LONG FORM PRINT: BOOK & PUBLICATION AUTHORSHIP
The secret of long form book authorship -- whether nonfiction B2C, B2B or consumer fiction, is to think through and pre-map the overall written work, creating a story arc of chapters or sections -- wherein every word, visual element and page are essential. In the case of successive chapter nonfiction, a progressive drum beat along this information arc can be anything from quietly methodical to fast-paced forward progression, but it has to have movement. In cases of reference text, often each chapter needs its own separate arc, becoming an energizing and useful tool for the reader. In the case of artful fiction, the overall arc must travel along a dynamic that increasingly engrosses the reader to a point of crescendo, which sets up an ending that hopefully provides a worthy payoff.
In Production:
BEYOND THE SPEED LIMIT
with Tom Malloy
Excerpt:“Every racer has a story. From the weekend racing competitor with a do-it-yourself built racecar, to a young hot-shoe with an eagle eye toward someday stardom, to the veteran big leaguer whose best years are in the rear view mirror, yet who is a true believer in that next big win — they stand on the gas pedal and forge ahead toward the next checkered flag. And despite the untold effort, dedication and cost, there are no guarantees — ever.”
[…]
Excerpt:“Rocketing to peak speed, helmet strapped tight, he could see a clear track ahead through his soil-speckled goggles and began setting up for Turn 3. Eyes on the grey ribbon of track unraveling as he blazed forward, he lowered his head slightly and tucked in for maximum aerodynamic efficiency.
...But wait a second...what was that on the road surface ahead?! A dark speck darting onto the track! As he rapidly moved closer he could see arms, legs and a hat on the speck - hands waving frantically. Holy Jehosefa - it was a MAN screaming and waving his arms!”
[…]
Excerpt:“Armed with a prodigious array of competencies that exceeded most men double his years, at age 20 he came to a decision: he would head west in search of opportunity and treasure. Emmett and his older brother Marsh hatched a plan to hop a freight train to California, a place the two brothers had heard offered year-around sunshine and untold opportunities. Against the concerns of their mother and cautionary advisements of their dad, the two boys loaded their knapsacks, plotted their course and set out. They would work their way west.”
[…]
In Print:
THE SAILBOARD BOOK
Excerpt:“Beach chairs find their places in the sand, sun screen is applied to faces and bodies, and the regulars settle into their patient ritual -waiting for the first breeze of the day. Conversations center around such things as the wind forecast, a new sail design exhibited, someone's first "duck jibe," or the new board a friend just bought.
Then it happens... the first ripples appear on the horizon. Excitement fills the air. Boards are unloaded and the rigging begins. Colorful sails unfold. Booms, masts, and boards are adjoined together one by one and before you know it the chance is ripe for a ride like no other experience.”
[…]
Excerpt:“No matter where you go boardsailing, whether it’s bouncing over the boguls at Diamond Head, sailing a one-design race in San Diego, or perfecting a freestyle maneuver off Antigua, you’ll find cameras. Photography and the sport of boardsailing are such natural compliments to each other that it’s almost impossible to separate them. The beauty, the grace and power of boardsailing are wonderful to capture. Your camera is the consumate tool for preserving the experiences and beauty of the sport.”
[…]
In Print:
HOBIE CAT SAILING
Excerpt:“Saturday, 8:00 AM. You catch the alarm before it rings. An overdue opportunity has finally arrived — sailing today!
Preparation is brief; wind is beginning to blow and the early sun is strong. Friends don’t mind a hint of weekend scruff on a bleary-eyed sailor who forgets a sock or a pair of sunglasses in the anxious hustle to get going. And besides, in minutes you’ll trade clothes for a bathing suit and trapeze harness.”
[…]
Excerpt:“To many people the term ‘Hobie’ is a popular commercial image; but that is only part of the story. It is an image born of a very inquisitive and very determined person. In the first photograph I ever saw of Hobie — the man, he was unrecognizable. It was a black and white shot in the Fall, 1961, issue of Surfer magazine where he was an indistinct, small figure crouching for speed on a 20 foot wave at Makaha. Testing his product? Literally. Risking his life? Possibly.”
[…]