Could You, Should You, Write a Book?

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Could You, Should You, Write a Book?

Posted August 3, 2011 in Marketing

If you’re a freelancer, you’re probably already an expert in what you do. Whether it’s freelance web design, freelance writing, freelance programming, freelance translation, or some other freelancing specialty–you’re already good at it. In fact, you’re probably somewhat of an expert.

After all, if you weren’t good at your profession, you wouldn’t be succeeding as a freelancer. What better way to show off that expertise (and indirectly market your freelancing business in the process), than to write a book about your field?

Whether you’re a writer, or not, you should consider whether writing a book will help your freelancing career.

In this post, I’ll discuss some of the advantages that are derived from having a published book. I’ll also discuss some of the obstacles that keep many freelancers from creating a book.

Advantages of Being Published

There are some definite advantages to having a published book. Here are some of them:

From now on, the book will be one of your accomplishments. You can list it in your elevator speech, include on brief bios with your guest posts, and list it on your own website.
People view authors differently. It builds credibility for you in your field, because after all, you wrote “the book” on the subject.
It can increase the number of prospects for your business and give you exposure that you would not otherwise have.
Last, but not least, if you sell your book it can provide an ongoing income stream for you–even during your slow periods.

Now that we’ve discussed the advantages of writing a book, let’s look at some of the obstacles.

But I’m Not a Writer

One of the biggest obstacles that I hear from freelancers when it comes to the question of creating a book is “I’m not a writer.”

Now, while I happen to be fortunate enough to actually be a freelance writer, many of the books, e-books, and other resources out there are not authored solely by freelance writers.

Consider these items:

If you have blog, you’re already doing some writing. You may already have the substance of an excellent book in many of the posts that you’ve already written.
You are probably your own worst critic. That’s because you have a mental picture of what your book should be like. Your readers won’t have that same picture.
There are a large number of tools and other resources available to help you write. From spell checkers to online dictionaries to blogs about writing–there’s no shortage of online tools.
If you still feel your writing is awkward, remember there are people you can hire to polish it up. (Hint: consider hiring a freelance writer or editor.)

On to the next obstacle…

Isn’t It Expensive to Write a Book?

Another obstacle for many would-be authors is the perception that it costs a lot of money. If you were to pay all of the printing costs for a hardback book yourself, this would indeed be the case.

However, with today’s tools most freelancers can self-publish an e-book for relatively little cost.

With the internet, marketing a book is also much easier than it used to be. For starters, you can announce your book on your own website and through your social media network.

Tips for Would-Be Book Authors

Many people start to write a book. Few finish.

If you decide to write a book on your freelancing specialty, here are a few tips to help you with the project:

Treat the book like a paid project. Schedule time for writing. Assign a deadline to your book (and stick to that deadline as much as you possibly can).
Check, and double-check your writing. Remember, your name is going to be associated with whatever you publish.
Don’t try to write the entire book in a single sitting. It’s much better to space your writing out (and you’ll get a higher quality product in the end).
Do hire professionals (page designers, illustrators, editors, etc.) to give your book the professional image that you need.
Once your book is ready, use your networks to help market it. Consider giving a few advance copies away for review to members of your network.
Continue to use others to help sell your book by offering an affiliate program.

Your Turn

Have you already written a book about your freelancing specialty? How did it go?

I know this is a big topic, but share your thoughts and tips in the comments.

(I would love it if this post inspired someone to write their own book.)

About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 20 years of professional business writing experience. If you liked this post, then you may also enjoy Laura’s blog about her freelance writing experiences, WritingThoughts. Laura is also on Google+.

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34 Comments

Gold
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:37 am

Very good. Make me want to write another book.

I’ve self publishing for over a half of a century (selling only books that I write).

If the purpose of your commercial endeavors is to make a profit, then write and sell fiction. There is a bigger market for fiction.

