writing a book
This week I’ve received some very encouraging mail about my Lent book, which is great to receive in a week when the final edits of my next book have gone off to the publisher. Writing a book is so inspiring and exciting at the beginning, but by the end of it I find my nose has been so close to it for so long that it’s hard to tell whether it’s good. It happens every time, and I am learning that this is the point, more than any, where you need to trust your draft-readers and editors. Being an author sounds like a solitary occupation, and it certainly has its isolated moments, but there is a whole team of people around an author – the friends who listen to you rabbitting on at the beginning while the idea forms, the commissioning editor who believes in you enough to write the advance cheque and then nag you till it’s finished, the readers of drafts, the copy editor… yep, it’s far from a solo occupation. Reminds me a bit of having a baby – only you can carry the baby but it takes quite a lot of other people to help you get through the process.
Saturday night my editor bought me supper, and after some conversations around putting the current script to bed, she started talking about the next book after that. “No, no,” I said, “I need six months off.” She persuaded me otherwise. Something is germinating.
10 Responses to “writing a book”
Comments
Reply
-
author musician theologian
Maggi has kept a blog since September 2003, writing about theology and faith, the arts and literature, and a little about life and random nonsense...
In an increasingly secularised society few people have a good working knowledge of the Bible. Yet a great deal of our culture is built on stories or ideas that come from the Bible. Literature, art, music, language and even the fabric of our society - such as our justice system - are built on Christian concepts and biblical references. The Writing on the Wall provides a fascinating introduction to the Bible's best-known, and most influential, stories. Each chapter gives some background to the text of the Bible, and shows how the stories have become enmeshed in Western culture. Adam and Eve, the ten plagues of Egypt, The Prodigal Son and Mary Magdalene all feature - along with how the Bible has influenced everyone from Shakespeare to Monty Python, and Caravaggio to Banksy. 
Giving It Up explores the Lenten idea of 'giving up', taking it beyond the traditional idea of simply abstaining from something, and suggesting instead that what we need to give up is our existing ideas about God. With a daily readings for each day of Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, it follows the heroes of the Bible who had to give up their own too-small ideas about God.
This is Maggi’s bestselling book of daily readings for each day of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. Advent is the beginning of the Church year, and marks the anticipation of the coming Messiah. These readings explore how beginnings and endings in our own lives are illuminated by the different Gospel narratives of Christ's coming.
-
Search
-
-
Ever consider publishing portions to your blog community? I’m not suggesting you publish the entire book this way… authors and publishers need to sell books to make some money… but maybe portions you say you aren’t sure really that it’s good. The book you’re writing this time is probably in too finished a form… but maybe next time. And, honest, I’m not trying to get your writing free… I will still buy your books. (I wish they were easier to get in Canada.)
Hi Neale, I send my drafts to several trusted readers – people who know me, know my writing, and know that I really do want proper critique! It doesn’t stop the panic at the end. I think it’s part of the process.
One other thing is to write it and then invite friends/colleagues to edit.
At TheBookPatch you can upload your book and then have others read comment or edit. You can even do chapter or sections if you don’t want them to read the whole thing.
Either way, you’re right, writing shouldn’t be solitary.
Just a thought.
Thanks
Brent
http://www.thebookpatch.com
I, too, am loving your book. In fact it is hard just to read one section each day – I want to keep going. I can see that it will be used year after year in sermons and talks. So a big thank you from me too.
I am really enjoying your Lent book – and it is not surprising that something that is good involves a gritty process including discouragement and self-doubt.
I liked the last sentence in the reading for today too!
Indeed, it sounds like something is germinating my friend.
Paul – thank you, trusted reader!
I found your Lent book by chance the day after Ash Wednesday having only gone into our local Bible shop to get warm ( it was a very cold day!) and to pass the time while waiting for the bus home. I don’t normally ‘impulse buy’, but on this occasion have not regretted it! I agree with Rev Ruth – it’s tempting to keep reading – my advice would be to go back and re-read earlier chapters instead – there’s always something one didn’t see or take in the first time round!
Look forward to your next publication and keep germinating!
love this … keep it germinating!
using your lent book now maggi .. it’s great so inspiring and very challenging! Day after day it’s been spot on for where I am in life …
want to say that I agree writing a book is a team thing in the end and the lent book is very well edited and proof-read too. (only spotted one typo) and as I do proof reading for a living (amongst other things) I tend to notice these things (even when I don’t want to)
blessings, you are huge encouragement to me!
good to hear from you Lorna! keep warm this winter