You Want to Write a Book?

So, you want to write a book? Before you begin, I hope you’ll accept some heartfelt advice. First, place a cold compress on your forehead, lie down, close your eyes, and take a nap. When you awake, if you still want to write a book, turn on your TV and watch an old movie, or take a walk to clear your mind. Call a friend on the phone and plan something fun, or make a sandwich.

If you still want to write a book after doing all these things, and the desire cannot be replaced with chocolate, cake, ice cream, or some other substitute, then your course may be irrevocable. 

O.K., are you going to write a fiction or non-fiction book? Why do I ask? Because the parameters of writing non-fiction and fiction are very different.

If your choice is non-fiction, you must ask yourself this question: Does the world need your book? Will you be breaking new ground in your book? Are you bringing much-needed information on your topic to readers eager to gain your expertise and knowledge? Have you thoroughly researched your topic to see if others have already covered your subject with their books?

Please understand the various choices for publishing your book. They range from traditional publishing, where an actual publisher agrees to publish your book because it is so good that people will buy it by the truckload, to all the other options, including self-publishing, in which you pay-to-play because large publishing companies don't even know you are alive, and they only bet on a sure thing!

The publishing world is built on success because it is expensive to create books and sell them at Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, etc. Publishers and retailers put their money on “sure” things. People regularly seen on TV, movie stars, professional sports figures, well-know entertainers with loyal fans, and nationally known politicians are “sure” things. Most of them can’t write, so their tomes will be ghostwritten, or co-authored with their faces on the covers. These are the books featured at the front of the stores in prominent displays.

A regular, garden-variety, unknown author, in comparison, will normally not catch the attention of the big publishing houses because they prefer a guaranteed return. You must do your homework to find out everything about what you’ll need to do, and the road to traditional publishing is normally through an agent. If you can get an agent to represent you, you have “broken the code,” so-to-speak.

Oh, you want to write fiction? I'm out of time for writing about that, except to say this: If you think achieving success in non-fiction is a hard road—you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!

A Great Week to Celebrate Life

What is better than having one great thing to celebrate during a week? How about two? This week begins with Father’s Day, and the first official day of summer, the summer solstice, also arrives this week. This means that fathers (and everyone else) can get started on summer fun.

Being a father, I know how important it is to receive cards from your children that remind you that they think you’re pretty special. That’s a real plus for dads. It means a lot! If you’ve been around for a while, like I have, you might be a grandfather, too. That's extra special because there are even more names on your cards!

Now, as to summer … who doesn’t like summer? Only a grump would dislike summer, and who wants to be a grump? Not me! Summer is for good times outdoors at the beach, the pool, the mountains. It's a great time for traveling and sightseeing, backyard barbecues and parties. What would summer be without weddings, food, ice cream, festivals with and without music and all kinds of activities?

Summer was invented to have fun. At least, I think so. That said, here is what we have to do: have summer fun! It’s a requirement. Have fun with the special people in your life. Turn off the TV. Turn off the computer, and, for heaven’s sake, lock the cell phone in a drawer! Get out and about. The world is waiting. It’s summer! Let’s go!

What are your fun summer plans?