EXCERPT from my novel: I WEPT BY THE WATERS OF BABYLON

by Terry 40 Replies latest jw friends

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  lalliv01

  Trying to cram all my JW feelings and exposing their theology at the same time as telling a story

  A book I read titled For time and all Eternity, I'm sorry I can't recall the author's name at the moment, did just that with the Mormon faith. The author managed to tell an interesting story and at the same time wove in the mormon history, most of it relevant to the story line. I found it very interesting and informative at the same time. The author, I believe, was an ex-Mormon,but he really came across as very objective and neutral on the theology, something I appreciated. Check it out.

  lalliv01
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  Abandoned

  That is such hard work I never believed possible!

  Yeah, it's hard work, but it's worth it and many here, myself included, believe in you.
• 

  hamsterbait

  I dont think that just because it is about being a cult victim it will be limited in its appeal.

  After all look at James Baldwin's "Go tell it on the Mountain". Millions read that book - it speaks of something almost universally feared - the extinguishing of a soul by other people.

  HB
• 

  Terry

  If one person reads and appreciates it, how will that make you feel?

  If one person comes back and says, "Man, I never thought about [x] before, but then I read your book and I got it", what will that do for you?

  It couldn't hurt to make the rounds of publishers. Then if there are no takers, LuLu it. If nothing else, you've captured your thoughts. Now set them free and see where they go.

  If anybody gets something constructive out of any thing I write I'm very happy.

  I'm directing my novel to the kid I was; wishing "he" could read it.

  There are a lot of young people who fill otherwise empty and meaningless existence with Jehovah while thinking they've hitched their wagon to a star.

  You have to make your own life.
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  Terry

  A book I read titled For time and all Eternity, I'm sorry I can't recall the author's name at the moment, did just that with the Mormon faith. The author managed to tell an interesting story and at the same time wove in the mormon history, most of it relevant to the story line. I found it very interesting and informative at the same time. The author, I believe, was an ex-Mormon,but he really came across as very objective and neutral on the theology, something I appreciated. Check it out.

  Thanks. I'll check it out after I finish my book. I have to be careful what I read right now. The subconscious easily sucks things inside and spits them out into your work if you aren't careful.

  I am constantly monitoring my writing for "influences".
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  Terry

  Yeah, it's hard work, but it's worth it and many here, myself included, believe in you.

  Wow! That is mighty good medicine right now. Much thanks.
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  R.Crusoe

  I imagine it may be difficult in some ways to know what to include or not to include in providing an overview of your life experience and whether there may be a case for two books of different styles. One along the lines of what your writing and another more analytical and concise. I can imagine it would be easy, due to the complexity of the material and all the issues it raises, to unintentionally flick from one to the other without intending to and feeling submerged by information overload. There may be a case for a further publication at some future time just as a way of helping you keep a focus on what you aim to achieve in this instance. Such a mindset may help improve your book - I don't really know - just a thought that occurred to me.
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  seven006

  Terry,
  
  Please don’t take offense (none is intended), but “to me” it reads like it’s been written by two different people.
  
  Again, “to me”, the first half reads more like a screen play than it does a novel. It also seems to have a few to many “like Aaaaa’s” in it. Too many of them tend to clutter up a nice flow of mental pictures as opposed to enhancing them. It’s like watching a slide show as opposed to watching a movie.
  
  The second half reads much better and allows for a better flow of thought and attention to action points.
  
  That’s just my take on it and I’m an artist not a writer…….sooooo whatever.
  
  I hope that doesn’t offend you, it’s just one guy’s opinion. Over all, I think you did a good job and it will be really good when it’s done.
  
  
  Take care,
  Dave
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  Terry

  Please don’t take offense (none is intended), but “to me” it reads like it’s been written by two different people.
  
  Again, “to me”, the first half reads more like a screen play than it does a novel. It also seems to have a few to many “like Aaaaa’s” in it. Too many of them tend to clutter up a nice flow of mental pictures as opposed to enhancing them. It’s like watching a slide show as opposed to watching a movie.
  
  The second half reads much better and allows for a better flow of thought and attention to action points.
  
  That’s just my take on it and I’m an artist not a writer…….sooooo whatever.

  The first half is incredibly problematic for me. I'm actually writing about something that happened to me while trying not to connect with it subconsciously or emotinally! That's the first reason I chose the third person "voice" and and, secondly, I couldn't affix my name to this because my mind wouldn't let me write it that way!

  So, I'll keep rewriting it until the most honest thing finally arrives.

  Thanks!
• 

  Terry

  I imagine it may be difficult in some ways to know what to include or not to include in providing an overview of your life experience and whether there may be a case for two books of different styles. One along the lines of what your writing and another more analytical and concise. I can imagine it would be easy, due to the complexity of the material and all the issues it raises, to unintentionally flick from one to the other without intending to and feeling submerged by information overload. There may be a case for a further publication at some future time just as a way of helping you keep a focus on what you aim to achieve in this instance. Such a mindset may help improve your book - I don't really know - just a thought that occurred to me.

  I've clearly bifurcated my approach just to save my sanity. Maybe I just need to go ahead and go nuts for the sake of the book! :)

  It is quite an obstacle course to negotiate internally. But, that's the challenge.

  T.