I have learned quite a bit but I think the steepest part of the learning curve is yet to come. Remember, this is my first attempt at authoring a book.
I should point out exactly where am I in this process. I am approximately 90% finished with the formal book proposal that I will hand over to a literary agent. This is a comprehensive outline of the book, sample chapters and other content. I used a pro-forma, non-fiction format that Michael Hyatt suggested. I am also knee deep into research on various buildings, places, sites and people that will form the guts of the various walking tours.
So what have I learned? I have received two very good pieces of advice. First, my good friend Kevin Wax told me “finish the book”…well, duh? Second, my Dad said to “keep it simple”.
I learned that I would never make it as the “Book of the Month” on Oprah’s list.
I learned that I had better find out if there is a market for this niche travel guide that I’m calling a book.
I learned that if I was to go down the path of “traditional” publishing that I wouldn’t make any money and I would lose total control over the process.
I learned that if I did the self-publishing route, while I would retain control as well as a higher royalty, I would have to find out if a market exists and if so, then actively market to those folks.
I learned that I should have first written “The Mindset of Networking™”…simpler to write and less costly.
I learned that an author writes, rewrites, rewrites, rewrites and then rewrites.
I’ve learned that if there is a market of folks like me out there and we determine that all of you would buy this book, this book is going to cost me a lot of money to produce. One thing that I won’t do is have an end product that is not professional and sometimes that costs a little bit more to produce.
I’ve learned that if there isn’t a market out there, I will run 100 books and give them all out to my friends and family. I’ll cross off an item on my bucket list and move on to another silly project.
-Stew
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Copyright © 2012 Stew Ross
