Comments on: What Was Most Surprising About Writing ? http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/ Macro Perspective on the Capital Markets, Economy, Geopolitics, Technology, and Digital Media Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:19:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Barry Ritholtz http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135642 Barry Ritholtz Thu, 25 Dec 2008 12:03:08 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135642 A few people have given me the same advice -- go crazy for a few weeks, promoting the hell out of it. After that, it develops its own momentum. There is an excerpt scheduled either for The Atlantic or Harpers, set up by the publisher. (I assume there will be lots of print interviews their team will set up). I'll crank up my own network of media contacts, get the book into the right hands. My own contacts include CNBC, Bloomberg, PBS, Fox, CNN -- when the book comes out, I assume that will get heavy rotation. I've been holding off on doing a few other shows -- notably, the Daily Show for one of the short little segment. I will be more than happy to do an author segment on Stewart or Colbert. Then there are the other longer form interviews -- like Bill Moyers and Charlie Rose -- that I would be thrilled to do. A few people have given me the same advice — go crazy for a few weeks, promoting the hell out of it. After that, it develops its own momentum.

There is an excerpt scheduled either for The Atlantic or Harpers, set up by the publisher. (I assume there will be lots of print interviews their team will set up).

I’ll crank up my own network of media contacts, get the book into the right hands. My own contacts include CNBC, Bloomberg, PBS, Fox, CNN — when the book comes out, I assume that will get heavy rotation.

I’ve been holding off on doing a few other shows — notably, the Daily Show for one of the short little segment. I will be more than happy to do an author segment on Stewart or Colbert. Then there are the other longer form interviews — like Bill Moyers and Charlie Rose — that I would be thrilled to do.

]]> By: gms777 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135492 gms777 Wed, 24 Dec 2008 01:47:35 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135492 Barry-- Make darn sure, darn sure that your publisher is going to promote your book. Your first 2-3 weeks in the stores are make or break. You want to be on TV like crazy right out of the gate. Lots of radio and print interviews, too. Get the magazine stories set up 6 months in advance. But it's like the movie business...even if you get great publicity, there's a weird magic that happens with the public....either people will take to the book/movie, or they won't. Unpredictable. Ultimately, though, the book is a billboard that brings more traffic/business to you....good luck..... Barry–

Make darn sure, darn sure that your publisher is going to promote your book. Your first 2-3 weeks in the stores are make or break. You want to be on TV like crazy right out of the gate. Lots of radio and print interviews, too. Get the magazine stories set up 6 months in advance.

But it’s like the movie business…even if you get great publicity, there’s a weird magic that happens with the public….either people will take to the book/movie, or they won’t. Unpredictable.

Ultimately, though, the book is a billboard that brings more traffic/business to you….good luck…..

]]> By: Gerald M. Weinberg http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135486 Gerald M. Weinberg Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:45:57 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135486 Hi Barry, First of all, that was a great article. You're going to help a lot of would-be writers. I'll reference it on my writing blog (which I tend to neglect). Second of all, it's an interesting coincidence that for many years I published a column in Contract Professional called "the Big Picture." I suspect from this evidence that we have similar minds, though different experiences. Third, as a couple of your readers say, you might have eliminated some of those surprises had you been guided by my book, Weinberg on Writing. Not all, though. Each would-be writer has to experience these things for themselves. For instance, where I live, in New Mexico, I'd rather stay inside and write during the beastly summer. (Though I do have a place in the mountains where I can hike in the woods every day, while also setting aside time for writing.) At the very least, I might have helped you save your back. If you'd like me to post this as a comment, I'd be glad to. I could also extend it by addressing some of your other points. BTW, this was dictated, not typed. It took me a while to learn how to dictate the way I would type, just as it took me a while (50 years ago) to learn how to type in the same style as I wrote longhand. Jerry (Gerald M. Weinberg) author of <a href="http://www.geraldmweinberg.com/Site/On_Writing.html" rel="nofollow">Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method</a> p.s. I LOVE your reading list. Hi Barry,
First of all, that was a great article. You’re going to help a lot of would-be writers. I’ll reference it on my writing blog (which I tend to neglect).

Second of all, it’s an interesting coincidence that for many years I published a column in Contract Professional called “the Big Picture.” I suspect from this evidence that we have similar minds, though different experiences.

Third, as a couple of your readers say, you might have eliminated some of those surprises had you been guided by my book, Weinberg on Writing. Not all, though. Each would-be writer has to experience these things for themselves. For instance, where I live, in New Mexico, I’d rather stay inside and write during the beastly summer. (Though I do have a place in the mountains where I can hike in the woods every day, while also setting aside time for writing.)

At the very least, I might have helped you save your back.

If you’d like me to post this as a comment, I’d be glad to. I could also extend it by addressing some of your other points.

BTW, this was dictated, not typed. It took me a while to learn how to dictate the way I would type, just as it took me a while (50 years ago) to learn how to type in the same style as I wrote longhand.

Jerry (Gerald M. Weinberg)
author of Weinberg on Writing: The Fieldstone Method

p.s. I LOVE your reading list.

