What's it about?
A friend phoned the other night. She's in the same writing group as me and she's writing her memoir. She phoned to tell me she'd just listened to a speaker at a different group, the author of a published memoir. Perhaps this author will speak to our group sometime. But in the meantime, my friend had learned that the most important question to ask, over and again, chapter after chapter, is "What's it about?"
"Of course, it's memoir; it's about life, and my life in particular." It's a good answer, but is it good enough? Would anyone else be interested in my life, for all that (in her case) it's been long and the world where it started is changed beyond recognition?
Then she asked what I'm writing, and one thing I'm working on is a non-fiction book, with the "working title" of "Faith, Hope, Love and Science." I guess I should ask myself the same question (she asked it of course) - what's it about? I mumbled something about science not being the enemy of faith, history being a kind of science, and the need for a faith that's brave enough to ask questions. Her memoir is about knowing a God who's big enough to answer needs. And the non-fiction books I've been reading recently are about...
Well, here's a few reviews and coffee recommendations:
Grief, the inside story by Pat Bertram is an honestly researched book based on a blog, that really doesn't read like it's based on a blog. It answers serious questions about life after the death of a loved one, treats its readers, whether survivors or well-meaning friends, with respect, and offers much encouragement as well as advice. Drink well-balanced three-star coffee, talk to your friends, and accept that "getting over it" is the view of those on the outside who don't yet know what they'll never get over. It about the real experience of grief.
How to write your book without writing at all by Rhonda Watts-Robinson is about recording and transcribing. The earlier chapters cover why we write, and how many of us have a book in us. Perhaps they're about "fulfilling a writing dream." The rest gives clearly presented information, with encouragement (not too pushy) to use the author's services. Personally, I'd rather write. But if the book rather than the writing of the book is your "thing," then drink some easy-drinking two-star coffee and read.
Finally Philip Cottraux' book Bringing the Exodus to Life, a combination of Bible study, history and commentary, does an excellent job of placing the book Exodus in real world history and in the spiritual continuum of the Bible. It's fascinating, filled with backward and forward Biblical references and cool details. Enjoy with some elegant complex four-star coffee. And the purpose? To reveal that Exodus is relevant to history, spirituality, and the present day perhaps.
So now I'll go back to writing my own non-fiction book. What's it about? About how history, science, sociology, mythology and more all leave me (and might leave the reader) convinced that the Bible is God's revelation to us and He loves us.
"Of course, it's memoir; it's about life, and my life in particular." It's a good answer, but is it good enough? Would anyone else be interested in my life, for all that (in her case) it's been long and the world where it started is changed beyond recognition?
Then she asked what I'm writing, and one thing I'm working on is a non-fiction book, with the "working title" of "Faith, Hope, Love and Science." I guess I should ask myself the same question (she asked it of course) - what's it about? I mumbled something about science not being the enemy of faith, history being a kind of science, and the need for a faith that's brave enough to ask questions. Her memoir is about knowing a God who's big enough to answer needs. And the non-fiction books I've been reading recently are about...
Well, here's a few reviews and coffee recommendations:
Grief, the inside story by Pat Bertram is an honestly researched book based on a blog, that really doesn't read like it's based on a blog. It answers serious questions about life after the death of a loved one, treats its readers, whether survivors or well-meaning friends, with respect, and offers much encouragement as well as advice. Drink well-balanced three-star coffee, talk to your friends, and accept that "getting over it" is the view of those on the outside who don't yet know what they'll never get over. It about the real experience of grief.
How to write your book without writing at all by Rhonda Watts-Robinson is about recording and transcribing. The earlier chapters cover why we write, and how many of us have a book in us. Perhaps they're about "fulfilling a writing dream." The rest gives clearly presented information, with encouragement (not too pushy) to use the author's services. Personally, I'd rather write. But if the book rather than the writing of the book is your "thing," then drink some easy-drinking two-star coffee and read.
Finally Philip Cottraux' book Bringing the Exodus to Life, a combination of Bible study, history and commentary, does an excellent job of placing the book Exodus in real world history and in the spiritual continuum of the Bible. It's fascinating, filled with backward and forward Biblical references and cool details. Enjoy with some elegant complex four-star coffee. And the purpose? To reveal that Exodus is relevant to history, spirituality, and the present day perhaps.
So now I'll go back to writing my own non-fiction book. What's it about? About how history, science, sociology, mythology and more all leave me (and might leave the reader) convinced that the Bible is God's revelation to us and He loves us.
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