FAQ for The Boyfriend's Back
I’m a technical writer. That means I write Frequently Asked Question pages (FAQs) on a regular basis. Did you know that most FAQs are made up by technical writers and have nothing to do with actual questions anyone has ever asked? Yep. It’s like writing fiction, except about bytes and bandwidth and secure passwords. And also the FAQs are usually nonfiction. Usually.
Anyway, I wrote an FAQ for His Secret Past and the comments were a ton of fun so I thought I’d do one for The Boyfriend’s Back.
1. The title is The Boyfriend’s Back, but the cover shows his front. What’s up with that?
Um. Good observation? But the title refers to the fact that The Boyfriend was gone and has now returned. He came back. Get it?
2. See that part on the cover where it says “Going Back?” Is that because her hair is blowing back in the wind? Is it, like, a caption? Because I didn’t think her hair needed a caption.
Well, no. Sorry. You’re 0 for 2 here. Going Back means this book is part of the Superromance themed series about characters who return to their hometowns. In this case, The Boyfriend. He is back. In his hometown. Get it?
3. In the book, JT has a degree in robotics from Carnegie Mellon. You went to Carnegie Mellon. Is your degree in robotics?
Not exactly. My degree is in Creative Writing—that would be the English department, not the engineering school. But I had a job in a robotics lab one time, which is what gave me the idea of sending JT there.
4. So you majored in writing and built robots in your spare time? Cool.
No. I majored in writing and did some writing for a robotics project in my spare time. The project was an early speech recognition program. I had to copy edit the manuscript the robot created. It was pretty cool.
5. It doesn’t sound cool to me.
I guess you’re not a writer/geek like I am.
6. I think I'm okay with that.
Did you have another question?
7. I read the back cover copy and it sounds like a secret baby book—guy leaves home and comes back fifteen years later. Girl has secret she’s afraid to tell him, and she’s got a daughter. Secret baby, right?
Well, fifteen years…not exactly a baby anymore, is it?
8. Are you supposed to be sarcastic when you’re answering these questions?
Sorry. Not a secret baby. Not exactly, anyway.
9. Are you supposed to be evasive when you’re answering these questions?
Argh. Do you want me to give away the entire plot? Is anticipation not part of the fun?
10. Stop answering my questions with questions. So in the cover picture it looks as if Hailey is getting ready to have her way with JT. What page is that scene on?
Heh. 30.
Any other questions?
Ellen
Anyway, I wrote an FAQ for His Secret Past and the comments were a ton of fun so I thought I’d do one for The Boyfriend’s Back.
1. The title is The Boyfriend’s Back, but the cover shows his front. What’s up with that?Um. Good observation? But the title refers to the fact that The Boyfriend was gone and has now returned. He came back. Get it?
2. See that part on the cover where it says “Going Back?” Is that because her hair is blowing back in the wind? Is it, like, a caption? Because I didn’t think her hair needed a caption.
Well, no. Sorry. You’re 0 for 2 here. Going Back means this book is part of the Superromance themed series about characters who return to their hometowns. In this case, The Boyfriend. He is back. In his hometown. Get it?
3. In the book, JT has a degree in robotics from Carnegie Mellon. You went to Carnegie Mellon. Is your degree in robotics?
Not exactly. My degree is in Creative Writing—that would be the English department, not the engineering school. But I had a job in a robotics lab one time, which is what gave me the idea of sending JT there.
4. So you majored in writing and built robots in your spare time? Cool.
No. I majored in writing and did some writing for a robotics project in my spare time. The project was an early speech recognition program. I had to copy edit the manuscript the robot created. It was pretty cool.
5. It doesn’t sound cool to me.
I guess you’re not a writer/geek like I am.
6. I think I'm okay with that.
Did you have another question?
7. I read the back cover copy and it sounds like a secret baby book—guy leaves home and comes back fifteen years later. Girl has secret she’s afraid to tell him, and she’s got a daughter. Secret baby, right?
Well, fifteen years…not exactly a baby anymore, is it?
8. Are you supposed to be sarcastic when you’re answering these questions?
Sorry. Not a secret baby. Not exactly, anyway.
9. Are you supposed to be evasive when you’re answering these questions?
Argh. Do you want me to give away the entire plot? Is anticipation not part of the fun?
10. Stop answering my questions with questions. So in the cover picture it looks as if Hailey is getting ready to have her way with JT. What page is that scene on?
Heh. 30.
Any other questions?
Ellen
Comments
I've always thought it'd be funny to write a FAQ from a cat mentality:
Where's the fuuuud?
K'n I jump up n' sit on your keyboard?
Time for fuuud yet?
Ok, then, how bout your lap?
Where's the fuuud?
Scratch under the chin, plz?
Is it time for fuuuud noooowl?
A cat FAQ would be funny. I think mine is from the mentality of a smart aleck.
Glad you found your way over here!
Ellen