Bibliotech: "How to Quit Your Job and Write a Book (Or Two)"
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Spotlight Series
posted 3/12/2008 from
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Welcome to the BallHype Spotlight Series, Volume 2: Bibilotech, a series of essays about books. In this edition, Geoff Young of Ducksnorts tells you how to quit your job and write a book (or two). Enjoy.
In August 2006, I got the bright idea of writing a book based on my Padres blog, Ducksnorts. I'd published a couple "Best Of" eBooks in the past that relied almost exclusively on existing material. The next logical step was to create an original work that expanded on ideas considered at the blog.
How did I do this? Glad you asked.
- Given the late start date, I knew I wouldn't have enough time to work with a traditional publisher. I investigated other options and settled on Lulu.
- I put my project management background to use and developed a statement of work with estimated hours, deliverable dates, and other Really Exciting Stuff. Then in November, after I'd completed a couple chapters, I came to the horrifying realization that the book wouldn't get finished unless I made a significant lifestyle adjustment.
- I quit my job.
- After drafting an initial outline and running it past several of my readers (who I can't thank enough), I started researching. I culled much of the information from existing blog posts, which I rearranged by topic, so that, say, everything I'd written about Adrian Gonzalez was in the same place. Then I looked for patterns -- things that had interested me during the season and which I thought might be worth investigating further. From there it was pretty much a matter of fleshing out the outline to create a first draft.
- Once I'd finished a draft, I sent each chapter to two different reviewers and asked them to be brutally honest.
- Next I made revisions based on reviewer recommendations and re-checked my facts. Then my wife and I edited the entire manuscript. We both have backgrounds in copy editing, but I think next time I'll let someone else handle those duties. It's impossible to view one's own work objectively after being so close to it for so long. I physically got tired of looking at my own words. As they say, I've suffered for my art -- now it's your turn.
- All throughout the process, I played with layouts and typesetting. I also got started on cover art earlier this time. For the Ducksnorts 2007 Baseball Annual, I basically did a photo shoot the day before I sent everything off to the printer. I don't recommend that. For the Ducksnorts 2008 Baseball Annual, I developed a concept well in advance and made minor tweaks as I went along.
- Somewhere in there, I approached Padres TV broadcaster Matt Vasgersian about contributing the foreword, and he graciously agreed. I'd been fortunate enough to have Padres CEO Sandy Alderson write the foreword to the 2007 Annual, and his participation in the project encouraged me to continue aiming as high as possible -- the worst anyone could say was "no." I'd already quit a really good job to write these things, so how bad could a two-letter word be? Basically there was no downside, and plenty of upside. And I'm beyond flattered that both gentlemen have been a part of the experience.
Lessons Learned
The big lesson is to start sooner. You really can't get started on a project like this soon enough. Have a plan. Be flexible within that plan, but have a plan. Talk to people about the project. I'm not the most outgoing person, so this is a struggle for me, but getting the word out is huge. Contact your fellow bloggers, contact the local media, tell people you meet on the street. Well, not just anyone -- but if they start talking about baseball, I try to sneak in a quick mention.
The flip side is listening. One of the great things about blogging is that I have a built-in community of folks who share my obsession and who are happy to give me feedback. For instance, several people mentioned that they would have loved a glossary and index in the 2007 Annual. Well, I couldn't do anything about that, but I certainly could include them in the 2008 Annual. So I did, and I like to think that the book is that much stronger for it.
In conclusion, don't quit your day job to write a book unless you can afford to do so. In my experience, writing books is a terrible way to make a living. But it's a whole lot of fun.
Keep track of the Spotlight Series at the BallHype hub or via the RSS feed. To get involved in future Spotlight Series, contact Tom Ziller.
Tags:
MLB
San Diego Padres
Comments (10)
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Erin +6Congrats on the book, Geoff! Do you find that having a book published helps with credibility and access to sports figures? At the very least, it must help your parents explain what you do to their friends...-
Geoff Young There is no explanation for what I do to my parents' friends. ;-) Sorry, couldn't resist.
