Publishing

Though I have not been writing sequentially, by next week I hope to have written (and shared with you all) drafts of the introduction and the first four chapters of the book. I figure that should be about a quarter of the total pages. Once I do an update of the introduction to reflect the current outline, smooth out the chapter transitions, and move some of the material around I should have enough pages in reasonable shape to see if a publisher might have an interest in the book.

The big question is whether to use a publisher at all or to self-publish. I’ve gone both paths over the years using a publisher in 1998 for Windows Performance Secrets and self-publishing Limit Your Greed in 2017. In those days the question was simple—you tried to get a publisher and if you could not or did not like their requirements, you published it yourself. You spent money and hoped people beyond your family and friends read the book. There was a reason it was often called vanity publishing. Now, self-publishing can be as successful as using a publisher and offers a much greater degree of control. One of the biggest problems with using a publisher is that it generally takes one to two years after a book is completed before it arrives in bookstores. The publisher provides some services such as editing, cover design, and marketing, but also has its own requirements and may require extensive changes to the book.

I spoke a couple weeks ago with a long-time (I refuse to say old) friend of mine who recently self-published a book on being a father to sons. After looking at options for publishing, he decided that self-publishing was the way to go. He did things the way I most likely would such as paying professionals to edit the words, design the cover, and layout of the book. He is planning to spend time promoting his book over the coming weeks. He kindly shared with me the people that he worked with. 

I also talked earlier this summer with someone who has worked with a local Christian book publisher. He was able to give me some good input. I plan to contact him again in September to give him an update on my progress and get additional advice. Whether I self-publish or use a publisher, networking is an important part of making the book successful. Those of you who know me well understand that is not something I’m a fan of doing! Like with any work, doing the often unpleasant tasks is crucial to success. Writing a book is only part of what is necessary to have a book that people read. 

I expect to be meeting with every pastor, blogger, and podcaster that will give me a chance to talk about the book. A couple people have recommended that I contact Pat Gelsinger (former CEO of Intel who is currently investing in and working at the faith-based Gloo). I just need to figure out his email address and what to say. I’m working on my 30-second pitch as well as some longer explanations. You never know who you will run into that may be able to help. If any of you know of someone you think I should be talking with, let me know.

Also, if any of you have any experience or advice on publishing a book, I’d love to hear it. For now, I need to get back to working on Chapter 1.