The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program

The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program

If you're not writing a book, then what are doing with your life? Oh, you're thinking about writing a book ... then, yes, you're right on task.

Speaking of tasks, that's what you'll find here; some simple tips for helping you complete your writing tasks.

The 7-Step Write a Book Fast Program
Via ZENHABITS
http://pulse.me/s/bCKRO

Post written by Leo Babauta. I’m often asked about writing (something I’ve done professionally for 22 years) ...

BOOK REVIEW: "Before I Forget" by Leonard Pitts, Jr.

BOOK REVIEW: "Before I Forget" by Leonard Pitts, Jr. (2009)

This book was a selection for my reading group, which much of the reading I do is for. Love those girls. Been together for over ten years, probably more like 15 years.

At 336 pages, this was a nice-sized book. But I popped it open anyway only to close it up tight quite quickly. If you've read the book, you shouldn't be surprised that it's majorly depressing; I couldn't take it. I know some of the people - at least I know someone like many of the characters in the book. So maybe the 'depression' is dealing w/those kinds of characteristics in real life is exhausting; I didn't feel like having that heaviness in my life and reading about it too. So I had to take a time out. I put the book down for 3-5 days.

But I was somehow drawn to Mo. I did not like his smugness, but I liked his honesty. How can you be smug and honest? Well, he was never both at the same time.

Anyway, (SPOILER ALERT) I have a post on Good Reads that you all should be able to access.

• Book review of "Before I Forget" by Leonard Pitts, Jr. on Good Reads

Additionally, I've crafted this sort of reading guide (as a mindmap) to try to address some of my concerns and issues with the book. I felt that at many times in the book, Pitts did a very good job of covering the little details, but at the end, I felt I came away with too many loose ends dangling.

NOTE: You can use your cursor to move the map (much like a Google map). Also, if you place your cursor over the smaller boxes (the ones w/the lines in them), the additional information will pop up.

BOOK REVIEW: "Sag Harbor" by Colson Whitehead

BOOK REVIEW: "Sag Harbor" by Colson Whitehead (2009)

I read "Sag Harbor" rather swiftly in January. It was and is an easy read. It's about a kid who spent his summers on Sag Harbor, New York. Colson Whitehead writes a nice trip down memory lane circa the 80s. This is the first book that I've read by Whitehead. Though I'm afraid that I may have began reading his first book "The Intuitionist", but never finished it. I recall the title of that one, but I don't recall the plot and that probably means that I never read it.

"Sag Harbor" is the first reading selection for my reading group for 2010. Nice start. I'm afraid to write much more about this title because I surely don't want to give away meaningful parts of the novel for those who have not read it. Let's just say it full of teenage boy antics, but not in that 'crazy-white-boy' kind of way. There is no big dramatic ending where someone commits suicide. Though this book could use a meaty middle or ending, in my opinion.

I am curious to know, though, that sense this book is sort of a relic of Whitehead's life, how much are the parents in the book similar to his parents?

Check out more on "Sag Harbor":

• The New York Times Book Review of "Sag Harbor" by Toure'
• VIDEO: Colson Whitehead talks about Sag Harbor, the book and the city
• AUDIO INTERVIEW: Colson Whitehead on "On Point with Tom Ashbrook"
  

BOOK REVIEW: "What Doesn't Kill You" by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

BOOK REVIEW: "What Doesn't Kill You" by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant (2009)

"What Doesn't Kill You" was my reading group's last reading selection for 2009. I've been trying to keep up w/the readings though I'm currently living in Cairo. Reading this book was a welcome break from the last few weeks of teaching during the hectic Fall semester.

It was an easy and quick read. The book was written in first person. The main character, Tee, was witty and I liked her thinking which was often hilarious. Based on the title, you can ascertain that someone is going to experience a lot of drama. So much drama that it can only make you stronger. That character is Tee. Well, according to one of my reading group members, Tee doesn't really go through anything really difficult. It's a good point though I won't elaborate for fear of giving away too many details of the book.

We concluded that Tee did put herself in some situations that could have been avoided - easily. Still in the end, I enjoyed the book. Though it did wrap up nicely and neatly with a big red bow. There were a lot of issues, yet Tee ends up with a happy ending. Did I want her to suffer more? No, but all of her problems did not have to be solved. It makes the book more realistic.

