I have just posted another short section to my online discussable book on motherly talk of God Not Only a Father which addresses the question of how The Nature of Christ as a Man interacts with my ideas of the (non)gendering of God. Not Only a Father is an attempt at a new way of [...]
Browsing Posts in Writing
If yesterday’s post seemed a trifle touchy, it’s because the author I was criticising was himself unbalanced. I can rectify that today thanks to Jim W who pointed to this: 5 Ways That Paper Books Are Better Than eBooks this list is balanced and sensible, it takes the technological differences into account and points out [...]
Why, oh why, do the very people who ought to be the most gripped by the possibilities that new things open up so often fall into a defensive wishful thinking? The latest example concerning e-texts (though already the author has blinkered his vision by focusing only on e-books)1 was pointed to by Jonathan Robinson (on [...]
The traditional broadsheet media have hosted a broadside on academic publishing: Academic publishers make Murdoch look like a socialist trumpets the Guardian. Writer George Monbiot’s argument is summed up in the subtitle and a simple cartoon: Academic publishers charge vast fees to access research paid for by us. Down with the knowledge monopoly racketeers The discussion [...]
Opening sentences matter. As Charles pointed out using First Sentences from Ford and Fretheim they either draw readers in or repel them. But last sentences could be important too, they are one’s last chance to leave an impression on (at least sequential) readers minds. With such thoughts in mind (see Why is academic writing turgid?)I [...]
Charles contrasts First Sentences from Ford and Fretheim the differences are really striking! This is the saddest story I have ever heard. Ford Maddox Ford in the novel The Good Soldier The Pentateuch (that is, a book in five parts) has been a designation for the first five book of the Old Testament (and Hebrew [...]
TED often has inspiring and intriguing short talks. Though, as a long-time visitor to the site I’m less easily wowed than I used to be. One from the latest crop is a commercial demo. It’s what Push Pop Press (or possibly TED) think is “the next-generation digital book”. Take a look, it is impressive: I [...]
A growing institution that despite growth is somewhat strapped for cash has most of its staff on OfficeProduct 2006, it less than the latest thing, but does everything the staff need. New staff are employed (it is a growing institution) new laptops are bought, they come with OfficeProduct X an easily “upgradeable trial version”. So, [...]
If you’ve ever been put off or confused by the complex language of Speech-Act Theory (think “perlocutionary” and “illocutionary”) John Dyer simplifies it beautifully and then raises questions about Twitter (for the twits) and Facebook (for those who today will change their faces). I won’t give you the permissable short extract, since those often keep [...]
The Books and Publishing blog (it comes from the organisers of the annual Book Conference and the International Journal of the Book) has reprinted an extract of an article from the LA Times, using the title “E-books are good news for the literary world”. B & P is a fairly conservative blog, linked closely to [...]
