Ideas for a book that will make me famous

-
Today I picked up a book to read at lunch when I was at work.  It was about a guy who lost 40 kilos by cutting sugar out of his diet.  The ten pages I read were quite interesting.

So I started to ponder,  'Hey - what's my story'?  What's the aspect of my life that I could use to write a book and make my fortune (well, limited fortune anyway)?

I'm not a tiger mother.  I'm not a mother who had an amazing career and then became a mother and then discovered how hard and undervalued it is (like this is some kind of radical concept) and then discovered she actually liked being a mother so only ended up working part-time (as a consultant of course) in her amazing career.  I haven't run a marathon every day for a year (although most days feel like I have).  I've only had one husband - haven't left him to go and 'find myself' in three different exotic locations and get my story made into a movie starring Julia Roberts.  I still get on with my parents.  I haven't climbed any mountains.  I haven't been captured and made a hostage.

Yawn - all so dull.  What's my money-making story people?  I need help!

Otherwise I'll have to go and write fiction - perhaps I could write a book about an alternative life that would have resulted in me having a story to tell!

 

Comments

Richard said…
But Jenny you do have a story to tell :) your early years were an experience very few people have had; The train trips, all the sights and smells, people and places ... And you are an amazing mother and still sane after 5 kids !
March 31, 2011 at 10:47 PM
Katie said…
Was the book 'Sweet Poison' by David Gillespie? We recently listened to a podcast of him on conversation with Richard Fidler and it was very interesting. Was thinking of trying to find the book.
As far as your story goes - ditto Richards comment. Plenty of people have successfully written about their childhood. Or go for the fiction. Kids books - rhyme a little and you will be right.
March 31, 2011 at 11:54 PM
Gordon Cheng said…
Your gift is the realistic description of the quotidian, with grace.
April 1, 2011 at 3:49 AM
Tina said…
Hey Jenny
You could cut sugar out of your diet and then write a story about a mother of five children in Sydney's inner west who went slowly crazy....
BTW I am loving your blog.
April 1, 2011 at 9:17 PM
Kath said…
The fact that your own life does not seem fascinating enough to warrant a book may mean you have some humility and a realistic view of yourself.
Some of the most interesting stories are the ordinary ones told well. But I see your point, they don't always make lots of money ;)
Kath
April 2, 2011 at 12:44 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Confessions of an earl grey addict

-
Image
I have to confess in this public forum that I'm addicted to earl grey tea. I used to like the expensive stuff (Twinings) but because I drink so much of it, over the years I've had to buy the home brand version because I couldn't afford to sustain my habit. On Monday mornings I'd go to playgroup and have a cup of tea.  But one wasn't enough.  I'd have to go back for another. I'd visit a friend and enjoy the first cuppa.  But start to wonder if it too rude to ask for another, an hour into our visit. I don't have milk or sugar with it.  That just wrecks the purity of the experience.  I would branch out sometimes and enjoy Lady Grey or French Earl Grey for a treat.  But for everyday purposes my friend was the 'Earl'. But two weeks ago I went cold turkey.  I just decided that it was time to break the habit.  I have entered the world of herbal teas with all its strange flavours.  Peppermint (toothpaste dissolved in hot water).  Camom...
Read more

Going grey at 40

-
Image
I have written about this before , but after broaching the subject on facebook a few weeks ago I've been thinking a lot about the whole colouring your hair deal.  On facebook I asked when having natural coloured hair was going to become trendy like other old fashioned things like quilting and growing your veges?  I am quite tired of how time consuming colouring my hair is and how expensive it is. A very interesting conversation resulted with a huge variety of opinions.  Many of the women said they would be going natural, but of course they aren't gray now (and are my age) so I don't think that really counts.  Until you ACTUALLY start going seriously gray/white you can't see how it impacts on the way you look.  I think it is different to be almost white (like myself) at age 40 and agreeing in principle to going natural when it happens to you in the future (when you will be a lot older than I am now!). Just quietly, I'll believe it when I see it (let me thr...
Read more

Why I won't home school (if I don't have to)

-
Image
Occasionally I get asked what I think about home schooling.  Let me say from the outset that I'm not against it at all.  I was actually homeschooled for Year 3 because I wasn't coping with the local Indian school and I wasn't old enough for boarding school.  I have lots of friends who do it - some out of necessity (eg. missionary friends in remote places with no options) or out of choice (because their child doesn't cope with the mainstream school system).   So I'm fine with the whole concept. I have great admiration for families that choose to provide that education for their kids.  It is hard work and a significant drain on time and emotional energy (usually for the mum).  I also think that it can be a great gift for children who would otherwise get lost in a conventional educational institution. But why wouldn't I do it?  Partly because I did homeschooling myself and found it quite lonely.  I missed the social interaction of school a...
Read more