I have officially begun writing the book about our journey toward adopting Tomorrow. Initially I thought I would call it Fostering Tomorrow, so that fostering would be in the title. Now, I am almost certain that the title will be Adopting Tomorrow. There can always be a subtitle to explain that it is about foster-adoption. I like the sound of Adopting Tomorrow, and the fact that it is a play on words since I have used Tomorrow as a nickname for our daughter in my blog.
I almost put Adopting Tomorrow as the title of this blog, but I thought if someone saw it in their Inbox or something they might get way too excited, thinking it was an email about how we are *adopting tomorrow*! Writing Down The Bones is also one of my favorite books by one of my favorite writers, Natalie Goldman, who essentially taught me how to write the way that I do, through her workshops and her writings. Long Quiet Highway is another one of her books that is excellent, especially if one is a writer. I guess books about writers for writers is a pretty tight market, but it works!
So I have a question for you, my dearest readers, and it may take me a few sentences to get to it so please be patient. As I embarked on writing this book, I have to say that the most difficult task so far was simple beginning the first chapter. This is not to say that writing the first chapter was hard, because it wrote itself really, once I let go and let it flow through me. What was difficult was just *starting* it. Where to begin? And how to explain what the book is going to be about without giving away the entire story and leaving the reader no reason to keep reading?
Which just made me think of something! If the title is *Adopting* Tomorrow, the reader knows we already adopted her. They may still be somewhat interested in how the story unfolds, but for the most part the question that has been paramount in *my* mind for going on a third year now has been: Will we be able to adopt her? And of course, when? Perhaps I will use the title Fostering Tomorrow after all. Definitely thought for food.
Anyway, back to the question (see I told you it'd take me a while to get to it!): Would you read a book that was basically just this blog in the chronological order, with some notes here and there in between entries, to fill in any missing pieces?
My niece recently self-published a book about homeschooling, and it is essentially a blog of her experience going to public school for some classes after being homeschooled her whole life. I enjoyed the format, but I enjoy blogging and reading blogs. I'm not sure that the style would appeal to everyone. But of course, that would be the case no matter what style I decided to use so I guess what I should do is make sure that whatever writing style I go with is one that feels right to me.
I definitely want to write in the first person, and cannot imagine telling this particular story any other way. I am the one who has been the blogger, medical records-keeper, note-taker, photographer, slam poet and story-teller of this little girl's life. Which is not to say that others have not been involved, as so many people have been very involved in her story (and in rewriting it). All I mean is that I am the one who has the tale to tell -- though it is not my tale -- and I tell it for her, for kids like her, and for the parents like me who will read it, too.
In summary, my question to you who may read it is this: Should I write my book as... 1.) A blog in book form, composed solely of blog entries that are here and nothing more (which is already written); 2.) Part blog, part story; or, 3.) A story, told in chapter form with quotes added here and there.
Please vote early and vote often!
As always, thanks in advance.
