Help For A Term Paper Question: / am a young fellow prepar ing for the mission field. Presently, I am a senior student in college. 1 plan to go to seminary next year. I am not sure what the Lord would have me do, but I would like to teach in a Bible Institute, Seminary, or on the mission field, then do camp work dur ing the vacation periods. In a course in Abnormal Psychology I am making a study of and writing a paper on “Sex and the Home.” A t the present time I have the following topics as a guide for the paper: (a ) The need for wholesome sex education. (b ) The example and attitude of the parents. ( c) Telling children about sex. If you could give me any informa tion on these topics I would appreci ate it. Answer: For several years I have pre pared material such as you have re quested for use in your term paper. It has recently been published in a book entitled, “ How To Tell Your Children About Sex.” This book is published by Zondervan Publishers in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it is available at all Christian bookstores. Since the material is much too lengthy to discuss on this page, I am referring you to the book itself. It contains one section on the importance of sex education. In fact we list fifteen basic reasons why wholesome sex education should be given boys and girls. I think you will be especially in terested in the section which deals with “ Guides in Sex Education.” In this part we list fourteen practical guides to aid parents in giving sex education in the home. The remainder of the book deals
with specific suggestions which par ents can use in telling their children about sex. Of course, the entire book has a Christian point of view. P.S. By the way, when you get your “ A” on your term paper, how about splitting it? Giving Away Secrets Question: / am interested in learning how to write professionally. Would you be so kind as to discuss how you go about writing books? I am sure this would be helpful to others also. Answer: The most important thing in writing is to luzve something to say. If God gives you a burning message, people will read it even if it is clum sily written. However, the ideal com bination is to have something to say and to know the techniques for say ing it effectively. I believe that all great ideas can be expressed simply. When you read something that is not expressed clearly and plainly it is usually and indica tion that the writer has never learned the professional techniques of writing. Writing is rewriting. Very few people can dictate or write well enough to bypass the editorial pen. Most professional writers do this: they write the best and easiest way they can then they rewrite the material several times. Each rewrite pushes back a filmy curtain until the captiva ting masterpiece is left in intimate view’. When Mrs. Narramore and I write a book we make sure that there is an urgent need for it. We receive thou sands of letters every month and of course we meet many people person ally. In these ways we uncover peo ple’s interests. We then take these cues for a new book. After we have decided on a topic
we call in a number of people to get their thinking on the subject. If the book is beamed to teenagers we look to young people for their suggestions. If the book is for parents we contact a number of mothers and dads. Our next step is to outline the en tire book. Then we start “ hanging flesh on the bones.” After we have written the entire manuscript we submit it to several people for their reactions. After this, we roll up our sleeves and begin in earnest to apply professional tech niques. We usually rewrite each chapter about twelve times — each time observing one of the professional rules of writing. This usually adds up to a book which (we hope) is inter esting enough to move the readers satisfyingly from one page to the next. Where can a person learn the pro fessional techniques of writing? I suggest you ask your Christian book seller for books on writing. One volume which I have found especially helpful is “ The Art of Readable Writ ing” by Rudolf Flesch. One parting word: don’t give up. I remember the first time I wrote “for money” — about four years ago. I gave the manuscript to a professional writer for his review.- When he re turned it my heart sank. He had murdered nearly every sentence. Then he added this note: “ Narramore, you’re a nice guy, but you’ll never be a writer. You’ve had too much educa tion.” And he had the nerve to enclose a bill for his professional services! That got me. So I began studying how to write. Night after night I read and practiced. The result? Four years later I had written five books and the Lord has seen fit to make them all top sellers. So don’t give up!
24
THE KING'S BUSINESS
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker