Ask the Author: Bryan Holmes
Answered Questions (4)
Bryan Holmes
I have many interests, so I have many ideas that could develop into writing. My first book was inspired by many journal entries I made over several years. Initially, they did not seem related, but the more I thought about them, the more they seemed to relate in terms of spiritual connectedness. This idea led to "The Vine and the Branches: How to Spiritually Connect in a Challenging World." In the process of writing this book with my co-author, Maggie McSpedon, I was also inspired by her ideas and perspective as a youth. This experience inspired me to go on to mentor six high school science students to write and publish their own books about their science research experience.
Bryan Holmes
I wrote my first book, "The Vine and the Branches: How to Spiritually Connect in a Challenging World," during the summer of 2013 and published it in early 2014 - it was a joint effort with a former student, Maggie McSpedon, my co-author. Because this book was spiritual, and I am a public high school teacher, we had to work on it and promote it outside of school. This spring, I wondered how to follow up on my newfound knowledge of writing and publishing with other students in school, and I decided to mentor a group of outstanding science students to write and publish their own books about the science research experience. I will also write a book that would help other teachers do a similar project at their schools. Our goal is to publish and release all our books in April 2015. You can follow our progress at http://bryanholmesstem.wordpress.com.
Bryan Holmes
Start writing! There is no right way to begin or to do it. I have read that you should just pour out your writing the first draft without much regard to format, grammar, spelling, etc., and I think that is true - it works for me. After that, start editing and revising with your target audience in mind, if you plan to sell your writing. If not, and if your book is a one-time event in your life, then just write it and release it and enjoy it.
Bryan Holmes
Writing is a creative release, so you feel productive when you write something that other people can read and appreciate. Writing also gets you to develop and refine ideas, so you tend to become more focused - you think more clearly.
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