This post may not have much to do with knitting, but it does have to do with writing and since it appears that the book is going to happen, I think it is appropriate. If you are not familiar with Bill Bryson -- he is a writer, a very funny writer, who can make almost any topic interesting. He is the first author that my husband and I listened to as a book on CD. It was "A Walk In the Woods" in case you are interested. Bill is particularly unique in that he reads his books himself and from time to time, you can hear a chuckle in his voice as he remembers the particular event that he is reading about. It is quite endearing.
Since our first introduction to Bill Bryson, Arlis and I have been HUGE fans. He has a way of story telling that is engaging, humorous and factual all at the same time. Currently I am listening to "I Am a Stranger Here Myself" which is a compilation of columns he wrote for a publication in Britain. And I realize that I want to write like that too! Once a week, I want to write about some observation I had the previous week (and be funny if at all possible) and later take these somewhat random observations and create a book someone might want to read!
Now I have been told that I can tell a good story. Just ask me sometime about getting to our first trip on a Windjammer Cruise and you will see what I mean. And make sure you have plenty of time. It really cannot be told adequately in less than 30 - 45 minutes and an hour is much better. I was trained by one of the best story tellers ever -- my father. He can tell a 15 minute story to a complete stranger and they will ACTUALLY be happy that he stopped them from their appointed activities to share his tale. But telling a story well and writing a story well, seem like two completely different things!
But you really don't know until you try! So I am going to start writing, once a week about my observation of the process of writing a book on knitting. I think it will be good for me to do -- even if I don't turn out to be very witty -- as it will help keep me focused on the process as well as the product. And the fact is, since this is my first book, I don't really know what to expect. Becoming a wonderful writer like Bill Bryson may be beyond my grasp, but I won't know unless I try. And who knows, maybe secretly Bill Bryson really wants to be a fabulous knitting instructor like Gwen Bortner -- now wouldn't that be a hoot!!!
Since our first introduction to Bill Bryson, Arlis and I have been HUGE fans. He has a way of story telling that is engaging, humorous and factual all at the same time. Currently I am listening to "I Am a Stranger Here Myself" which is a compilation of columns he wrote for a publication in Britain. And I realize that I want to write like that too! Once a week, I want to write about some observation I had the previous week (and be funny if at all possible) and later take these somewhat random observations and create a book someone might want to read!
Now I have been told that I can tell a good story. Just ask me sometime about getting to our first trip on a Windjammer Cruise and you will see what I mean. And make sure you have plenty of time. It really cannot be told adequately in less than 30 - 45 minutes and an hour is much better. I was trained by one of the best story tellers ever -- my father. He can tell a 15 minute story to a complete stranger and they will ACTUALLY be happy that he stopped them from their appointed activities to share his tale. But telling a story well and writing a story well, seem like two completely different things!
But you really don't know until you try! So I am going to start writing, once a week about my observation of the process of writing a book on knitting. I think it will be good for me to do -- even if I don't turn out to be very witty -- as it will help keep me focused on the process as well as the product. And the fact is, since this is my first book, I don't really know what to expect. Becoming a wonderful writer like Bill Bryson may be beyond my grasp, but I won't know unless I try. And who knows, maybe secretly Bill Bryson really wants to be a fabulous knitting instructor like Gwen Bortner -- now wouldn't that be a hoot!!!
1 comments:
You're absolutly right Gwen...
Bill Bryson is one of the funniest folks on the planet and indeed a very talented writer. Many people know him thru his National Geographic articles which tend to be very dry an analytical...nothing like the sarcasm and wit in his travel books. I actually had the opportunity to speak/email Mr. Bryson thru a mutual travel writer friend Michael Shapiro (who I also highly recommend)...it was indeed a thrill. Some stories for us to swap during the cruise in May!!!!
Cheers
Sally Black
sally@stitchawaytours.com
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