One inexpensive way to get your book published is the e-book way. How many can you sell? If what your selling is fiction, I’ve heard authors and others claim millions. If is none fiction maybe 50 thousand if you’re lucky. Ask Laura how many of that “The Unlimited Freelancer” have they sold.

If you want to see one that I’m associated with check it out at
James Chartrand - Men with Pens
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:52 am

I like to be encouraging, and if people want to write a book, I support their venture.

That said, there are some people who shouldn’t write books. Or at the very least, shouldn’t publish and sell them.

There are a lot of bad books out there, written by people who aren’t experts and who don’t really know what they’re talking about.

After all, EVERYONE’s an expert these days. It’s easy to proclaim you’re one of them and hit the books. (Figuratively speaking, of course). Which means plenty of wannabes, hacks and inexperienced people are penning “books” full of bad advice, faulty strategies and damaging tips.

While many people appreciate that it’s easy to publish books today and cheer that the traditional Gatekeepers have been overthrown… well, I certainly miss them. Someone needs to maintain good standards and sort the wheat from the chaff.

Because each time I go to buy a book these days, I pause and hope I’m not going to get screwed. Like I said, there are a lot of bad books out there these days. Sad, really.
Liz Broomfield
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:52 am

Thank you for mentioning editing as part of the process! So many blogs are not edited or proof-read (see the interesting poll on my website for attitudes to that!) and then often a blog is turned into a book with no additional editing or work to tie it together into a coherent whole.
QuinnCreative
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:53 am

Thanks for the article. The pros and cons are right on target. I just published a how-to book through North Light: Raw Art Journaling is a book for people who want to keep an art journal, but don’t know how to draw. Pleased with every step of the process. It’s a lot of work and takes a lot of discipline. But so worth it. In my opinion, no one should think of writing a book because she wants to get published and make money. You write a book to write, because you have to tell what you know. Everything else is gravy.

I’d like to see enhanced books–paper books with an ebook companion that has videos to explain parts of the book, to show the how-to.
Laura Spencer
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:06 am

Gold, Somehow it cut off your link… :( Feel free to post again and share it. BTW, The Unlimited Freelancer was Mason and James’ project. :)

James, I understand your point, but I think those who would write poor books and don’t know their stuff probably aren’t making it as a freelancer either. I think the more common scenario is the freelancer or small business that really knows what they’re doing, but needs the help of an editor or freelance writer to help polish their writing. (Also, I can remember buying dreadful books before the gatekeepers were overthrown. I remember one in particular that was so bad all it was good for was counting the typos…)

Liz Broomfield–I’m definitely a fan of editing. Even a very good writer can benefit from having a second set of eyes look at the work.

Hi QuinnCreative! Congratulations on your book. It sounds like exactly what I had in mind when I wrote this post.
James Chartrand - Men with Pens
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:25 am

@ Laura – Point. Bad work may get bought a few times, but it won’t bring long-term, sustainable success. (And true, I’ve bought a few horrid “real expert” books myself!)
Laura Spencer
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:41 am

James–Great point! Everyone (not just freelancers) should remember that what they write will ultimately affect their reputation as a professional. My sympathies go out to you for buying horrid books–what a letdown! I always check the reviews of a book before I buy it. I pay particular attention if someone I know has written a positive review.
Gold
August 3rd, 2011 at 10:46 am

My link got cut off on my last comment. True, but the link was still there. Move your cursor over my name Gold. Anyway the link is http://guide.robertperrett.com
Harleena Singh
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:22 am

Hi Laura,

Great tips to get started on writing a book. I have been giving it a thought, but somehow never found that kind of quiet, get-away time to pen my thoughts.

However, your post surely motivates me to make a start!

Thanks for sharing a great post!
Deb Ng
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:22 am

As someone who is going through the process right now (with a publisher – not self-published), I can tell you it’s more difficult than you might think, and even veteran authors will tell you the same.

