17 So you want to write a book
This chapter covers
- The benefits of moving from writing blog posts to writing books
- When you should (and shouldn’t) consider writing a book
- Alternative ways to share and shape big ideas
- Commonly-overlooked considerations in the “publisher vs self-publish” decision
- Navigating the book proposal process
After you’ve written several successful blog posts and maybe have a conference talk or two under your belt, you might start wondering, “Should I write a book?” You might start thinking about this because you have a burning book idea – and you have a bad habit of burdening your future self with ambitious commitments. Or maybe it wasn’t even your idea at all. Maybe an acquisitions editor (a.k.a. a publisher talent scout) was impressed by some of your blog posts, reached out to you, and planted the seed in your brain.
Either way, writing your own book can be a tempting idea. But it’s also a massive commitment. “The book” will impact your life (and your family’s life) for months or years. But all the effort could yield significant long-term rewards.
17.1 Why write a book?
17.1.1 You have a vision for a book that begs to be written
17.1.2 You want to anchor yourself as an expert
17.1.3 You want an excuse to immerse yourself in a topic
17.1.4 You want to level up your writing
17.1.5 You have an innate urge to share and teach
17.2 Why not?
17.2.1 The topic isn’t well-suited to a book
17.2.2 It’s just not a great fit for you – at least not right now
17.3 Alternatives to consider
17.3.1 Collaborate with co-authors
17.3.2 Drip it out through blog posts
17.3.3 Become a technical reviewer
17.4 Publishing considerations
17.4.1 Not all publishers are created equal
17.4.2 Publishers bring an impressive team of experts
17.4.3 Working with publishers is a multithreaded process
17.4.4 If you work with a publisher, it’s not just “your” book
17.4.5 Highly specialized topics lend themselves to self-publishing
17.4.6 Self-publishing thrives when supported by a brand
17.4.7 Different options, different considerations
17.5 Navigating the proposal process
17.5.1 Get down to business
17.5.2 Details, detail, details
17.6 Go forth and write
17.7 Summary