tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post7279058315084832346..comments2023-11-18T03:15:19.102-06:00Comments on Straight From Hel: How do You Begin?Helen Gingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-33013101057452050202008-10-27T10:30:00.000-05:002008-10-27T10:30:00.000-05:00Lillie, I think that's fascinating about McDonald'...Lillie, I think that's fascinating about McDonald's. I'd never heard that, but can certainly see the logic in it!Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-62231754955057453252008-10-26T21:11:00.000-05:002008-10-26T21:11:00.000-05:00Helen,Congratulations on the contract. It's fascin...Helen,<BR/>Congratulations on the contract. It's fascinating that you are writing about a subject you're not familiar with. One advantage is that have to learn about the subject so you won't inadvertently assume that readers have pre-existing knowledge that you do. I've heard that McDonald's always uses its second-newest employees to train the newest because a fairly new worker has to consciously remember every step while someone who has making hamburgers for years does it so automatically, they forget to explain things a new person doesn't know.Lillie Ammannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01851121176224654240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-2760958197823689962008-10-22T13:26:00.000-05:002008-10-22T13:26:00.000-05:00Karen, they'll probably be banging on the door wan...Karen, they'll probably be banging on the door wanting the number for pizza delivery.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-42785845185791741132008-10-22T11:34:00.000-05:002008-10-22T11:34:00.000-05:00Congrats! I'm a speechwriter and I always start wi...Congrats! <BR/><BR/>I'm a speechwriter and I always start with a loose outline filled with the questions I want to answer. Then, the research, which leads to more questions. I'm sure you'll do great! I hope your family slides you a sandwich or two under your locked office door. :)Karen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13425141684712829990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-25962237809675349752008-10-22T11:27:00.000-05:002008-10-22T11:27:00.000-05:00That is awesome, Helen. Congratulations. For me, ...That is awesome, Helen. Congratulations. For me, writing nonfiction tends to be creative. I write a lot of memoirs and creative nonfiction, so I generally just start writing since most of what I need to know is inside already. When writing non-memoir based nonfiction, I usually immerse myself in research for awhile, taking notes, and such. Good luck on your endeavor!Jenny Melzerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11235663870008150355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-6629737798852553852008-10-22T11:06:00.000-05:002008-10-22T11:06:00.000-05:00Thank you one and all for all the congrats and goo...Thank you one and all for all the congrats and good vibes.<BR/><BR/>And I think you're right, Emma, about starting the writing. I've been thinking about doing that. I think I'll start by writing the introduction and see how it sounds. <BR/><BR/>The sooner I get the words on paper, the sooner I can start editing.<BR/><BR/>So far, writing non-fiction and writing fiction are almost opposites. When I write fiction, I do research as I go along or sometimes highlight or mark things that I know I'll have to go back to research.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-55020396812988228022008-10-22T10:35:00.000-05:002008-10-22T10:35:00.000-05:00I can't give you any advice but want to say CONGRA...I can't give you any advice but want to say CONGRATS. An over-the-holidays deadline isn't fun though. I've done that! Try to remember what's really important when the guests start arriving.Deb Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11553920518121536568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-74273616077926715232008-10-22T10:18:00.001-05:002008-10-22T10:18:00.001-05:00Yay Helen! I've written quite a few software manua...Yay Helen! I've written quite a few software manuals, does that count as non-fiction? Although I admit it gets to the fictional realm, when I'm writing about yet-to-be-implemented features like they already exist :)<BR/><BR/>Gathering information is great, but I like to start writing as soon as possible. I find the process of writing actually stimulates my brain into thinking of new questions, whereas research and information overload kind of overwhelm me!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638584737109705999noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-33760754529841858902008-10-22T10:18:00.000-05:002008-10-22T10:18:00.000-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Emerging Emmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04522209116180343200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-29210270075608136502008-10-22T10:16:00.000-05:002008-10-22T10:16:00.000-05:00Hi Helen,Amazing, exciting and scary to work on a ...Hi Helen,<BR/>Amazing, exciting and scary to work on a project you are not completely familiar with. <BR/><BR/>Since you're such a thorough person, I'm sure you'll learn much more about the subject than you could ever dream about or want to know.<BR/><BR/>Morgan Mandel<BR/>www.morganmandel.com<BR/>http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-47494791603651809392008-10-22T10:02:00.000-05:002008-10-22T10:02:00.000-05:00Congrats on the contract, Helen, and kudos for hav...Congrats on the contract, Helen, and kudos for having the chutzpah to embark on a different kind of literary project. My only non-fiction pub so far is my memoirs, so I hardly had to do any research. Well, quite a bit on drug usage in america, the book does have a short bibliography to back up facts and figures quoted.<BR/><BR/>I look forward to not only the book you write, but the on-topic related posts here as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32918125.post-51769963085603534562008-10-22T09:55:00.000-05:002008-10-22T09:55:00.000-05:00Congratulations. It's always good to have the chal...Congratulations. It's always good to have the challenge of trying something new.Holly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.com