Life as an Author

Ahmad: You know, aside from all the programming and technical stuffs, I’m sure many people want to know: how did you become a published author?

Karl: A lot of people had suggested I turn my online tutorials into a book. It seemed like a good idea, so I simply followed it through – and eventually published through Apress.

I also met the Apress directors – Dan Appleman, when we were both speaking at a conference in London, and Gary Cornell, whom I shared ice-cream with at Tech-Ed in Barcelona – which injected a little personality into the typically solitary process of writing a book.

Ahmad: Many of your readers love your humor in your tutorials and books. Who inspires you? It’s me, isn’t it?

Karl: Yes. And my big toe, Colin.

Actually, I probably base my humor on classic Brit wit. Black Adder has to be my favorite comedy series, with the subtlety of “The Office” series following shortly behind.

The fact that I write however is probably down to watching all those “Murder, She Wrote” re-runs. The way Angela Lansbury is constantly involved in the community and tapping out best sellers every-other-episode was enough to psychologically scar me into becoming an author myself.

That’s the truth, by the way. Ask any of my friends. BBC1. 2.35pm weekdays.

Ahmad: I’m curious: can you tell me what happens when you write a book? Briefly take me from starting to publication. I just know so many budding writers out there will find this really interesting. I know I will!

Karl: A great question, Ahmad – and hopefully, an interesting answer.

Firstly, remember that all of my technical books have been published through Apress – however from my good friends in the industry, I know that most technical publishers work in this same way. Also, the processes I’ll be describing only apply to the technical genre: if you’re writing fiction, it’s obviously all very different.

So then, how does it all start? Well, it begins with me, the author: I think of an idea and work on a few general details until I get it right. Then I bounce a speculative e-mail off the Apress directors. We’ll throw a few thoughts around and finally settle on a theme. If all sounds good, we move forward and the author produces an official proposal, which describes the book, the reader level, any competition and so on. This is later used to “sell” the book to the bookstores and sites such as Amazon.

In my experience, it’s best to have written a fair chunk of the book by this point. Unless you’re a really bad writer, or the idea is a flop, you should be able to get it published somewhere (online, as magazine articles, as a book, whatever) – so I’d say take the risk and invest time to: (a) ensure you have smoothed out any “sticky” details about your idea; (b) ensure you can actually do it!

Then, you sign a contract and inform your new project manager of the expected deadline for you providing final copy (“copy” is a term referring to your text). You don’t have to make this deadline (most don’t!), but you should certainly try.

Next, get writing like crazy! You need to use the writing templates your publisher supplies, plus make sure you check and double-check your work. When you’ve sent off your final manuscript, breathe a sigh of relief and go out celebrating – you may have also received an “advance” on your royalties by this point, so at least you’ll have something in your back pocket.

Next up we find the technical review process, where one or more qualified individuals slowly work through your entire book and highlight the bugs. Their comments are sent back to you (through the reviewing feature in Microsoft Word), and it’s up to you to sort them out. It may sound like a drag, but this is actually pretty exciting – especially if you get a good reviewer. That extra brain can help stop you making a fool of yourself.

When you’ve passed the technical reviewer, you’re then onto the gruesome editor. This guy is basically the technical reviewer for your English. He may reword a few sentences, make text flow suggestions, standardize the way in which you use phrases – and basically ensure your document is in a good, more-than-readable condition. You make comments on his alterations (perhaps rejecting a few, if you’re unhappy), then send them back for a final editorial check.

Next, your book prepares to enter production. A production manager and graphic designer put together sample pages for you to approve. You agree on a format, then wait for the final chapters to be created.

In the meantime, you’re talking with the marketing manager, who usually assists in preparing the book front and back covers. This usually involves reviewing the title, creating “bullet points” for the front cover, writing the “blurb” (text on the back cover), alongside a small biography. Once you’re happy, you pass off the final design and it enters the printing house for production.

Also, behind the scenes, some poor soul is given the task of indexing your book. Literally, going through it page-by-page and finding the “hidden structure”. It’s all done manually and must take days.

This is then added to your final production chapters, which you get to review en masse for the last time. Make any small changes, then wave goodbye: they’re passed straight to the printing house, where I believe they make metal-plate reproductions of each of your pages. Then they print and bind a “run” of your books: my first book had a run of around 8,000 copies. The book is automatically reprinted every time it goes out-of-stock

After that? You sit bacKarl: your own personal copies will arrive shortly, and the books will begin shipping throughout the world within a month. If published in America, they’re put in transit to places around the U.S. and literally shipped out to Europe.

It isn’t over yet. There’s marketing to consider: you may need to get in touch with the U.S. and European marketing teams to help you publicize your book. You may wish to put it forward for online review, or attend signing or press events at technical conferences. You may wish to make yourself available for interview, after the official press release goes out.

The hope is that, a few months down the line, your book will have sold well... you’ll have earned more in royalties than your “advance” covered and should be looking forward to your next check. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

Ahmad: Wow. That’s amazing! I feel like writing my own book after that, Karl. Tell me, how long did it take you to write your first book? And when do you usually write?

Karl: The first one took me months and months, because I’m one of those annoying perfectionists that like to get everything just right. But you can do it quicker.

And I always write at night, typically between eleven and three in the morning. It may sound unsociable, but there’s absolutely no disturbance. And it gives you a great excuse for getting up late the next morning!

Ahmad: Do you work on paper first, then type? And what software do you use for Word processing, graphics and so on?

Karl: I always draft out “high level” thoughts on paper first. All of my work (and not just my writing!) begins life as a scribble in my diary. But then it’s straight on the computer for the rest of the journey.

I use Microsoft Word for writing (sometimes Notepad if I don’t need formatting), and Paint Shop Pro to take screenshots.

Ahmad: And, most importantly, what do you do when you are stuck for ideas?

Karl: I get away from the computer!

Don’t get me wrong: computers are great, but they have a way of “hypnotizing” you. And that isn’t awfully creative. When I get a problem, I usually go and lie down on my bed and let my mind wander. The silence usually brings its solution, or at least, an enjoyable rest.