Awhile ago I complained about no updates to the Warhammer 40K MMO. Time to make sure I post updates on the Fan To Pro book.
I've been working on this since the summer – it got delayed as, when 80% complete, I decided my design didn't work. So I sat down and rewrote the whole thing. Frankly it's much better.
So here's the update, and I'll have new ones every now and then until publication.
- The contents of the book are mostly done. I want to add a bit more, especially a few more resource sections for "best resources." I have best books and best online resources, but I want to think over if I need more.
- The intro needs to be rewritten. Oddly, its the part I'm least happy with.
- The book is edited otherwise. All the additions are new sections. I fansourced the book editing out.
- There will be an intro from my co-blogger, Bonnie, who has been through all of this with me.
- 'm debating if the book needs an index. The chapters are very clearly organized and differentiated, and I don't know if the book needs an index.
- The cover is proving to be a pain to come up with. Since I expect most sales to be online, that actually changes the kind of cover one wants to use.
- I realized I need to develop a better plan to make people aware of the book, and have been researching that.
Here's what I've learned:
- The archetypal book you think of doesn't exist in reality. Books vary based on many factors. I, loving indexes, find it odd that I'm thinking of leaving one out.
- It's actually easy to write a book if you come up with a detailed outline first then write that to flesh it out. It's a lot like good fiction.
- There's quite a few self-publishing options. Lulu.com managed to be a best-of-breed type. Their success, however, also acted as a beacon to others to figure out how to make their self-publishing work.
- Covers are a pain. There's really no formula or plan to them.
The current publication date will be somewhere late March/early April 2010. The unsurety comes from how fast I can get my proof. I am using Lulu.com – so expect a review out of that.
So that's where I am. A few more months and we're there.
– Steven Savage