The First Rule is Never Begin with the Letter A... Or, How I Learned to Love Writing Reference Books

Authors

  • Diane Apostolos-Cappadona Georgetown University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11157/rsrr5-2-679

Keywords:

Encyclopedias, Reference Works, Religious Studies

Abstract

This autobiographical reflection relates the origin of one scholar's interest in research books and her engagement in the writing and editing of reference works. Her journey from researcher to contributor to editor is detailed in light of her engagement with multidisciplinary scholarship from the history of religions, art history, cultural history, American studies, to women's and gender studies.  Highlighted with examples of varied multidisciplinary dictionary and encyclopedia projects, the pitfalls and rewards of writing and editing reference works are related.  Brief descriptions of the experiential differences in the editing and writing for print versus online reference publications are recorded.

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Published

2015-12-01

How to Cite

Apostolos-Cappadona, D. (2015). The First Rule is Never Begin with the Letter A. Or, How I Learned to Love Writing Reference Books. Relegere: Studies in Religion and Reception, 5(2), 167–79. https://doi.org/10.11157/rsrr5-2-679

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2015): Special Issue: Editing Encyclopaedias and Handbooks in Religious Studies in the Twenty-First Century

Section

Articles

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