I've read most of DeBerry and Grant's books, and they are good writers. I like the characters that they introduce because they are real. One thing that continues to baffle me is how they manage to co-author the books. What's the writing process like when there are two writers? Well, my reading group and I had a conference call w/the authors and that question was asked. They say that they definitely don't split up the writing based on characters. They say they were so in tuned to Tee's character in "What Doesn't Kill You" that the writing just flowed for them.

What's interesting for my reading group is that this was the second time that we had a conference call w/them about one of their books. We also talked to them about "Better Than I Know Myself". And my reading groups history w/DeBerry and Grant goes back to the group's inception. The first book that we read was "Trying to Sleep in the Bed You Made". That was well over ten years ago. Love that.

BOOK REVIEW: "Stand the Storm" by Breena Clarke

BOOK REVIEW: "Stand the Storm" by Breena Clarke (2008)

I read this book for my reading group. But first the back story on getting the book.

I've been living in Cairo since August. At the time before I relocated, I did not have foresight to get the books for my reading group and have them shipped. And who knew that it would be such a challenge to get anything, let alone books, shipped into Egypt - even if I work at a university.

When my first visitors confirmed their visit, I went on a shopping spree via Amazon. I purchased several book including "Stand the Storm" for my friends to bring w/them. This turned out to be a good idea. Except for when my friends arrived and doled out the goodies, there were some books missing including "Stand the Storm". So I double-check the shipment info from Amazon, bugged my sister countless times because I'd sent everything to her house and fretted about where the books might be. Well, several days into their visit, turns out that my friend 'forgot' that he stashed some of the books in some compartment in his luggage. Whew, that was close.

I nearly started immediately on "Stand the Storm". I really enjoyed reading this book. At times, I could not put it down. It's a historical fiction about slavery; well, not so much about slavery as it about a family of freed slaves. or should I say free people. The terminology is interesting. But the plot resonates: they make a name and a life for themselves, but in some ways, they are always slaves.

There are many struggles that the primary family, The Coates', experiences. I like the way that Clarke intricately writes the details of their lives. They are a family that makes hand crafts: tailoring, knitting, embroidery and more. There are even some scenes from the Civil War that depict things in ways that I've never read about before. The story is set in Washington, D.C.; Georgetown in particular. And there is some mention too of how the government was struggling to deal with the issue of slavery.

I have not read Clarke's "River Cross my Heart," but I like her style of writing. She does a fairly good job on giving some depth to the characters.

The "Stand the Storm" Reading Group Guide is a good one.

BOOK REVIEW: "Life Beyond Measure" by Sidney Poitier

BOOK REVIEW: "Life Beyond Measure" by Sidney Poitier (2008)

I was browsing through The American University in Cairo (AUC) Faculty Lounge Library and came across this book. I thought, 'why not read this'? I like Sidney Poitier from what I know about him. He's made some incredible movies and it seems he's had an extraordinary life.

I only sort of liked the book. The subtitle is "Letters to My Great-Granddaughter". He sort of talks about his life in a peripheral way. He talks the most about this childhood and his parents, but he gives lots of advice. He also talks about his position on God and religion as well as the environment. I was a bit disinterested in some of that information.

I was prepared to read about how he landed his first acting role (which he mentions, but does not really elaborate on). He also just briefly talks about other actors like James Baldwin and Paul Robeson. But his remarks only hint at what life was like for them in their hey day. I was really hoping for details; details of what it was like to work with Bill Cosby in "Uptown Saturday Night", "Let's Do It Again" and "A Piece of the Action" ... because we all love a good blaxploitation film, right?

The tales of his growing up on Cat Island in the Bahamas were filled w/the details that I did not get about his adult life. He talks intimately about his siblings as well as when he began to get into some mischief as a teenager. But he left me asking many questions. For example, he moved from the Bahamas to Miami as a teen. He was not in Miami very long, but he does not go into detail as to why he left Miami rather quickly and headed for New York.

Poitier does go into some detail about his transition to New York, probably because New York was such a drastically different landscape than what he was used to. He talks about the cold winters as well and the numerous dishwashing jobs that he had. He eventually enlisted in the Army. Then made great haste to get out. Again, he does not talk much about what his life was like for that one year in the service.

There are several pages of pictures of Poitier at various milestones in his life. He's beyond 80 years old now. Amazing. It seems as if he's had such a fulfilling life. I'm sure that he has. I just did not get a glimpse into his life as I thought I would by reading "Life Beyond Measure".

