I work from an emancipatory research approach, with the aim that the stories and experiences of the participants are allowed to be much more than just academic fodder.

Mind you, I don't know a thing about non-fiction writing and certainly not how it flies in the UK, but I suspect that what makes non-fiction most approachable to the "common man" as it were, is this very type of anecdotal approach. It's what makes books like Eat, Pray, Love and Marley & Me so affecting-- it touches something common in everyone who reads it.

As far as what you'd need for a proposal, again, I don't know about the UK, but in this country, a non-fiction proposal consists of a full table of contents, a few sample chapters, and perhaps most importantly, having a platform from which to promote the book, which, of course, you have in spades.

This sounds super exciting, Seska, and I'm jazzed to see how it develops.

I suspect that what makes non-fiction most approachable to the "common man" as it were, is this very type of anecdotal approach.

Definitely. My father's book (which was published earlier this year) about his life as a deaf person with a hearing dog is selling fairly well for just that reason. People are interested in other people's stories. I want to make sure that some of those stories get told. I think that could work out quite well!

Thanks for the advice on the proposal. I think you're right, that submitting sample chapters as part of it is a good idea. I need to talk to my friends who are about to complete a book for a similar market, regarding what they sent to their publishers and what seemed to catch the publisher's interest.

Seska, I think it sounds like a very exciting project and would be happy to read stuff for you.

I'm plowing ahead. I'm currently in chapter 21 which is about a third of the way through the rough draft. That's not bad for hitting my word count goal. Chapter 21 and 22 should cover chapter 9 of the rough draft and the small remains of chapter 10. I'm looking forward to getting to chapters 11-18 in the rough draft and I've cut most of chapter 10 so very close.

Drabble theme in honor of people who have today off: holiday.

Unrelated to drabbles... how long do you keep beginnings that you haven't used, partially written drafts, and things like that? How long is too long to think "Hey, I might use this."

Still in 21, I was hoping the heist that happens could simply be tweaked from the rough draft, but I don't think that will work. It turns out there is a problematic aspect that will have to be changed.

I'm back into a low confidence swing. I'm hoping that the second revision can make a big improvement. The first revision is worlds better than the rough draft so far, maybe the next revision can make a similar leap.

Got a bit more of 21 done, but I spent most of my time banging out the critique on my plate. I'm not really into the story I'm critiquing, but I don't think it's bad, just not my thing. I've decided to not criticize the sheer number of POV characters, I think that's just her style, even if it frustrates me. Or maybe I should mention it, if more than one reader mentions it, then maybe it's not just me. I'm not sure, I don't want to be critical about things that are just personal preference.

I thought 21 would be a walk in the park--not literally, it takes place mostly underground--but not the case. I realized on the way to work I need to go back and fix a couple of things in what I've already done. I forgot to have Aimee ask who this Rainier guy is and Holly is supposed to be all hyped up in the first part. Two steps forward, one step back.

You can't not blink.

But her hand is so tiny in yours, so hot with fever. She sweats, though you're cold, and her small head tosses on the pillow. And you think, in the 3 a.m. dark, "Don't blink. If you don't blink, you won't fall asleep. If you don't blink, you can be sure. She'll be all right. It's just the flu or something. But if you blink, if you sleep, what if? What if something happens? What if you can't help because you slept, because you blinked? Don't. Just. Don't. Blink."

But you can't not blink, and you can't not sleep, and when you wake up she's fine, but you feel like you failed her.

Because you can't not blink.

Oh, MM.