It’s difficult enough to find a publisher, but deadlines, guidelines and author reviews can be brutal. That said, I wouldn’t change the experience for anything in the world. Writing a book taught me so much about myself and as a writer – mostly that I have a lot to learn. There are a lot of late nights, stress, and tears, and plenty of times of self doubt, but I’ve dreamed of authoring a book since I was a very young girl. Though sometimes it’s tough, I’m so honored to be living a dream.

And I can’t wait to write my second book.
Deb Ng
August 3rd, 2011 at 11:23 am

And to answer the question – Should you write a book? Yes. If you have something to share, you should absolutely write a book. Even if your skills aren’t 100% up to snuff, there are editors to help you out – not to rewrite your book but to help you with some rough spots and find the right words.
Jeff Fisher LogoMotives
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:23 pm

Great tips for any author wannabe.

I was stunned about 10 years ago when a publisher contacted me to write a book. It was surprising that they felt I had anything to share worth publishing. I was asked to submit three brief proposals for books I wanted to write. They didn’t like any of them. So much for my brush with the publishing world. A few months later the editor again contacted me with an idea for the book they thought I should write. Although the title was not what I desired, the result was my first book, “The Savvy Designer’s Guide to Success; Idea and tactics for a killer career.”

Prior to signing the contract for the book, I contacted several published authors for advice and input. My friend Ilise Benun made it very clear to me that once the book was written an author’s real work just begins. No matter how a book is published, through a traditional publisher or self-published, so much of the marketing of any book to success is up to the author. This was certainly the case with “Savvy Designer” and my second book, “Identity Crisis!: 50 Redesigns That Transformed Stale Identities into Successful Brands.”

I am currently working on several new book projects. In addition, I have contributed to, or have my design work featured in, over 150 other books. The combined result of all these books has been great marketing for my design services. In addition, paid speaking gigs, teaching opportunities and magazine writing jobs have come my way.

I would highly recommend that anyone with the desire to write a book take the plunge into the ever-changing world of publishing. As Ms. Spencer notes, resources are readily available to assist a writer through any step of the book writing process.

Good luck to any aspiring authors!
Katharine O'Moore-Klopf
August 3rd, 2011 at 12:30 pm

Yes, I’ve written two books, one of them an onscreen booklet:

Getting Started as a Freelance Copyeditor

http://www.kokedit.com/library.shtml#gettingstarted

It sells well. And because it’s an onscreen booklet, it’s easy for me to update as my industry and editing-related technology change.

My other book isn’t related to my industry. I wrote the updates for the second edition of the book:

Taking Charge: Your Education, Your Career, Your Life, 2nd edition

http://tstcpubtakingcharge.wordpress.com/

For that book, it was quite interesting being the one whose work was edited instead of being the one who edits someone else’s work. Writing the book reminded me that in another lifetime–as a journalist in the early 1980s–I had loved writing.
Freshpage
August 3rd, 2011 at 1:17 pm

You didn’t mention the main thing that would put me off writing a book – the hours and hours spent doing it when I could be earning money!
Laura Spencer
August 3rd, 2011 at 2:25 pm

Great discussion!

Deb Ng–Really looking forward to seeing your finished book. :)

Jeff Fisher & Katherine O’Moore Klopf, Thanks for sharing your books, and your experiences with getting published. It’s great to have feedback from some folks who have been there.

Freshpage–The time factor is a big deterrent, and I’m sure it keeps many would-be authors from writing.
TheAL
August 3rd, 2011 at 5:35 pm

I started writing a book when I was in high school, and it carried on through college. I kept most of it online as a website, and it existed as a how-to guide. After talking to someone I knew who published her own For Dummies book, I basically got cold feed and just focused on the website. But, of late, I’ve been thinking of resurrecting the project. It would be really awesome to say I have a published book for sale.
Paul Clifford
August 3rd, 2011 at 9:57 pm

Some people plan to write a book for years and years and never do it. That was my story until last November. As some of you know, November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and write Non-fiction in November month. I decided to see if I could write a book. The challenge in November is 1600 words a day (or so). That’s basically a longish blog post. (For comparison sake, this blog post was 716 words, so a little more than twice as long as this one).

