WScottDowns: http://208.61.52.71:8000/Music/Clower/
J Arneault: tiny files for audio
WScottDowns: mp3
WScottDowns: http://208.61.52.71:8000/Music/Clower/Jerry%20Clower% 20-%20Marcel%20Ledbetter%20Moving%20Company.mp 3
WScottDowns: Listen to that one
J Arneault: k
J Arneault: did you add the music note icons, or is that an IE thing?
WScottDowns: I think it's an IE thing - but I believe that you can customize the icons in APACHE.
J Arneault: different subject
J Arneault: I'm thinking of writing a book (2 actually)
J Arneault: how do I get started?
WScottDowns: take the idea to a publisher.
WScottDowns: Talk to them about it - they are your coach
J Arneault: so, show up at MacGraw and say - show me a publisher, I have an idea /
J Arneault: ?
J Arneault: or write up a premise, or what?
WScottDowns: Try this - send a mail message to tim@orielly.com
J Arneault: :-) you're joking
WScottDowns: That's the first thing I did.
WScottDowns: Guess what - he answered.
WScottDowns: I used to look in Magazines in the editorial section and get all the e-mail addresses of the editors. These guys are starving for content - they'll entertain any idea...
WScottDowns: Books are a little different - you need to find the right publisher for the right idea.
WScottDowns: fiction / non-fiction / trade / etc.
J Arneault: alright. So, I can start by writing a couple articles so I can get my phone call answered for the book. Is that the way you did it/
WScottDowns: yea. I wrote about 4 or 5 articles for trade publications - network world, open systems today, etc (junk like that)
WScottDowns: you get abou $1k an article.
WScottDowns: way back then.
WScottDowns: I'll help you if you want - co-author, etc.
WScottDowns: it's not hard.
J Arneault: let me draft a premise and run it by you for an article, then we'll see what I should do from there
J Arneault: I like the co-author idea
J Arneault: for the book, I want to write a "how to be an SE" book
WScottDowns: I did a couple with co-authors - they were the easiest.
WScottDowns: "Sales Engineer"
J Arneault: exactly
J Arneault: not "systems eng."
J Arneault: that's a misnomer
WScottDowns: We could put a lot of funny stuff in it.
J Arneault: yeah, the book could be in the comedy section
J Arneault: stories about Tedd C alone could be a chapter
WScottDowns: We actually go the same publisher as Dr. Mary Cronin.
WScottDowns: Van-Nostrand Reinhold
J Arneault: :-)
WScottDowns: Do you remember - "Doing Business on the Internet"
J Arneault: yes
WScottDowns: We wrote an e-mail to Mary and asked her for advice, and guess what...
WScottDowns: She gave it to us.
J Arneault: so what you're saying is the hard part is starting
J Arneault: then , once you've got the "gotta do it" going, it starts happening
WScottDowns: No, that's easy. Writing the book is hard. You panic - you don't want to flop.
WScottDowns: You continually doubt your worthiness.
WScottDowns: Later on you realize that all the guys who write books are no smarter than you... (but that's an afterthought)
J Arneault: well, that's what I used to think at Netscape
J Arneault: took me 1 1/2 years to figure out who I was
WScottDowns: You are perfectly qualified.
J Arneault: yeah, I speak english and can type
WScottDowns: Just write from the heart and have fun doing it.
WScottDowns: If you can sell it, then that's a perk.
J Arneault: right
WScottDowns: Here's the process.
WScottDowns: 1) Figure out what you want to write about...
WScottDowns: 2) Find a publisher who will work with your idea... ( you can write a chapter or two, but don't do too much in this stage )
WScottDowns: 3) Negotiate a deal ( first book, trade publication, you might get about $5K to $15k in advance)
WScottDowns: 4) Finish the damn thing
J Arneault: ;-)
WScottDowns: 5) Pick your cover art
WScottDowns: 6) Sit back and see what happens
J Arneault: "trade publication" ? you mean where it gets pushed?
WScottDowns: A book about being an SE isn't going to hit the big-tiem.
J Arneault: no, but it will continue to sell for years
WScottDowns: It's more classified as a TRADE PUB - so it's specific to an industry.
WScottDowns: No it won't - they'll only print so many copies.
WScottDowns: That's it.
J Arneault: right. Ideally, it would be a "principles" book rather than be a "tech specific" or time specific thing
J Arneault: soft skills
J Arneault: and guidelines for learning
WScottDowns: So that's better...
WScottDowns: You expand you market by tailoring your idea.
J Arneault: right
WScottDowns: You also move up to a better publisher.
WScottDowns: VNR = Trade Pulication.
WScottDowns: Van Nostrand Reinhold = VNR
J Arneault: right
WScottDowns: Look at the books on the shelf that you think are popular business books - then notice the publisher.
J Arneault: good point
J Arneault: looking to my left, I see a lot of warner books
WScottDowns: You may have to work your way up.
J Arneault: yeah
WScottDowns: The good publishers won't take startups.
WScottDowns: Unless you are a former President, prize fighter, super model, etc.
WScottDowns: You were a "super model" once weren't you?
J Arneault: harper Business, IDG, Warner Books, Random House, Machmillan Tech Publishing
J Arneault: you mean I'm not anymore?
J Arneault: "Does this make me look fat?"
WScottDowns: MacMillian - VERY TECH.