BOOK REVIEW: "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

BOOK REVIEW: "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell (2000)

It's true that I've owned "The Tipping Point" for some time. Never read it. I think I originally bought it in 2005. Who knows. what I do know is that my copy is in storage. However, my friend was cleaning house as she was preparing for a move and she was going to toss the book. So now I own two copies. I promise to share this one.

And it's definitely worth sharing. This is one of those books where I'm thinking "Why didn't I read this sooner." I can't say that it will help me out in my daily life. But I am one of those persons who often thinks about things and wonders "How did that happen"? I'm just curious in that way.

The book is sort of about epidemics and how they happen. When something goes from being a small thing to being a big thing and what 'tips' it into being a big thing. Some examples include fashion trends and the spread of diseases. He also elaborates on how word of mouth messages are passed along. It's fascinating, at least the way he frames it. Gladwell provides countless historical examples of the theory of "The Tipping Point". One of my favorite examples in the book is the story of Paul Revere. Gladwell gives the back story of Revere's message ride and the strength, not just in the message, but the messenger and it's impact.

I am surely recommending "The Tipping Point" as your leisure reading. It only got a bit boring to me in the end when Gladwell wrote at length about the issue of teenage smoking. I just think he went on too long on this topic and he lost my interest.

I'm planning to read "Outliers" in the next few weeks. That's Gladwell's most recent book. I also own "Blink" though that did not grab my attention right way. I've tabled it indefinitely.

And what are you reading?

BOOK REVIEW: "Down the Nile" by Rosemary Mahoney

"Down the Nile: Along in a Fisherman's Skiff" by Rosemary Mahoney

This book was given to me by a friend from college as I departed to relocated to Cairo, Egypt. I did enjoy it because it was an easy read. I got through it in about two weeks and I was taking my sweet time.

It's about a woman who decides to row a boat down the Nile River. Seems uneventful enough, but it's full of numerous Egyptian filled tales. Some of the tales, I think, are just those happenstance moments and not generally how life is in Egypt. The author makes mention of two different stories about having conversations w/Egyptian men and the topic always veers to foreign women and sex.

I did like reading about Amr, a reluctant felucca captain. She wrote about him in a way that I feel like I know him. His positiveness and his frustrations were highlighted quite nicely. Now I want to go to Aswan and say hello to Amr.

One story that stood out for me was the chapter about Amr's sister. When Mahoney wrote about Hoda and Hoda's friends, I felt like I was in the room amidst all the cheery chaos. Maybe I'm just enamored w/hearing/reading about a lifestyle, the Muslim woman's, that is often suppressed.

Mahoney's writing was descriptive too. And it was nice to visualize the places that I've yet to travel to. Her choice of words was quite extensive. I eventually got out a highlighter to make note of all of the words I'd never heard of before. Some of them were rowing terms like ghat and gunwales, but there were others like uxorious, faience and opprobrium. Made me realize that I do not currently own a dictionary and I need to do something about that.

At the first mention Florence Nightingale (most popularly known as a British nurse), I just kind of brushed it off thinking that it was a single point of reference. But then there was another mention and then countless mentions and all so appropriately referenced, that I will more than likely read Nightingale's "Letters from Egypt: A Journey on the Nile". Mahoney also makes mention of French writer Gustave Flaubert as much as she mentions Nightingale. The point was made that although those folks traveled the Nile centuries ago, alot has changed, but some things have not changed.

Even though Mahoney encountered some difficulty getting a boat to row in the Nile, the book is more about the journey - getting the boat and the relationships she encounters on the way. I enjoyed it and I'd recommend it as well.

BOOK REVIEW: "Water for Elephants"

BOOK REVIEW: "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

At some point, someone recommended that I read this book. I'd been thinking about it for some time. Then one day a few weeks again, I was in the library and there it was. I thought why not.

Now, I have this thing about not reading book jackets or reviews so I really did not know what the book was about. But when there's the word 'elephants' in the title, well what could it be about? Well, here was my rationale: it surely can't be about elephants.

So I begin to read ... then I think: it surely can't be about a circus for the entire book.

Wow, I thought if the book continued to be about the circus, then I could surely lose interest.

But no, Gruen writes so well. This book is going to be a great movie. I've even cast Walter, but I can't remember the guys name from the movie when the main character moves into a train depot and wants to be left alone, but ends up befriending several folks in the town. I digress ... but I see a movie in the future.

Oh and Jacob ... I loved the carmudgeony Jacob. He was so endearing, but not. He was sort of mean, but his emotions were justified.

I am so glad that I started and finished this book because it was a slow start. And there are lots of pages. 335 to be exact. But there are just enough twists and turns that it kept me engaged.

