And I will do my best to publish a Kindle book that is just as impactful to those who read it as Yuzu-san's!

No, I will continue to take on challenges without trying too hard, relaxing my shoulders so I can keep going without strain!

#BookReview