]]> By: super_trooper http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135334 super_trooper Tue, 23 Dec 2008 15:14:04 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135334 You seem to be up to date with movies. I would recommend going to the movie theater and watch Slumdog millionaire. I remember one author's recommendation to approach writing the way you do "normal" work: get up at 8 and write for x hours. Don't wait for inspiration. And never really ask yourself why you're putting yourself through it. There are already too many failed books out there. Dow 36000 comes to mind. You seem to be up to date with movies. I would recommend going to the movie theater and watch Slumdog millionaire.
I remember one author’s recommendation to approach writing the way you do “normal” work: get up at 8 and write for x hours. Don’t wait for inspiration. And never really ask yourself why you’re putting yourself through it. There are already too many failed books out there. Dow 36000 comes to mind.

]]> By: rob http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135309 rob Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:36:20 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135309 Barry: I definitely agree with your dictation vs. writing aspect. May I give you a suggestion on the writing, get away from the computer! Long time ago I experimented with hand writing vs. banging on a keyboard. I use to think "Save time, just type it as I go." The hypothesis turned out flawed. The flow is MUCH better when you hand write. I assume it is because it is slow and you don't notice typographical errors. By handwriting, it seems the brain can run through all the "ways" of saying something and you end up transcribing the best one. By doing this, my reworks dropped off significantly and the organization and flow of my work improved markedly. While one data point is hard to draw a trend from, I know it works for me and I'd be willing to bet your productivity would skyrocket also. Forget about the "not going outside." When I write I make a point to get out of the office and the house, (usually on the boat in the middle of the Gulf!) and just scribe with pen and paper! Creativity boils up through the surface of routine when you're in that environment. Interestingly, Hemingway use to scribe on onion skin! Ran across that bit of trivia a few weeks ago and thought it odd. Barry: I definitely agree with your dictation vs. writing aspect. May I give you a suggestion on the writing, get away from the computer! Long time ago I experimented with hand writing vs. banging on a keyboard. I use to think “Save time, just type it as I go.” The hypothesis turned out flawed. The flow is MUCH better when you hand write. I assume it is because it is slow and you don’t notice typographical errors. By handwriting, it seems the brain can run through all the “ways” of saying something and you end up transcribing the best one. By doing this, my reworks dropped off significantly and the organization and flow of my work improved markedly. While one data point is hard to draw a trend from, I know it works for me and I’d be willing to bet your productivity would skyrocket also. Forget about the “not going outside.” When I write I make a point to get out of the office and the house, (usually on the boat in the middle of the Gulf!) and just scribe with pen and paper! Creativity boils up through the surface of routine when you’re in that environment. Interestingly, Hemingway use to scribe on onion skin! Ran across that bit of trivia a few weeks ago and thought it odd.

]]> By: greenie http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135305 greenie Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:26:42 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135305 The isolation, stuck inside, no movies, limited TV, books etc...pain the back.... Sounds a lot like having young children at home; at least you control what goes in the book. The kids can turn against you.. Kidding (sort-of) The isolation, stuck inside, no movies, limited TV, books etc…pain the back….

Sounds a lot like having young children at home; at least you control what goes in the book. The kids can turn against you..

Kidding (sort-of)

]]> By: gms777 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135301 gms777 Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:49:55 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135301 I'm curious about the details of your book deal. Did you decide to get as much as cash up-front, or did you decide to take less cash in return for the possibility of royalties? ~~~ <B>BR</B>: I took a small upfront (used it to pay editors, researchers, and license other materials). The back end is more than typical. I’m curious about the details of your book deal.

Did you decide to get as much as cash up-front, or did you decide to take less cash in return for the possibility of royalties?

~~~

BR: I took a small upfront (used it to pay editors, researchers, and license other materials).

The back end is more than typical.

]]> By: jnutley http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135297 jnutley Tue, 23 Dec 2008 12:06:03 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135297 Congratulations on finishing your book! "...my mouse arm was always sore. I never had carpal tunnel, but damned if my hands and forearms didn’t ache all the time." Stop moving your arm! I use this: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/166&cl=US,EN Only my fingers and thumb have to work with that trackball. Far superior to a mouse imo. Congratulations on finishing your book!

“…my mouse arm was always sore. I never had carpal tunnel, but damned if my hands and forearms didn’t ache all the time.”

Stop moving your arm! I use this:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/trackballs/devices/166&cl=US,EN

Only my fingers and thumb have to work with that trackball. Far superior to a mouse imo.

]]> By: Scott F http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135295 Scott F Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:33:00 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135295 I've tried to pen monthly commentaries for my investors, and its quite the pain in the ass. My hats off to you I’ve tried to pen monthly commentaries for my investors, and its quite the pain in the ass. My hats off to you

]]> By: pmorrisonfl http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2008/12/on-writing/comment-page-1/#comment-135292 pmorrisonfl Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:14:03 +0000 http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/?p=13525#comment-135292 I'll second "Weinberg on Writing". I got my copy signed by the author on a page where he sets the rule "Never attempt to write something you don't care about". Brilliant book, brilliant man. I’ll second “Weinberg on Writing”. I got my copy signed by the author on a page where he sets the rule “Never attempt to write something you don’t care about”. Brilliant book, brilliant man.

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