Ever since I made the observation that I believed that my primary mode of thinking had changed from a verbal basis to a visual one, people have asked me the very appropriate question: “What do you mean by that?” In this post, I attempt to illustrate the process that I am now using to write. I will use an example from a book manuscript on which I am currently working.
The working title of my book is An Explorer’s Guide to Biblical Life Planning:Student Version. How did I come up with that title? I literally spent many hours every day over several weeks thinking about and experimenting with a number of different titles. When I wanted to convey that particular thought to you, the first things that came to my mind were pictures of a clock, a calendar, and an individual sitting at a desk thinking and writing. I felt the urgent need to get this book written and my ideas down on paper. The calendar and the clock were always hanging over my head. However, no matter how hard I tried, there were times when good ideas seemed to escape me. The thought bubble in my mind was empty.
The illustration above is not the exact picture I had in my mind. I am not sufficiently talented enough as an artist to sketch the picture that I see in my head and have you understand what I have sketched. In this post, I am using stock illustrations that I found on the internet. Initially, I didn’t realize it, but this type of search process is a two-way street, with one idea leading to another. As I looked for images that represented what I was seeing in my head, I found images that sparked other ideas in my mind. The two idea bubbles to the right represent that thought. The road sign and the sketch representing the transfer of information between my mind and my computer show the back and forth going on in my head, between visual and verbal thinking, and how ideas in one arena generate ideas in the other.
Why is the process of picking a title so hard? It is so difficult because the title of a book is extremely important. It must do much work. It must have arms to carry a load of conveying the theme and major ideas of the book. It must also reach out and grab a potential reader’s attention. It must have legs to walk on its own. It must go to where the reader lives. Its message must tell the story of the book in a very few words. The title must be memorable. If a reader can’t recall the title of a book, that reader won’t keep going back to the book or recommend it to other people. If a book’s title doesn’t speak to a reader, and that reader doesn’t find the title interesting and appealing, it is very unlikely the reader will pick up that book, hold on to it, read it, walk with it, live with it and, in general, spend time with it.
Readers need to spend time with this book as if it were a friend. For a friend, people will make time in their otherwise busy schedule. They spend time with a friend, walking and talking. Amos 3:3 asks “Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (KJV) The Hebrew translated agreed means to meet by appointment. Readers need to put time for this book into their regular schedule. Visually, what I want to happen is illustrated below:
I hope this gives my readers a little insight into my daily battle with writing. With God’s help, I will finish An Explorer’s Guide to Biblical Life Planning: Student Version, and mid- to late-adolescents will spend time in the book, and find insights into what God has in store for them. Don’t worry parents, I already have in mind a follow-up that I have tenatively entitled An Explorer’s Guide to Biblical Life Planning: PG Version. In that version I will hopefully provide parental guidance on how to help their children make very difficult decisions and navigate through very troubling times in their lives. That’s my daily prayer. I entreat you to join me in that prayer. If you do, you will have my back and uphold me. In my next post, I will attempt to explain what’s behind the title, An Explorer’s Guide to Biblical Life Planning. Thanks in advance for your prayers. God’s peace and blessings be with you!
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