Book Deal

Published on: July 6, 2007 by Paul Boag

I have taken the plunge and finally agreed to write a book. It was a difficult decision and (as is my tendency) I have chosen an unusual route.

I have been considering the possibility of writing a book for some time now after numerous conversations with various publishers, but to be frank I have always been hesitant about the undertaking.

I am under no illusions that writing a book is a lot of work. My father is an author, and I have spoken to many other web designers who have written books. Everyone has warned me that this will suck up a lot of my time and can be a demoralizing process.

However, lets be honest, writing a book is kind of cool. Sure, I can blog and yes I have a podcast which seems to be popular, but nothing beats seeing your name in print. Like so many before I have been suckered by the "glamour" of it all.

I have to admit I find the prospect terrifying. When I look at my peers who have written books I feel way out of my league, but it has been my choice of publisher that has encouraged me to take the leap.

Most web design books are either published by Sitepoint, O'Reilly, New Rider or Friends of Ed but I have chosen to go with a smaller publishing house called Manning Publications. My decision to do that is because they have a much more open and collaborative approach to publishing than I have seen elsewhere. They expose the entire book to the public before it is sent to press, make extracts available on a regular basis and encourage authors to blog about the process of writing a book.

My intention is to be as open about the process of writing as possible. I want to show you chapters at various stages, as well as encourage you to feedback your thoughts and additions. My hope is that the boagworld community can be real contributor to the book, so that it is becomes more than my thoughts alone, but the collective knowledge of the community.

Speaking of openness I suppose I should tell you what the book is about! Basically, it is very much inline with the mission of this website...

This site/podcast exists to help you poor sods who have been lumbered with the job of managing the company's website. This responsibility is on top of your normal work and has been given to you despite the fact that you know little or nothing about the internet and building websites. It is for you that boagworld.com exists.

The book will be aimed at website owners and tell them what they need to know in order to run a successful website.

If you are a web designer, hold back your cries of anguish, because this book will have lots in it for you too. It will help you better handle your working relationship with clients. It will show you how to communicate with them and hopefully deal with the more complex parts of the process such as sign off of design.

Obviously it is still early stages at this point but expect a lot more from me on this subject in the future.

Comments

Comments are for the discussion of this post. If you have other questions / comments then post them to the forum or send me an email

Post by Daniel Aleksandersen on July 6, 2007 8:01 PM

So what matters is not what you write about: But whether you get your name on print and get famous? Hehe...

You should give some kind of discount to Boagworld listeners, Paul! How about a sign-up-and-get-notified-when-the-book-is-done-and-you-will-get-10-pound-discount thing?

Good luck with your book, Paul!
Post by Paul Boag on July 6, 2007 8:18 PM

Lets face it Daniel, why else would somebody write a book ;)
Post by Matt H on July 6, 2007 8:18 PM

Wow! Congrats Paul. I'm looking forward to hearing about the writing process. The collaborative approach is a very exciting idea. I work in government contracting, and my customers could really use a book like this. Plus, even if they don't read it - I can tell them about what I learn from it.
Post by Lee Wison on July 6, 2007 8:24 PM

£10 discount, would have to have a big price tag I would imagine :)

I really like the idea of user feedback on the book, taking advantage of the technology and platform you are writing about. Hopefully big publishers will follow in Manning's footsteps, although I won't hold my breath there.

Sounds like it will be a great investment for newcomers and people setting up in the web design business. I personally welcome the section on handling clients, although I think that might just warrant a book in its own right :)

Seriously though, good luck with it.

Lee
Post by James Tryon on July 6, 2007 8:41 PM

Hay Paul good for you!!!
How long tell its done. I think this is something that i would give to all my clients. Also it might help to put a chapter about keeping the site up to date or running. you know (news and events or a blog, new pic's) but your the expert don't let me tell you how to be Paul.

I'm happy for you,
Easily Amused
Post by Mark Stephenson on July 6, 2007 8:52 PM

Hey, Great News!

I'll look forward to seeing the work in progress and getting a glimpse of how your mind works in developing the content for the book.
Post by Anna on July 6, 2007 9:22 PM

Congrats! I hope to see your book on bookshelves soon. I am pretty sure it will be as insightful as your podcasts. Good luck!
Post by Martijn v.d. Ven on July 6, 2007 11:14 PM

Sounds great, will surely try to get a copy once it's out.
One step closer to world comination Paul ;)

Good luck, keep us all posted.
Post by Martijn v.d. Ven on July 6, 2007 11:14 PM

Sounds great, will surely try to get a copy once it's out.
One step closer to world domination Paul ;)

Good luck, keep us all posted.
Post by Aaron Mills on July 7, 2007 1:25 AM

Great! Looking forward to hearing more about this.
Post by Tim on July 7, 2007 3:53 AM

Congratulations and good luck with the writing process Paul. Keep your eyes on the prize mate - when you're holding the finished product in your hands you'll know its all been worth it.
Post by Ed on July 7, 2007 10:06 AM

Congratulations Paul. I hope it works out well for you.
Post by Sam England on July 7, 2007 10:30 AM

Great News, and Good Luck, Paul. Keep us posted on developments on your book, and I'm sure the whole Boagworld Community is behind you. Well Done!
Post by Paul Boag on July 7, 2007 2:49 PM

Thanks for all of the encouragement guys. A couple of points in response to your comments...