Seriously, thanks, Erin. Having the book published seems to help somewhat. It's not like the proverbial floodgates opened, but definitely there has been a change.
And yeah, my folks probably prefer "he writes books" to "he blogs."
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Erin Crap I'm slow!
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Ben Q. Rock Rad, Geoff. Really rad.-
Geoff Young Thanks, man.
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crashburnalley I really enjoyed reading about how you quit your job. I can relate to it though I quit my job for different reasons. It was a decent-paying job but quitting it may have been the best thing I could have done, especially in terms of mental health. I assume it is similar for you.
I hope you have a ton of success with your book and keep up the good work at Duck Snorts.
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Geoff Young Thanks for the kind words.
The mental health aspect cannot be underestimated. I actually liked my job (and I really liked the money), but between it and my writing, I was putting in 15-16 hour days, like, all the time.
I'm at an age where I figured I had one shot in life to do this. If it doesn't work, oh well; at least I tried.
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brockforbroglio I think one area that is getting overlooked is the stand up guy the author is.
Geoff is committed to providing value for his readers and customers, and they take care of him because of it.
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Geoff Young Where do I send the check? ;-)
Seriously, thanks for the kind words.
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ethanator1088 "Very inspiring", said the guy that read this 19 days after it was posted.
Links (6)
Hump-Day News Roundup
Published 3/12/2008 by Sports Diva at THE SPORTS DIVA MAGAZINE
... the news. Jason Kidd disliked playing in the Knicks' shadow. Yet he goes to Dallas where he has to deal with San Antonio? (The Knicks Fix) Remembering Woody Hayes (Eleven Warriors) Meet Eric Deters. The lawyer in the suit against the New England Patriots (Jucied Sports Blog) The college basketball hotties. They just forget my boy Jamar Butler. Don't worry Jamar. I see you. (Ladies...) How to quit your job and write a book. (Ball Hype Bibliotech) ...
How to quit your job and write a book
Published 3/12/2008 by Bryan Tsao at The Hardball Times
How to quit your job and write a book by Bryan Tsao March 12, 2008 THT's Geoff Young chimes in on writing the Ducksnorts book . Bryan Tsao is the editor for The Hardball Times website. He welcomes comments, questions, and suggestions for both himself and the site ...
Everywhere but Here
Published 3/13/2008 by Geoff Young at Ducksnorts
... How to Quit Your Job and Write a Book (Or Two) (BallHype). I posted this in the comments on Wednesday, but here’s a little “behind-the-scenes” look at the process of writing the Ducksnorts Baseball Annuals. ...
Roundup - Bangqiu
Published 3/13/2008 by Dave Rouleau at Baseball Digest Daily
... : Multiple talent evaluators are saying that Houston shortstop Miguel Tejada looks absolutely terrible this spring, and they can't see him finishing the year at his current position. - My colleague Geoff Young wrote a post titled " How to Quit Your Job and Write a Book (or Two) ".
Friday's Frosty Mug
Published 3/14/2008 by KLSnow <info@brewcrewball.com> at Brew Crew Ball
... Geoff Young of Ducksnorts fame has a post up on how to quit your job and write a book. It's interesting, but slightly different from my model: ...
Weekend Footnotes
Published 3/15/2008 by TZ <info@sactownroyalty.com> at Sactown Royalty
... Ron Artest so hard. Speaking of possibly-evil-but-nonetheless-friendly Lakers bloggers, a link to Kurt's Forum Blue & Gold postmortem on the game is long overdue. He calls the Lakers defensive ineptitude an aberration, and I'd tend to agree. The Play in California has a list of reasons to hope KJ wins the mayorship. Great stuff going on at BallHype this week: An essay on the state of sports literature, and an essay from a blogger who quit his job to write books about the Padres. The Kings take on the Suns tonight. Full ...
