Category: Burningbird

Categories
Books Burningbird

Woo hoo

The powers that be at O’Reilly have accepted my book proposal. Next comes the finalizing of the TOC to attach to the book contract and then The Start of Writing.

I still don’t want to talk about the book topic–it’s a surprise. I’ll have more on it when I’m closer to finishing. I can say that it will be the largest book I’ve written, and one of the most complex. Also, knock on wood, the most beautiful book I’ve written. (Tease! Tease!)

I have been contemplating whether I’d be able to continue the weblog while working on the book. My first inclination was to take the rest of the spring and summer off and just focus on writing. I decided, instead, on a compromise: read weblogs and write to my own on the weekend, and focus on the book during the week.

I’ll need a break from writing with a book of this size and nature, and having a regular schedule should prevent burn out. I may need to spend 10-12 hours a day during the week, but I want my weekends off. I need to be better disciplined, though. I must stop checking my aggregator in the morning, and to fight the urge to immediately respond to every interesting story that occurs elsewhere. I also need to set aside time every day to get out and walk. Visit parks. Knock this pasty white, limp, flabby, writer’s body into shape. Where once I was cherry pie–fresh, tart, and sweet–I’m now blancmange.

I still want to get the work planned for this site finished and plug-ins uploaded for you all to use if you wish. I also would like to get MissouriGreen finished. Out with the fancy layout, in with whatever I can put together reasonably quickly that won’t look too stupid.

Categories
Books

Everything is Misc

I received a comp copy of David Weinberger’s new book, Everything is Miscellaneous. I’ve only glanced through it and want to withhold comment until I’ve read it completely. Just from my quick glance, the writing looks good, though David and I typically don’t agree on data issues. I appreciate the copy.

Speaking of such, I also got a copy of O’Reilly’s Web 2.0: Principles and Best Practices. I also need to write on this one eventually, but I’m still pondering what to say.

Free books make me happy.

Categories
Writing

More Mark

I prefer the preface in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn:

NOTICE
PERSONS attempting to find a motive in this narra- tive will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.

BY ORDER OF THE AUTHOR,
Per G.G., Chief of Ordnance.

EXPLANATORY
IN this book a number of dialects are used, to wit: the Missouri negro dialect; the extremest form of the backwoods Southwestern dialect; the ordinary “Pike County” dialect; and four modified varieties of this last. The shadings have not been done in a haphazard fashion, or by guesswork; but painstakingly, and with the trustworthy guidance and support of personal familiarity with these several forms of speech.

I make this explanation for the reason that without it many readers would suppose that all these characters were trying to talk alike and not succeeding.

Categories
Writing

Missouri Review on writing current events

From the weblog of the Missouri Review on why most submissions related to current events are seldom accepted by the publication. The entire post is excellent, but one point in particular stood out:

Most writers can’t realize their ambitions because they are writing out of something like reflex, and according to a mistaken assumption that they understand more than they do about a headline event. Even the most perceptive among us are misled by the media, which intentionally creates a sense of intimacy about headline stories, in part by providing a variety of angles that will hook the broadest audience possible. I’m not saying that’s bad. It’s a fact. We’re lured by the intensive coverage into becoming voyeurs. […] But the sad thing about voyeurism is that it doesn’t generate understanding or true knowledge. Many of the submissions we receive about headline stories are well enough made and written, but thin on comprehension of the real, true event. The writers are earnest, but they mistake their media-taught familiarity with the visible surface for a deeper understanding of what lies beyond it.

Do read the entire post–it’s relevant to all writers.

Categories
Writing

Missouri Review on writing on current events

From the weblog of the Missouri Review on why most submissions related to current events are seldom accepted by the publication. The entire post is excellent, but one point in particular stood out:

Most writers can’t realize their ambitions because they are writing out of something like reflex, and according to a mistaken assumption that they understand more than they do about a headline event. Even the most perceptive among us are misled by the media, which intentionally creates a sense of intimacy about headline stories, in part by providing a variety of angles that will hook the broadest audience possible. I’m not saying that’s bad. It’s a fact. We’re lured by the intensive coverage into becoming voyeurs. […] But the sad thing about voyeurism is that it doesn’t generate understanding or true knowledge. Many of the submissions we receive about headline stories are well enough made and written, but thin on comprehension of the real, true event. The writers are earnest, but they mistake their media-taught familiarity with the visible surface for a deeper understanding of what lies beyond it.

Do read the entire post–it’s relevant to all writers.