Comments on: I Will Not Write a Book http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html A blog on software development, technology, games & movies. Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:22:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: DamionKutaeff http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-67997 DamionKutaeff Sun, 23 Mar 2008 02:33:18 +0000 http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-67997 Hello everybody, my name is Damion, and I'm glad to join your conmunity, and wish to assit as far as possible. Hello everybody, my name is Damion, and I’m glad to join your conmunity,
and wish to assit as far as possible.

]]> By: erikbianchi http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-43375 erikbianchi Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:23:43 +0000 http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-43375 The biggest issues ive had with writing books was the material was rushed, under a deadline on a product that wasn't finished and page count being more important then content. Why write in 3 pages what you could write about in 15! -erik The biggest issues ive had with writing books was the material was rushed, under a deadline on a product that wasn’t finished and page count being more important then content.

Why write in 3 pages what you could write about in 15!

-erik

]]> By: Todd http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-42336 Todd Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:56:16 +0000 http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-42336 True, you won't make jack on the books. But I know that companies pay a lot better for being a proven and publish thought leader. Back when I was working more in .NET, I had friends who made 50% more for their training and speaking engagements, just based on the fact that they had published. One of the things I have issue with is that books are out-dated so quickly. I learn and have to use the Web and people's blogs for finding the updated information. The problem with blogs, though, is searching all the appropriate ones and finding the information needed. It's a science all in itself. Right now, you're experiencing a great job market, so there's lots of projects and good consulting money to be had. Once you've lived through a changing job market, like after the first dot-com boom ended and all your $120/hour gigs become $45 or $50, then you'll appreciate the credentials being published and a thought leader could bring. It would make you stand out from other candidates, no doubt. Maybe JesterXL has it right above, writing would be better suited for a slower economy. Work for the cash now while you can. BTW, I'm glad I'm not the only person it took 6 hours to write blog entries. (Which, is why I hardly write them anymore.) True, you won’t make jack on the books. But I know that companies pay a lot better for being a proven and publish thought leader. Back when I was working more in .NET, I had friends who made 50% more for their training and speaking engagements, just based on the fact that they had published.

One of the things I have issue with is that books are out-dated so quickly. I learn and have to use the Web and people’s blogs for finding the updated information. The problem with blogs, though, is searching all the appropriate ones and finding the information needed. It’s a science all in itself.

Right now, you’re experiencing a great job market, so there’s lots of projects and good consulting money to be had. Once you’ve lived through a changing job market, like after the first dot-com boom ended and all your $120/hour gigs become $45 or $50, then you’ll appreciate the credentials being published and a thought leader could bring. It would make you stand out from other candidates, no doubt.

Maybe JesterXL has it right above, writing would be better suited for a slower economy. Work for the cash now while you can.

BTW, I’m glad I’m not the only person it took 6 hours to write blog entries. (Which, is why I hardly write them anymore.)

]]> By: Christopher Keeler http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-42330 Christopher Keeler Tue, 08 Jan 2008 15:14:23 +0000 http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-42330 Write a Book? It's friggin' 2008! How about we get out of the middle ages, and start using the technology we created. Captivate sessions or online video learning...that's where I'd focus my effort$. Write a Book? It’s friggin’ 2008! How about we get out of the middle ages, and start using the technology we created. Captivate sessions or online video learning…that’s where I’d focus my effort$.

]]> By: Jeffry Houser http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-42292 Jeffry Houser Tue, 08 Jan 2008 12:27:54 +0000 http://jessewarden.com/2008/01/i-will-not-write-a-book.html#comment-42292 I love writing and by all accounts, I'm pretty good at it. The scheduled energized me and I never felt the burnout that many others experienced. When I wrote my ColdFusion books, ~7 years ago it helped my consulting career. I'd love to write a Flex Book (or two or three), but passed on the opportunity last year, mainly due to the economics of it. I do not believe that another book to my name would help me. The market is about to become saturated with Flex books. Ask your potential publishers how they are going to differentiate themselves. Ask them the size of the market. Ask them their sales targets. I wanted an answer better than "O'Rielly had a book that sold well..." I love writing and by all accounts, I’m pretty good at it. The scheduled energized me and I never felt the burnout that many others experienced. When I wrote my ColdFusion books, ~7 years ago it helped my consulting career.

I’d love to write a Flex Book (or two or three), but passed on the opportunity last year, mainly due to the economics of it. I do not believe that another book to my name would help me. The market is about to become saturated with Flex books. Ask your potential publishers how they are going to differentiate themselves. Ask them the size of the market. Ask them their sales targets.

I wanted an answer better than “O’Rielly had a book that sold well…”

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