The best time to write a book? NOW!
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
The immortal opening line of Dickens’s A Tale of Two
Cities could apply to today in terms of writing a book. In so many ways,
with the rise of the internet and self-publishing, this is the best time to be
an author.
Sure, I may be prejudiced in this regard, but I believe this
really is the best time to write a book.
Why? Start with the fact that it’s never been easier to
write a book. Computers and word processors offer an ease of use previously
undreamed of, complete with spell-check, grammar-check, plot-check, and many
other options.
Not only that, but the internet has opened up new avenues
for authors seeking easy access to information about their field of interest
and gain expertise in the subject.
Author, blogger and media whiz Guy Kawasaki says things have
changed so much today, anyone with a good idea and skills can write a
compelling book.
“Say you’re a science fiction writer,” he said. “You can position yourself as an expert in
science.”
How? First, you have easy access to research. Whether it’s
black holes or advanced chemistry or biological or geological processes, you
can find article after article that explains how things work and add to your
knowledge.
Then, Kawasaki says creating an online presence that
showcases your expertise and gains you an audience is easy. You can create a
website, reach out to others through social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn
and Twitter, develop your voice on a blog.
From there you can post relevant pieces and links to other
posts and articles, and invite comments from others. “Curate great leads that
position you as an expert,” said Kawasaki.
People will gradually begin following the posts, and
eventually come to see you as not only an expert, but as someone they feel
indebted to for helping them advance their interests.
Kawasaki says this last part is something that is often
overlooked.
“I call it the NPR model,” Kawasaki said, referring to
National Public Radio. “It’s okay for them to run a telethon and ask for money.
I’m indebted to them because of the great education I get from their stories.
“If Terry Gross (host of the popular NPR program Fresh Air)
wrote a book, I’d buy it.”
It’s also easier than ever to publish a book. Think back to
before Gutenberg invented the printing press. You could write on a scroll or
vellum, that is, if you were very, very careful (no erasers) and had
outstanding handwriting. And if you could afford the cost. And if you knew how to
write. And even if all those applied, there wasn’t much of an audience. Not a
lot of incentive.
Move up a few hundred years, and while the population was
much more literate, there were still obstacles in the way of writing an actual
book. Even in the late 20th century, you were still at the mercy of
a publishing industry that was motivated totally by profit. Unless someone was
convinced your book had the potential to make the company money, you were out
of luck.
And even if you were able to convince a company to publish
your book, your troubles were far from over. Headaches could include everything
from company-imposed deadlines to printing delays. You – the author – would
typically have little say over book and cover design. And as for marketing efforts,
you were still at the mercy of the publisher.
Compare that to today. With all the self-publishing tools
that are available, it’s possible to go from finished manuscript to publication
in as little as 48 hours. E-books and print-on-demand make it possible for an
author to hit the best-seller lists far quicker than ever before.
The internet also has given writers easy access to editors,
a key consideration for anyone writing a book, but especially for someone
looking to self-publish (and especially, especially a first-time writer
looking to self-publish). You also have at your fingertips a myriad of
designers. There are more print and selling options available than ever before.
So back to that opening quote. It’s the best of times, but
is it also the worst of times for someone looking to write a book? If they
don’t have something compelling to say, if they don’t seek out professional
assistance from editors and designers, if they don’t take advantage of the
marketing and public relations tools available, then, well, yes.
But that’s why we’re here: To help guide you and provide the
assistance you need to write that interesting, engaging, and, ultimately,
successful book.
