It is so satisfying to cut repetitions, reorganise paragraphs, fix sentences for more impact. The subject material is super-interesting–this guy has led a phenomenal life. I think it’s going to be a really good book. There’s been a lot of picky double-checking of different versions of the stories, but that’s unearthed some wonderful, quirky language and phrasings. Slow progress, though. I wanted a draft by tomorrow and I’m less than 75% of the way through…
Book Review: Storycraft, by Jack Hart
Nonfiction, 3/5
Using the techniques of fiction writers, Jack Hart guides nonfiction writers through how to create a compelling news article or essay. As a fiction writer, I found this book informative for my own writing as well, comparing forms.
Camping!
Spent a week at camp with my grandson, so no writing last week. Back working on the biography!
Book Review: The Art of Memoir, by Mary Karr
Memoir, 3/5
This book explores the complexities and considerations of writing a memoir. As someone new to this field, I found it very interesting and thought provoking.
Less Daunted
My current editing project is a family thing: my sister, who is a non-fiction writer, passed away in January and I offered to finish her latest biography of a Canadian mountain guide, which she’d described to me as 80% done (I’m doing this for free). But she had a HUGE problem with her files “duplicating themselves”–and the guide supplied her with tons of material that was hand written. She scanned all of that, too. Sooooo, I was rather daunted, to say the least, when I discovered the shape of her files. I’m sure she knew how they were organized…
Anyway, my brother-in-law moved into a supported living situation this month, so we were cleaning out the house to sell, and I found a binder with the most recent version of the book (identical to the one on her computer with the most recent date)–which ALSO had the guide’s corrections in the margins! YAY!!! I think the project suddenly got much more manageable. I’m about 90% of the way looking through that material, and I think it will help me to finish the book without having to sort through a pile of repeated documents.