 |
Author/Writer/Executive Leadership. Teamwork. |
          
|
Thinking about becoming an author?
Don't settle for a "hurry-up book" copyright 2002, Mariah Burton Nelson So you want to be an author? Take the time to practice (writing every day, taking classes, joining writers' support groups) so you can write well. (If after investing time in learning the craft, you still think you can't write well, hire someone to help you produce your book.) Even if someone helps you, please call the process "writing a book," not "doing a book." And when it's finished, please call it a book (or books), not "product." How we speak (and write) conveys how we feel about our work and what our intentions are. Calling books "product" clearly sends the message that our priority is making money -- not sharing a message we hope makes a difference. Why is writing well important? Because "being an author" will not, contrary to popular opinion, lead to instant credibility, major bookings, or lucrative sales. A book might boost your business, but that will depend on the quality of book you write. One motivational speaker actually lost credibility with me when I went to the back of the room and saw his "book" -- a thin, watery re-hash of the speech. Like other attendees -- some of whom did buy the book -- I had been eager to sink my teeth into something of value. I mistakenly expected his book to meet the same high standard as his speech. When it failed to do so, I was not only disappointed in the book, I was disappointed in him as a professional. Another speaker recently told me, "My book has fifteen typo's in it, and you know what? I don't care." Why doesn't she care? Would she care if she made 15 mistakes in a speech? Would she care if her bank made 15 mistakes in her account? Everything we create, from our website to our business cards to our books, represents us. Shouldn't we take pride in all our work? Anyone can slap together a book these days, and some people do. But if we produce a book just so we can call ourselves an author -- or just so we can have back-of-the-room sales -- that can backfire by creating a negative impression. Call me old-fashioned, but I think we should write books only when we have something meaningful to say -- and when we do our best to communicate that "something" in an interesting, entertaining way. I want to make money, of course, but I'm convinced that to the extent I have been successful as an author (I'm fortunate to have four books published by Random House, Harcourt Brace, William Morrow, and HarperCollins), it's because readers have found my books interesting and useful. Seems to me this should be true of all books, regardless of who publishes them. Like our speeches, our books announce: "This is who I am; this is what I care about; this is the quality you can expect when you do business with me." Don't settle for a "hurry-up book." Write the best book you possibly can. *** Mariah Burton Nelson has been writing and speaking about sports, success, and leadership since 1980. She can be reached through her website: www.MariahBurtonNelson.com For reprint permission contact the author; information below. To contact Mariah about her presentations, call 703/276-8323 or write to her at Mariah@MariahBurtonNelson.com Home
2000-2002 Mariah Burton Nelson 2002
Site Redesign by ALT
Designs |
