This Book is Dedicated to Whatever I End Up Writing About

Summary

An author humorously discusses the process of dedicating a book before actually writing it, speculating on potential content and acknowledgments.

Abstract

The author of an upcoming book engages in a satirical reflection on the traditional process of writing. They express a commitment to dedicating the book first, believing this to be a prerequisite to writing it. The dedication is intended to honor various individuals, including the author's father, who may or may not pass away soon, and a barista named Rebecca, who is imagined as a future wife. The book's subject remains undetermined, with possibilities ranging from a historical figure to a powerful industry, or perhaps just an abstract theme. The author, identifying as a "pantster," prefers to discover the story as they write, and they conclude with the anticipation of creating a fantasy novel complete with a map, signaling a readiness to embark on the writing journey.

Opinions

The author prioritizes the dedication of the book as a foundational step, likening it to placing the cart before the horse, suggesting a playful critique of conventional writing wisdom.
There is an acknowledgment of the uncertainty surrounding the book's content, with a humorous admission that the book will inevitably be about "something," possibly a theme.
The author's approach to writing is characterized as spontaneous and discovery-oriented, contrasting with a more structured or planned approach.
The author muses on the potential for personal loss, specifically the passing of their father, to influence the book's dedication, indicating a contemplative and somewhat morbid sense of humor.
The mention of a future wife, Rebecca, reveals a blend of romantic idealization and a tongue-in-cheek acknowledgment that this relationship is currently fictional.
The author's consideration of using a famous quotation to conclude the dedication reflects a search for gravitas and relevance, despite the comedic tone of the piece.
The excitement about potentially writing a fantasy novel with a map suggests a whimsical and imaginative outlook on the writing process.

You will find that putting the cart before the horse works for this writer

Obviously writing a book is a massive undertaking: one which I have every intention of carrying out. That is to say, just as soon as I finish dedicating it. After all, I am a firm believer in not putting the cart before the horse. And I think you’ll agree that, like a horse carrying a cart, the dedication goes first. That is why I am dedicating the book now and writing it soon.

I have so many people to thank. Or, rather, I will. Most likely. Because it’s impossible at this stage to predict that with absolute certainty, but the odds would be severely stacked against no one helping with their love or support, or by being tirelessly dedicated to reading the countless drafts that, as I said before, I am absolutely going to write when I have a dedication under my belt that does not make the attempt at a book seem terribly presumptuous.

One thing I’m absolutely sure of is that this book is in memory of my late father. At least, it will be in memory of him if he passes. And there’s every chance that he will in the next handful of years- he is old- during which time I hope to have thought up a book and written it, but which I might not finish doing until after that time. But I am thinking about my father now, so either way it will be in memory of him, whether he dies or doesn’t die. And if it’s the latter, I will tack on someone else who does die.

Plus obviously there’s my loving wife Rebecca. I can’t believe that she was crazy enough to say yes to a struggling young writer. Of course that’s probably because she wasn’t, because I haven’t asked her yet, on a date, and she is in fact only known to me as Rebecca because of the name tag on her barista uniform. But, if I’m not mistaken, she can’t marry me before I publish a great book anyway, which I can’t write before I write this dedication, so really I’m kind of asking her now.

And, there wouldn’t be a book without an incredible, unforgettable subject like the one that I fully expect to hit on. That may be some kind of real life historical figure, about whom I will write a biography, or who I will include as a thinly veiled version of themselves in a work of otherwise fiction. Or maybe it will be some kind of powerful industry whose wrongdoing my work will expose. The only think I know for sure this book will be about something. In all probability. Maybe a theme of some kind! I’m working on it, I’m a pantster not a planner.

I would like to conclude this dedication with a quotation. Do you know of a good one? I came up empty because I don’t have a lot to go on in terms of what might set the tone for whatever is going to follow in the pages after this. Bogart’s line about the problems of three people not amounting to a hill of beans in “Casablanca” is a pretty good one. It would apply to a lot of different stuff. Unless my book isn’t about three people, or problems. But a line from “Sympathy For The Devil” by the Rolling Stones could be great too. Scorsese uses them, and I’m sure his process is similar to mine. Stand by on that.

Well, I guess this book is pretty dedicated at this point, so I better get started. Oh boy. Okay. Here we go! I’m just going to turn this dedication page, and out will come some literary gold!

…

Oh, you know what? This might be a fantasy novel! Those always include a map! So get ready for am super amazing map that will definitely tell me exactly what will happen to who within its borders! BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS HAPPENING!

Eventually.