Giving My Columns a Second Literary Life

Written by Bonnie Bing

Giving My Columns a Second Literary Life

Written by Bonnie Bing

It’s never too late to learn something new. I have learned what it takes to write a book.

For years people have suggested I put a bunch of my columns in a book. Many would add that “it would be easy because you’ve already written it.” Wrong.

If I’m truthful, I would never have finished “Wait … Now What?” if it hadn’t been for my dear friend Lisa Corbin who is one determined woman.

She didn’t suggest putting it together; it was more of a demand. Full disclosure, we had a blast even though we got the OK from Blue Cedar Press in June and gave them the manuscript at the end of August. We spent many hours with Lisa’s desk (a card table) shoved against mine in my home office.

Columnist and author Bonnie Bing

Digging through columns I wrote from 1980 on, for more than 30 years for The Wichita Eagle was truly a trip down memory lane. As we went through hard copies, some very yellow with time, we put them in yes, no, and maybe piles. When Lisa said, “Wow, we have enough for another book,” my response was “Don’t make me come over there and hurt you.” Then we laughed.

The columns I remembered getting the highest responses from readers are the ones we included first. It made me so happy when someone called or emailed me saying they cut out a column and sent it to someone or taped it on their refrigerator door.

And I really loved it when someone said my column made them laugh out loud. One woman wrote, “Oh thanks, Bonnie, I read your swimsuit column and laughed, spewing coffee all over everything on our kitchen table.”

‘When I would hear something on TV or radio, or read something that made me pause and think, “wait, now what?” I would instantly wonder if it should be the subject of a column.’ — Bonnie Bing

Years ago when I asked Eagle columnist Bob Getz how in the world he could come up with four columns a week, he told me he just looked at life, people and things going on. As I read his book, “A Book of Bob Getz,” I was still amazed.

Several people have asked about the title “Wait … Now What?” When I would hear something on TV or radio, or read something that made me pause and think, “wait, now what?” I would instantly wonder if it should be the subject of a column. I say it out loud frequently and it’s used in several of my columns in the book.

Also, when I would get excited telling an editor about a great story idea, sometimes with flailing arms and using my outside voice, I would finally ask what they thought. The response, many times, was “wait, now what?”

It was fun to ask some very smart, talented people to write blurbs and for my dear friend Denise Neil to write the foreword to the book. Thanks to all of Lisa’s help and guidance from the very patient people at Blue Cedar Press, the book has been nothing but a good experience. And the bonus of seeing friends and meeting new friends in the city I dearly love.

Look for me on various street corners selling — I have boxes and boxes of books to get rid of! OK, I’m kidding. I hope.

But the $25 book is available at Blue Cedar Press, Watermark Books and Amazon. And thanks to Beth Golay, the audio book will be coming out soon.

Bonnie Bing was a staff writer, columnist and fashion editor for more than 30 years at The Wichita Eagle. She now does freelance writing for the Eagle and is a contributor for several local papers and magazines.