J Arneault: no, my gut does
WScottDowns: OReilly - Very Tech to Trade Pub.
J Arneault: right
WScottDowns: IDG - all round
WScottDowns: Warner - recipes and home improvement
J Arneault: I like IDG, they seem willing to try things
WScottDowns: But you'll have to prove yourself.
J Arneault: Warner stuff is all CEO/Exec stuff
J Arneault: I can do recipes, think it'll help?
WScottDowns: Start with a little cute trade pub that sells - start small and work your way up.
WScottDowns: You'll be surprrise.
WScottDowns: Hell, for the money -I'd just write magazine articles.
J Arneault: Ill go to the bookstore tomorrow and scout names
J Arneault: well, it would get your name back outside AOL
WScottDowns: 5 2000 word articles may equal $5000
J Arneault: :-)
WScottDowns: The whole book might get you a prepayment of $5K
J Arneault: I have a contact at CMP nearby. I should give him a ring
WScottDowns: Article are more fun and you get immediate rewards - it's the best thing to see your name in print - especially in a magazine your friends read.
J Arneault: true. you get to say "I've been published"
WScottDowns: Easy, quick, fun, and profitable.
WScottDowns: Imagine if you did just one a month...
J Arneault: I could buy a watch!
WScottDowns: Write the book on the side.
J Arneault: ;-)
WScottDowns: http://www.linuxworld.com
WScottDowns: go there now.
WScottDowns: Under Search - enter "Submissions"
J Arneault: going
WScottDowns: Now, click on the "writer's guidelines"
WScottDowns: EVERY MAGAZINE has these, but you've never seen them because you weren't looking for them.
J Arneault: I don't see them yet
WScottDowns: I entered the word "submissions"
J Arneault: ahh, hang on
WScottDowns: I then clicked on "LinuxWorld.com Write Guidelines"
J Arneault: got it
WScottDowns: yeah. You just write 'em a little note saying how long your article is going to be and what it's about and they'll call you and tell you if they like the idea
WScottDowns: You can try as many times as you want - they'll even tell you how to change the article to make it more appealing
WScottDowns: YOU WILL LEARN a lot through this process - enjoy it.
J Arneault: I'll write something up or them this evening and bcc you on it in the morning
WScottDowns: Now, go to a magazine that you'd really like to see your name in
WScottDowns: That's what I did...
WScottDowns: Then, search for "Writer's Guidelines"
WScottDowns: WahLah - instant gratification - you know exactly how to submit an idea...
WScottDowns: It's so easy - don't you feel a little silly for asking...
J Arneault: I never feel silly for asking
WScottDowns: okay...
J Arneault: I invented the phrase "If you can learn, you can earn". Not asking is the silly thing
WScottDowns: Sure. Writing is cool though. The first time you see your name, you'll flip...
J Arneault: My wife will have to shoot my head with a BB gun to get it deflated
WScottDowns: That's the truth... You'll walk around for a month thinking that you're the hottest thing on the planet.
J Arneault: I remember being quoted in the paper about 5 years ago. Boy, I was THE MAN for about a week
WScottDowns: After you do one or two, I'll let you in on a few secrets.
J Arneault: the problem is, you only are to yourslf
J Arneault: alright, let me try one, then check and see
WScottDowns: If you're doing the quoting - it's even better.
J Arneault: then I ll do another, and you can enlighten me
WScottDowns: You can control things by writing - the pen is really mighty.
WScottDowns: First tip -
WScottDowns: Ready...
J Arneault: yep
WScottDowns: Write your OPINION... That's what the magazine is paying for - they do not want an impartial view of a subject.
J Arneault: good point
WScottDowns: Don't analyze a product and say it does this or that - SAY I hate it because it sucks!
WScottDowns: Try it out - the editor will work with you on your drafts and tell you what you are doing right and wrong.
WScottDowns: Start with a publication that is free.
J Arneault: why's that?
WScottDowns: They just want to put words between the advertisements, but the critique is very good.
J Arneault: alright
WScottDowns: Then move up to a magazine that people pay for.
J Arneault: something like eWeek?
WScottDowns: Then, write your book.
J Arneault: I see
J Arneault: I can do this
WScottDowns: np
WScottDowns: You can do it before you knew you could do it.
J Arneault: isn't that how it always is
J Arneault: (saviing this conversation)
J Arneault: scott-book.html
WScottDowns: Let me help you - I'll be glad to help you mold your story... What's your first idea?
J Arneault: well, i'd have to thing of one for an article
J Arneault: maybe "getting more from your directory"
J Arneault: or "AD is Almost-dead"
WScottDowns: Instant Messaging - FAD or Revolution?
J Arneault: I'll muddle it over this evening
J Arneault: Scott Downs, Man or Legend
WScottDowns: Is a Home Server Farm for You?
J Arneault: "Throw the Bums Out" : Saying No to MS
WScottDowns: Setting up your own home wireless network...
WScottDowns: Why I love Linux.
J Arneault: Bathroom Networks=More Productivity
WScottDowns: The NetStumbling Phenomenon...
J Arneault: :-)
J Arneault: I like that
WScottDowns: 802.11b - Out of Control
J Arneault: So, should I go that focused, or be broad?
WScottDowns: You know - I could do this all night.
WScottDowns: Narrow is better for magazine.
J Arneault: and, oh I know you could
J Arneault: alright
WScottDowns: Limited space to get your idea across.