Celebrating a book about books and World Book Night (as if we needed any encouragement) here’s a way of pinning your convictions to paper (and maybe inspiring others to do the same). How to: Make a (Book) Manifesto.

Create a scroll-a-tina (half concertina, half scroll) to present your current intentions and motivations.

You’ll need:

• A sheet of A4 (US Letter size) paper, thin enough to fold and roll
• Something to write with
• Paper for notes and try-outs
• Something to add colour with – pencils, paints, crayons… (I’ve used Tom’s Studio Raspberry Sorbet ink)
• A hole punch
• A ribbon or tassel for pomp and splendour, or thread to tie

Step – by – step:

Start by adding a title to the top of the sheet – I’ve gone for a bit of characterful irregular hand-lettering. Then write who’s manifesto this is, and where and when it is being formed. Aim to fill around a third of the page.

(The croft where we live on Iona is Lagandorain, meaning ‘hollow of the otter’…)

Take your time to make a list of today’s intentions and motivations on some spare paper. When you have around ten, and are happy with the order of each statement, write them out, line by line, filling the sheet.

Embellish and highlight as desired.

Beginning just above the first declaration, make the first fold of the concertina.

…and keep folding forwards and backwards until you’ve finished! My folds are uneven; you could pre-measure and score the lines for a more regular concertina.

Add a tassel or ribbon now. Can you see the two threads on the right which are for tying the scroll up?

I love the wonky texture of the side view! (Pity about the filthy earthy fingernails.)

Here’s the finished scroll-a-tina!

Unfurl at any moment when you need a reminder of what’s important. Repeat as often as required!

It’s World Book Night, and this month’s book review is a fabulously literary manifesto, so it all joins up. Sometimes.