I completely agree. I’ve been working on one since 2006 primarily of my own photographs. It’s been a labor of love, figuring out the right equipment to scan film negatives and then learning how to use InDesign well enough to create page templates, having a contributor drop out etc.

It’s been practically finished since fall of 2007, and I was going to finish it over winter vacation. Of course that didn’t happen, and work is busy right now, so it’s still missing the last 1%. But it will be finished and published this year.

Celine said “Marketing your book and getting it read is a completely different subject altogether.” Absolutely. I’ve been thinking about this for a while and figuring out what I’m going to do for promotion.

As for what Marijke said: writing is certainly a daunting task, especially if you’re writing a book. That’s why I strongly recommended that people who have no writing experience should look up a ghostwriter.

Marketing your book and getting it read is a completely different subject altogether. While more readers are certainly better than none, the act of getting a book published and putting it on your resume (if it’s related to your field) is something that will definitely strengthen your job applications/career path.

I am intrigued about the issue of writing a book and gaining instant credibility. My hope is that somewhere between the book I will finish this year and my blog, will give me that credibility that Celine is speaking of. I do agree that my work must be well written if I hope to have more than a few readers.

I am encouraged by this article. I know I need to finish writing my book and get it out on the market. I believe it will make a difference for me and my career aspirations!! Thanks for the article and the comments.

Darlene
Interview Guru
http://www.interviewchatter.com/

Seriously, hiring a ghost is a perfectly legit way to get your book done.

Writing a book is great exposure – *if* you can write a book. It’s not as easy as many people think it is. Nor is finding a writer who can help you if you aren’t a wordsmith in your own right.

I’m a writer; I’ve been doing it for years now, mostly health-related writing. I’m building up my credibility slowly, but surely with the articles and such you mention.

The problem with suggesting that you can just go ahead and publish your own book, which you can, suggests that if you publish it, people will read it. But, if it’s not well written, if it hasn’t been edited and fact-checked and so on, it could come back to bite you in the behind rather than to help you.

Writing a book is a great idea – but it’s a huge commitment to do it properly.

Bob – I’d like to talk about your services here at Pimp Your Work. Will contact you privately about this.