|
John Harnish, Special Projects Director
|
|
WRITING MIND-BLOSSOMS |
|
|
|
|
| March, 2007 - Talking the Talk |
|
|
Nothing marks a new author quicker than how they express themselves about their book. Especially when they explain their book is entitled whatever. The title is lost with the use of the word entitled. Although the use of entitled with reference to the title of the book is dictionary correct, there is the question of how befitting entitle is with regards to entitling a book with a title. Methinks entitled is more frequently used as a legal term, such as: the plaintiff was entitled to damages for harm done. Then there’s more legalese as: the deed included an entitlement that entitled the neighbors free access to the driveway. Or, the position of Secretary of State entitled her to certain rights and privileges.
Publishers talk in terms of titles. The number of titles in their fall schedule. The position of a title on the list. The only entitlement is the entitled royalties due to the author when books of their title sell. The title of my book is Enjoy Often!!! Somehow, “my book is entitled Enjoy Often!!!” just doesn’t do it for me. Entitled comes with the air of expectations and is rather highfalutin sounding. Besides, the first page of your book is the title page that includes the book’s title with subtitle, the author’s name, and the publisher’s name and address, which often denotes where the book was printed – it’s not called the entitlement page!!! Take care to express the title of your book befittingly and enjoy often…John
|
|
|
February, 2007 - Rescuing You from Hum-Drum Writing |
|
|
Avoid Dummying-up the Reader
Storytelling merges thought-flows rooted in reality, nurtured by life-experience, budding with commonality from that been-there-done-that you know place – magically bonding the teller with the listener / reader. Touches of relative reality provide the platform to express experiences with your tempered perceptions of the story. Avoid dummying-up the reader by stating the obvious: It was a cold winter night. Allow your feelings of winter cold to resonate: The bite of winter was in the night air. The stated fact of winter cold is a bare stem, but the bite conveys the sensations of winter on exposed flesh. When I teach sessions on creative writing I often make a notation to flesh it out. Meaning the writer needs to enhance the telling with their feelings blossoming upon the stem of reality. In advertising ‘tis the sizzle that sells the steak, and with storytelling ‘tis the nurturing alignment of perceived experiences that successfully tells the story. The storyteller’s most valuable asset is their personal wealth of experiences – each touchstone is a unique and priceless gem. Take care to flesh it out and enjoy often … John |
|