Selected Writings on Writing Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship That Changed the World

By Penny Colman

A collection of selected writings by author Penny Colman, including blog posts and book talks that elucidate aspects of her process for writing "Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship that Changed the World," a historical nonfiction narrative for all ages. Organized into six parts - - Brief Timeline; Blog Posts on Writing; Guest Blog Posts and a Message; Book Talks and a Speech; Questions & Answers; Reading Group Guide - - the collections includes Penny Colman's Book Talk at the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC. The selected writings include "A Story About Friendship," "A Title with A Mind of Its Own," and "Happy Birthday Susan B. Anthony."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penny Colman
• Release date: Jun 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9780984960736

Penny Colman

Penny Colman is the author of many nonfiction books, including Corpses, Coffins, and Crypts, Elizabeth Cady and Susan B. Anthony, and Rosie the Riveter. She lives in Englewood, New Jersey.

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Selected Writings On Writing

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship that Changed the World:

Penny Colman

Copyright © 2012 by Penny Colman

http://www.pennycolman.com

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Dear Readers,

Because I’m frequently asked about my writing process, I’ve put together this collection of previously published selected writings, including blog posts and book talks that elucidate aspects of my process for writing Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship that Changed the World, a historical nonfiction narrative for all ages.

Table of Contents

Part I Brief Timeline

Part II Blog Posts On Writing

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship that Changed the World: Excerpts from www.pennycolman.com/blog

Part III Guest Blog Posts and a Message, entitled:

A Story About Friendship

Turning Pages

A Title with a Mind of Its Own

Happy Birthday Susan B. Anthony

Part IV Book Talks and a Speech, given at:

Smithsonian Portrait Gallery

Elizabeth Cady Stanton Hometown Association

Clearing House on Women’s Issues

Part V Questions & Answers

Part VI Reading Group Guide

About the Author

Part I Brief Timeline

2006

January 27: Longtime editor asks me to write a biography

April 4: Email proposal for a biography of the friendship between Elizabeth Cady Stanton & Susan B. Anthony

August 1: Sign contract

2007

January – July: Research

August – Oct: Research/Structuring

November – Dec.: Writing/Research

2008

January – December: Writing and picture research

2009

April 23: Send, via FedEx, copy of manuscript: 23 chapters, front & back matter

May 4: Editor acknowledges receipt: I can’t wait to read it, though I’m currently swamped with deadlines.

December 21: Editor update: I just love it! . . . half-way through the book

2010

January 18: Editor update: finished editing . . . .so fascinating and you do an amazing job of showing the reader who these amazing women are - - how they thought, felt, strategized, and intellectualized their fight and ultimately their lives . . . . I’ve gone through the manuscript and made line edits as well as margin notes throughout. These will be easy for you to address. My larger concern that needs addressing is that I feel the book is 50-60 pages too long . . . . let me know how you feel. (Note: I set about to address and cut.)

February 18: Send, via FedEx, revised manuscript and jpgs with captions and sources.

March-December: Copy-editing, revisiting, cover design (first blue, final beige), final check of pass pages, i.e., the manuscript formatted and typeset as it will appear in bound book

2011

January-April: Book Production

May 10: Publication Date

Part II Blog Posts On Writing

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony: A Friendship that Changed the World: Excerpts from www.pennycolman.com/blog

Structure

Posted on August 7, 2007

For several days, I’ve been immersed in figuring out my next book - - a biography of the friendship between the legendary fighters for women’s rights Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony. Figuring out for me means finding the structure that ends up as the table of contents. It’s about what to put in, what to leave out, what to connect to what, what to highlight, themes, etc. I’m at our bungalow on a barrier island off the coast of New Jersey. Our very small house is on a lagoon so I can lift my kayak over the bulkhead into the water and paddle out to Barnegat Bay. To the east, the ocean is just a 5 minute walk. It’s great to be here