BOOK REVIEW: "The House at Sugar Beach"

"The House at Sugar Beach" by Helene Cooper is a memoir. At times it is quite intriguing. Especially the historical component.

Cooper tells of her life growing up in Liberia. A very privileged life. Until the locals grow weary of the government and stage a coup.

I don't want to give much away but there were some interesting tidbits throughout the book. Like Eunice, Helene's childhood friend/sister, and how she came to be a part of the Cooper clan. Heck, Eunice could and should write her own memoir.

One of my favorite parts in the book is when Helene's family ends up in the U.S. and she says that they are refugees and her mother insists that they are not. Her mother goes on to say something like ... "We paid for our airline tickets." That made me smile. Everyone has pride.

I also did just a bit of historical research on Liberia. It is somewhat fascinating. It is somewhat discouraging.

This is the first reading selection for the new year for my reading group (and the longest). I got through the book faster than I anticipated.

EDIT (comments following my reading group gathering):

• Cooper could have written two different books: one on her family lineage and one on her career as an international journalist.
• We wanted to know more about her mother and where is she now?
• It seems as if Cooper became more guarded w/the details of her life when she moved to the U.S.
• There was definitely lots of nostalgia and love for Liberia
  

BOOK REVIEW: "Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel" by Blair Underwood

"Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel" by Blair Underwood w/Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes was a good read. Not awesome or incredible, but pleasant and easy.

Interestingly enough, it took me too long to finish the book - just not motivated enough. Not to mention that I had to be helped along w/the audio version of the book. This was a selection for my reading group and I was on deadline. The audio reading was okay.

I thought the book was often hokey and corny. It was also predictable in some regards. And it wraps up oh so nicely w/the actor/sleuth beating death umpteen times and emerging as the victor. Of course. There was an interesting time or two. Like one of the minor characters who was loud and rambunctious.

I am now wondering if and when this will make it to the big screen. I'm sure that was the goal from the onset. And it that doesn't happen, well, the second Tennyson Hardwick tale is already available: "In the Night of the Heat: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel".

Other "Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel" resources:

• African American Literature Book Club (AALBC)
• An excerpt of "Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel" in USA Today

So that's all the reading for the group for 2008. Overall, nice selections. I am looking forward to compiling the reading list for '09.

BOOK REVIEW: "Prospero's Daughter" by Elizabeth Nunez

"Prospero's Daughter" by Elizabeth Nunez is well written. I did, however, find it troubling in many ways.

I read this book for my October reading group. I did not finish in time for the discussion, and fortunately I did not mind hearing some of the details, but that's because I had already predicted the ending (and I was right).

The topics and issues that arise in this novel are race, class and sexual abuse. When I read, I don't always expect happiness or happy endings for that matter, but the amount of vile acts in this book was a bit disturbing for me. Maybe that says more about me and my disposition than anything else.

I think Nunez wrote a wonderful book. Could she have done it in less than 300+ pages? Certainly. There was much description about the island of Trinidad which I enjoyed until I got near the end when I just wanted it to be over - both what I thought was going to happen and my reading the book.

For some, this book will strike a cord on the Shakespearean level. As Prospero is a character in the play "The Temptest". Maybe that mention gives away too much, but it is still a good read.

You can read an excerpt of "Prospero's Daughter" on the publisher's website. The excerpt is the start of the book. I'd be curious to know what you think of it ...

BOOK REVIEW: "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd is a book about life in the South in the 1960s. There is currently much hype surrounding this novel that was published in 2002 because the film version will be released within the next two weeks.

I was anxious to read the book after seeing the cast for the movie: Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Sophie Okonedo. Nice.

But I want to focus on the book. I got through it quite quickly, so it's a rather simple read. Unfortunately for me, I'd just read MLK's "Why We Can't Wait" about the non-violence movement. So "The Secret Life of Bees" w/it's racial hatred was not what I bargained for. I need to separate my readings about civil rights and what not.

Sometimes one of the main characters in the book, Rosaleen, reminded me of Sophia in The Color Purple. Another movie w/a plot involving racial injustice.

I think my expectations for the book were too high. I just thought it was okay. I was not a fan of it at all. I did like the way the father treated the daughter. I thought that the story line was too much for a 14-year-old white girl in the South. I thought that it was too much fantasy - if a black woman skipped jail in one city, I think she'd be located in a short period of time especially if she were still in the same state - 1960s or otherwise.

