Yesterday I had an interesting question from one of my online book proposal class students. I had suggested in my assignment, that students cover ten key things as they write their synopsis and two of the points were:
• What is the focus and scope of your book?
• What is the point and purpose of your book?
My student emailed me to ask for clarification. She said that she was having trouble sorting these four points out. She wanted to know how these two groups differed. Here’s my response:
“I’d say that the focus is the heart—center of the book or story—what is it about? The scope is how far and wide it goes and in which direction—the parameters. The point of the book is the central theme and the purpose is the reason for the book—what purpose will it serve?”
My student was still a little confused and said that it seems as if focus and point were the same thing or similar. To this, I responded:
“All the publisher (and you) need is a clear description of your book idea, why you’re writing it—is there a need, how do you know that—who is the book for and what is the purpose of the book. Help the publisher to completely understand the focus of the book and why it is needed and who will want to purchase it.”
I guess that words sometimes hold different meanings for different people. That makes sense. How many of you have run up against block walls at times in your education, in a class, with a concept and you just couldn’t “get” something. Then, comes along a new teacher with a different approach and a different way of communicating and woooo-la, it becomes perfectly clear?
Interesting Article
I received an email from the bloggers at the Online College blog. They wanted me to share a recent post with you. It covers publishing predictions for the coming years. Actually, I think it is more like hindsight. Aren’t we already seeing these predictions coming true?
http://www.onlinecollege.org/blog For Jan 5, 2011.
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