(A Loony Moment of Escape)
An eminent person is sometimes said to be helpful...
For weeks I’ve been obsessed with whom I might ask to write the Foreword to my book. Tonight, my husband offered to write a “Backward”.
Granted, this was probably a gesture intended to shut me up. My husband, however, is a guy with wild ideas that often work, so I listened. A “Backward” would be the opposite of a Foreword, he explained; instead of laying out why the book matters, it would summarize what people will remember. He went on to persuade me that “Backwards” will be a forward trend in publishing.
I ignored the fact that his idea reminded me of Father Guido Sarducci’s Five Minute University because I was convinced. We all know that people don’t read any more – I mean books are written about the fact that nobody reads them! Who cares that I have spent this year consumed with writing, re-writing, cutting, purging, drilling down, down, down into this concept I am passionately committed to? Chances are that nobody will read the damned book anyway! A “Backward” sounds reassuring to me – a momentary escape from the thought that maybe no one cares.
So I’ll finish writing the book. I’ll find an eminent person to write the Foreword. And Roger will explain in his “Backward” exactly what readers would remember if they had actually read the book.
Um – do you suppose I should spell it “Backword”?
Love it! I vote for Backword.
I love this (and the Father Guido routine.) People do read books . . . just maybe not on paper. The Kindle is the biggest seller on Amazon; now there’s the iPad, etc. So people must be reading books, at least on Kindles; though their age — not surprisingly — skews older. (Was interested in pursing this question so just found this bit of info on Kindle demographics:)
http://kindleculture.blogspot.com/2009/04/kindle-demographics.html
Will look forward (no pun intended) to reading your Foreward and your Backword!
Thanks, Vicki. I am encourage by the number of people who have contacted me about the fact that people DO read!
And so far Backword wins hands down.
I’m thinking you definitely need a Forward (or Forwards for the Brooklyn/Boro Park edition.) But at the end you should have a Drowkcab instead of a Backword. Either way remember this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5ddZU5Ipqg&feature=related
Thanks, Peter! I agree about the Drowkcab (actually I thought of creating a Backward that was completely written in reverse). And the link is absolutely beautiful and always worth remembering.
So Carey, do I put the Backword in the forward part of the book? Or does it then revert to being the Foreword? What would E. B. White say?!