I did like the connection w/the bees. That was interesting and intriguing. I did also like the sense of community and family that came through strongly in the book particularly in the Boatright home.

I want to say more, but I really don't like to give away all the details. Maybe get the audio version as a way to save some time.

BOOK REVIEW: "Why We Can't Wait" by Martin Luther King, Jr.

I read Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Why We Can't Wait" on the recommendation of my friend Josee. We were walking down Michigan Avenue in Chicago earlier this summer talking politics and what not and she dropped this title. I kept thinking about the title for a few weeks; she eventually let me borrow her copy (otherwise, I might still be thinking about it).

It's a short read. The book really picked up at the height of the non-violent movement in Birmingham in 1963. That's the focus of the book. King's perspective on how thing's went down and how that movement was a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

I must admit that it's always difficult for me to read about racial hatred especially when details are laid out. King did not elaborate much on the beatings or killings from this time period. However, it is humbling to read about the courageousness of those who participated in this historical movement and the numerous sacrifices that they made.

It also got me to thinking about my family. Both of my mother's parents are from Birmingham. I can only imagine what life was like back then. When I hear about Bull Connor, I just wonder how someone could be that mean spirited. I've been meaning to ask my grandmother about growing up in the South. She has never/rarely spoken about her childhood. But I guess if I want to know then I'd better get to asking; she's not getting any younger, but she is getting more ornery.

Interesting too that I read this book just prior to the 2008 General Election. The things that people endured just so I could have the right to vote is incredible. I've never been the one to take for granted that I have a right to vote; I've been voting since college (though I may have missed an election or two due to moving around). Nor do I take advantage of the fact that I can walk into any restaurant anywhere and buy anything I want (if I can afford it). But I think that some young people do take that for granted. They don't know or care about the struggle of those who came before them and made many of today's amenities a part of our daily lives.

I had read King's Letter from Birmingham Jail sometime ago and it is included in this book. Amazing how some of his points still ring true for today's society.

BOOK REVIEW: "The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner" by Andrea Smith

Andrea Smith's "The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner" is a really good read. I could have finished it sooner, but I was just taking my time.

It's about a group of black women in South Carolina in the 1950s. At times, the book does dip into the 80s too. The topic is abandoned children and how best to handle those situations so that they do not become worse situations. I think that is a good description of the plot w/out telling you the plot.

I love the characters. The main characters are Bonnie and Thora Dean. I have been trying to figure out who would play each of those women if the book became a movie. My reading book always cast the movie. It's a fun thing to do.

There are also some secondary characters that stand out. Like Ruby-Pearl, a member of The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner.

I also like that the book was not quite predictable. I knew that one situation was possible, but I did not expect the ending.

The author did a good job of covering all of the details about the ending too. Except we do not know what happened to Tilde, who was not the most liked person in the story.

I like this one in terms of dialogue and the strength of the characters. I am a bit numb on the main topic though. This should make for a really good discussion for my reading group though.

Additional resources:

• reading group guide
• interview w/the author
  

I'm off to finish reading "Black Thunder" by Arna Bontemps. I've read one of his books before. He's old school; Harlem Renaissance old school. Should be a good read.

BOOK REVIEW: "After the Dance" by Lori Johnson

Author Lori Johnson's debut novel "After the Dance" is a love story. It's a fun read and if the title reminds you of a song, then you know good music. Johnson confesses that she is a lover of all things music (especially old school music) and weaves lots of music and music titles throughout the book. The reference to "After the Dance" is related to a tune by the legendary Marvin Gaye.

But there is, indeed, alot of dancing in the book. The two main characters, Carl and Faye, dance around many issues and situations and they get their groove on too - in more ways than one.

There is also a focus on friends and family, especially the extended family. It's a good mix for the reader to see how Johnson includes a cousin, an uncle, an ex-wife, a best friend and a flurry of others into the plot of the story.

Couple that w/topics such as body image, infidelity, adoption, friendship, love and deceit and you'll be done flipping the pages in a day or two.

My reading group selected "After the Dance" to read because some of my reading group members used to be in a writing group w/Johnson. The book was a pleasure to read - and an easy read at that - it had a good flow to it. I kinda figured out how the book would end, but how it would get to that ending was quite interesting.

If you want a nice and easy read, "After the Dance" is a good one. Pick up a copy, share it w/a friend, enjoy the read. You can read an excerpt here.

Reviews:

• Urban Reviews
• RAWSISTAZ Literary Group
• Publishers Weekly (scroll to the fiction section)