I just kept writing until I felt like I covered the topic. I’m a graphic designer, so I did the cover art and layout. I had my wife’s cousin (who put herself through grad school proofing papers) proofread it.

I published on createspace (owned by Amazon btw) and on Kindle. I haven’t sold a ton of them, but today I got a consulting job helping a church learn to podcast because I literally “wrote the book on podcasting in churches.”

Monday, I started writing “Tweeting Church” and expect to get speaking and consulting gigs because I wrote the book on that, too.

I guess my thought is that if I was looking at two people who are identical in every other way, price, recommendations, portfolio, etc., but one wrote a book on it, there’s a subconscious thought (at least in me) that that person really knows his stuff, whether that’s true or not.

It also gives me the marketable skill of formatting books, designing book covers, and formatting for Kindle. In a slow time, those skills could really pay off.

If you’re curious: http://podcastingchurch.com and http://amzn.to/mZiEXF (for Kindle).

Paul
SocialMotus
August 4th, 2011 at 3:00 am

interest to read your article about ” writing a book”. i’d like to write my book now. i think it’s good experience
Raul Omar Diaz
August 4th, 2011 at 3:25 am

Excellent tips on writing and publishing your own book.

Just to add, in case you don’t know where to send your ebook for publishing you can simply sign-up to amazon’s kindle self-publishing site.

you can upload a digital copy of your book there and have it approved and entered into the Amazon kindle estore in 24 hours.

Thanks!
Daquan Wright
August 4th, 2011 at 8:39 am

As someone who wishes to be a part-time freelancer, I have a ton of experience since I’m a practitioner that’s been working with web technologies for a few years now. Once I get my blog established and am sharing my knowledge, I won’t mind doing tutorials/possibly e-books. If you can maintain a trusted blog, there’s no reason why you can’t write a book.

I think the more important decisions around whether you should make a book or not revolve around your motivations for writing and what gap in the market you’re feeling. I think if you’re passionate about your fields and do proper research (and not just doing it for money), it can be a great thing.

It would indeed be odd to be capable of freelancing successfully, yet not be able to write about your topic in a way that highlights your knowledge and experience. Writing isn’t hard, you just need to know what you’re talking about and who you want to get your message to.
Caitlin Kelly
August 4th, 2011 at 7:45 pm

I’ve written two books, both non-fiction, and would seriously caution anyone who thinks it’s fun or easy. I enjoy it, but it is NOT a money-maker per se; most mid-list (i.e. non celebrity) authors get very small advances paid in four instalments over two years. It can become part of your revenue stream but for people who don’t write for a living, it’s much more challenging than people seem to imagine.

As someone who works with would-be authors, I agree that finding someone who’s already cleared that hurdle twice can only help.

And, yes, reviews can be utterly savage and very personal. Just because you’re now an author doesn’t mean people will like what you’ve done.
Ronan
August 5th, 2011 at 4:01 am

Great tips and interesting to read your article about “could you write a book”. I should have to start writing a book now.

Thanks for your sharing a great post!
Kevin@OutOfYourRut
August 5th, 2011 at 8:05 pm

I’ve written a couple of ebooks and would say that the biggest issue in doing so is the time it take to write them. But as a freelancer, I think it’s important to have ebooks but from a different angle. For the most part, a freelancer is only paid for what they do–which is to say it’s like a job. If you write, you get paid; if you don’t, there’s no money coming in.

A book/ebook can be a passive form of income, which is important smooth out the work-for-hire aspect of freelancing. It’s a shot at developing multiple income streams, and if you look at it that way, it kind of becomes necessary, even if really don’t like investing the time in a single long term project.
Steve
August 9th, 2011 at 10:25 am

I couldn’t, wouldn’t write a book!

But seriously where would I find the time? It would take me years to get it anywhere near to finished.

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