There will not be a section as such on handling clients but hopefully there will be something to learn from what I chose to communicate to clients through the book and through the way I approach subjects.

Secondly, there will be at least one chapter entirely dedicated to keeping your site uptodate once it goes live.
Post by Rich Quick on July 7, 2007 3:48 PM

Hey Paul - congrats.

As somebody who's done it, you're damn right that writing a book will take a lot out of you - but in the end it's worth it.

Just let your wife and kids know what they're in for - there's a reason most books have a thankyou to the writer's family in them - they have a big part to play in the book without getting all the glamour, 6 figure royalee cheques, invites to Hollywood premieres, celebrity girlfriends and ... ok now I'm just daydreaming. But they do suffer a lot - so warn them.

It's the best business card you'll ever have, though.

Can't wait to see the first snippet!

- Rich
Post by Paul Boag on July 7, 2007 5:11 PM

I am in a fortunate position Rich that hopefully it wont affect the family too much. The guys at Headscape have agreed to let me write most of it in work time! So if anybody is going to be annoyed at me not being around it will be them.
Post by Andy Yeates on July 8, 2007 10:12 PM

The book sounds good Paul.

As a site owner who regularly faces the issues you flag up in your blog i'd definitely buy a copy.

In fact if you want a site owners perspective on an topics you've lined up, i'd be happy to help. Drop me an email if this floats your boat.

Andy
Post by Scott Hoff on July 8, 2007 11:24 PM

Hey Paul!

I don't know very much about book publishing. However, out of the publishers that you mentioned, I recognized several and came to a realization. I really like the friends of Ed books. I can't honestly say that the quality is better than all of the others. However, I can tell you that I feel better about their books. I know we shouldn't judge books by their covers. In any case, the Friends of Ed Books have the best looking covers and I find the layout of those books to be really great. I think they have a real relaxed and fun feel and I think that is reflected in the experience that I have when I read their books.

The worst books to read (based on appearance not style) are the Wrox books. Who isn't sick of looking at some guy on a cover a book surrounded by a huge amount of red. It get's old!

So... I guess my point is that I hope the publisher that you're going with has the same sort of feel that the friend's of Ed books have.

Finally, If you think this is a friend of Ed Advertisement, you are mistaken. Every Friend of Ed book that I have read has been recommended by you.

Congrats on the book. You know that I will buy it.
Post by Jason Hando on July 9, 2007 2:32 PM

Great news! Count me in for a copy and I absolutely love the "open book" concept. Can we subscribe in some way to get notifications via email of chapters to review etc? This has the potential to be a very powerful model for publishing and I believe there could not be a better subject matter than helping people perform the job of web design and development - such a dynamic topic that is suited to collaboration of the masses. (very wikinomics of you)

Cheers,
Jason
Post by Eric Anderson on July 9, 2007 4:58 PM

I applaud you on your approach, Paul. That sounds like an excellent way to go about the writing. Good luck, I know it will turn out great.
Post by Amanda Daniels on July 9, 2007 5:35 PM

What a fantaistic adverture your going to undertake! and I wish you all the best!
Post by Gary Marshall on July 10, 2007 9:15 AM

Paul:

Everyone has warned me that this will suck up a lot of my time and can be a demoralizing process.

Sure, but despite all that it can still be great fun to do.

If you need any advice on how not to get stiffed with contracts etc, drop me a line...
Post by ???????? aka Stergios on July 10, 2007 1:36 PM

What can I say? Good luck. Hope the book is as great as the podcasts. And if the book becomes very very successful and the profits from it are big, you should take the time and visit one Greek island with your family to celebrate the success. Thanks for the great podcasts again.
Post by Milos on July 10, 2007 4:00 PM

Wow! Great news! Well... good luck! I'll be one of the first buyers! ;-)
Post by Mouse on July 11, 2007 10:29 AM

Having just spent an hour as "a customer" with our web guys and teaching them about ALT and TITLE tags... i think a chapter on CSM training and good practice might be great....

Paul good luck with this and i'll be looking out for an autographed copy

Mouse
Post by Richard Bateman on July 11, 2007 1:20 PM

I'm pleased for you Paul.

So I guess coffee makers, Red Bull and beta blocker suppliers will see a 0.5% rise in profits when you start to put pen to paper or should I say finger to key?

Good luck with the process and make sure you make time for yourself to relax as I know a few authors who went through hell during the writing process.

I look forward to the updates.
Post by online shopping on December 27, 2007 11:17 AM

Well done, I think this is a great step in a great direction. Like you say, nothing really beats your name in print, and when you see that book for the first time... and realise that YOU wrote it... it's a pretty cool feeling. Then when you pick it up a year later or so and read over some of the stuff, you'll even be surprised you wrote it. Both because there will be parts that probably sound much more brilliant than you thought, and other parts that sound far less brilliant you thought. You'll be both proud and embarressed. But, the process is certainly one I wouldn't exchange for much else. Good luck Paul!
Post by art oil portraits on March 13, 2008 1:25 PM

How was your book? I didn’t hear any book signing thing? This has been written last year and no update up to now. We’re all excited to hear about any update on your newest endeavor. I hope you can get back to us soon.

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