4 ms·

The best way to use a book is to promote some other product or service, because for the most part when you calculate the time spent writing, rewriting, and re-r

by percept 17y ago

The best way to use a book is to promote some other product or service, because for the most part when you calculate the time spent writing, rewriting, and re-rewriting you realize you're working for less than minimum wage. This probably works out okay as part of an overall strategy for Mr. Cooper, who is building a publishing empire. :) However as a money-making strategy, I believe most of the people here at HN could make more doing almost anything else. In the mid-90s Laura Lemay (graciously) introduced me to her publisher after no more than a simple e-mail query. As a result I got to contribute a chapter to a Web-related title and officially became a published author (yay!). After that I somehow connected with an agent who started bringing opportunities to my attention. One was for the second or third edition of a semi-successful title; however as part of the deal I'd have to share the (already meager) royalties with the original author. Thanks but no thanks! The next opportunity seemed golden: the chance to write a brand new title as part of a very well-known series (something like "Selling Online for the Technically-Challenged Among Us"). I started submitting outlines and sample chapters, and assembled a list of e-commerce software ranging from open source to commercial packages (mostly written in Perl). After each submission came the feedback and tiring rewrites, but I still thought it would work out. And that's when it happened. ;) Apparently the whole department at the publisher had just returned from a Microsoft conference, and had learned about the new software package that was going to set the world of e-commerce on fire: Site Server (maybe Mr. Graham will get a chuckle out of that). It was expensive, large, and proprietary, and in my opinion not a good match for most of the small-to-medium businesses I thought would most benefit from the book. But guess what (I was told) should be the focus of the new book? In the end it just wasn't worth the hassle. So that ended my publishing career, but it was sort of fun while it lasted. P.S.: IIRC some of the big guys, like the first Word and HTML authors, made seven figures.

kiba 17y ago
I thought of books as a way to grow my web presence over the long term. Then I would use that web traffic that been building up over the years to make lot more with dead-tree formats. I used new chapters or pages as pieces to promote on suitable social news site to create a boost in traffic, and hopefully linking side effects. It works most of the time.
- percept 17y ago
  That seems like the smart way to go, like a content empire. I think it's possible to jump back and forth between self-publishing and other-people's publishing (OPP?), like I was hinting at above. Note to self: then do something, stupid!
petercooper 17y ago
This probably works out okay as part of an overall strategy for Mr. Cooper, who is building a publishing empire. :) A little, perhaps, but it's not been a big part of it. I was working on a RSS related startup (which I later sold) when I wrote Beginning Ruby and Ruby Inside was created solely to promote the book. It turns out, though, Ruby Inside has now become my main gig after selling all my other sites.. :) So, a serendipity, rather than a plan. As a result I got to contribute a chapter to a Web-related title and officially became a published author (yay!). After that I somehow connected with an agent who started bringing opportunities to my attention. Wow. That sort of thing hasn't happened to me. I've written a chapter for another book and done some technical reviewing on a couple of others, but I haven't had any book related leads come my way. A shame really! The next opportunity seemed golden: the chance to write a brand new title as part of a very well-known series (something like "Selling Online for the Technically-Challenged Among Us"). If it's the "For Dummies" series - which it sounds like - I've heard a lot of negative things from other authors about the line but.. just because of how famous it is, I'd consider it "golden" fame-wise and probably do it too ;-) There's only so much "noble" work I can do. Anyway, awesome post - thanks for sharing your story, I enjoyed it.
- percept 17y ago
  Well I was going to call you a "media mogul." [I'm a regular Ruby Inside reader.] I forgot to mention that I too was a technical reviewer for one book prior to getting the first writing gig. So that's another "in." It's been a while but I think you could get an agent if you wanted one. Due to the technical nature of the material I think it's always difficult for publishers to find authors who are both willing _and_ able to do the work. Because of that technical authors still have opportunities authors in other markets can only wish for.

by percept 17y ago

kiba 17y ago

I thought of books as a way to grow my web presence over the long term. Then I would use that web traffic that been building up over the years to make lot more with dead-tree formats. I used new chapters or pages as pieces to promote on suitable social news site to create a boost in traffic, and hopefully linking side effects. It works most of the time.

percept 17y ago
That seems like the smart way to go, like a content empire. I think it's possible to jump back and forth between self-publishing and other-people's publishing (OPP?), like I was hinting at above. Note to self: then do something, stupid!

petercooper 17y ago

This probably works out okay as part of an overall strategy for Mr. Cooper, who is building a publishing empire. :) A little, perhaps, but it's not been a big part of it. I was working on a RSS related startup (which I later sold) when I wrote Beginning Ruby and Ruby Inside was created solely to promote the book. It turns out, though, Ruby Inside has now become my main gig after selling all my other sites.. :) So, a serendipity, rather than a plan. As a result I got to contribute a chapter to a Web-related title and officially became a published author (yay!). After that I somehow connected with an agent who started bringing opportunities to my attention. Wow. That sort of thing hasn't happened to me. I've written a chapter for another book and done some technical reviewing on a couple of others, but I haven't had any book related leads come my way. A shame really! The next opportunity seemed golden: the chance to write a brand new title as part of a very well-known series (something like "Selling Online for the Technically-Challenged Among Us"). If it's the "For Dummies" series - which it sounds like - I've heard a lot of negative things from other authors about the line but.. just because of how famous it is, I'd consider it "golden" fame-wise and probably do it too ;-) There's only so much "noble" work I can do. Anyway, awesome post - thanks for sharing your story, I enjoyed it.

percept 17y ago
Well I was going to call you a "media mogul." [I'm a regular Ruby Inside reader.] I forgot to mention that I too was a technical reviewer for one book prior to getting the first writing gig. So that's another "in." It's been a while but I think you could get an agent if you wanted one. Due to the technical nature of the material I think it's always difficult for publishers to find authors who are both willing _and_ able to do the work. Because of that technical authors still have opportunities authors in other markets can only wish for.