"Book bible" (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Dan Goncharoff]

Here's a guide to creating a book bible:

http://ffnp.blogspot.com/2011/01/easy-tips-to-creating-creating-book.html
DanG


On Mon, Feb 11, 2013 at 12:33 PM, Mullins, Bill AMRDEC
<Bill.Mullins at us.army.mil> wrote:
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> Poster:       "Mullins, Bill AMRDEC" <Bill.Mullins at US.ARMY.MIL>
> Subject:      Re: "Book bible" (UNCLASSIFIED)
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> "Bibles" for fictional worlds are reasonably common, I think.  Here:
>
> http://issuu.com/rgiskardreventlov/docs/star_trek_tos_writers_guide
>
> is the one for the original Star Trek (although it doesn't refer to
> itself as a "bible".)
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_%28writing%29
>
> The one Joel refers to seems to be an equivalent document for a series
> of books, rather than a TV show.
>
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On
>> Behalf Of Joel S. Berson
>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2013 11:07 AM
>> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>> Subject: "Book bible"
>>
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>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
>> Subject:      "Book bible"
>>
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> --------
>>
>> I encountered the following on an email list.  I have not seen or
> heard
>> the term "book bible".  The description of what the author wanted
>> sounds merely like a book index, although very comprehensive.  Perhaps
>> users of the phrase apply it only to fiction series, where the writer
>> wants to be factual in succeeding publications (that is, to avoid
>> inconsistencies).  I suppose "bible"
>> because it is the truth about the fiction.
>>
>> "I hired a college student to assemble a book bible for my urban
>> fantasy series last year. I was doing edits on the second book and
>> about to begin the third, and was spending way too much time flipping
>> through the first manuscript to fact-check details (was Alex driving a
>> Mercedes or a BMW, and was it a convertible? That kind of thing). I
> had
>> her make an index of all proper nouns, character details, world
>> building details, lists of charms and potions my character made, etc.
>> She's done the first two books and will be adding details from book
>> three this year. It has saved a LOT of time."
>>
>> Googling seems inefficient (I'm an agnostic, and too many hits are for
>> The Book).
>>
>> Joel
>>
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