EXERCISE: From Writing as A Lifelong Skill (9)

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Original posting: Wed, 14 Feb 2001 21:20:00 -0500

From Writing As a Lifelong Skill by Sanford Kaye

"SITUATION: suppose that you have been awarded a fellowship (enough money to live reasonably well) for one year in order to write a book.

QUESTION: What book would you write?

In answering this question you may want to consider the following: why would you write the book?  Who would you expect or hope to read it?  What would you want readers to get out of your book?

REQUIREMENTS: limit yourself to 30 minutes of writing time (two full handwritten pages).  Plan enough time to proofread what you have written.  Making every effort to turn out a flawless essay so that your reader reads exactly what you wanted to say."  (Page 30)

So, the mysterious stranger in the sable coat (or was it an angel, descending in a beam of sunshine?  Perhaps a craggy hand emerging from a jagged crack in the pavement?  Anyone for the lottery?  Whatever!) has awarded you a one-year fellowship, with the minor condition that you spend the time writing a book.

What do you write?