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Writing the
Next Great
Tech Book
Brian MacDonald
All Things Open 2018
brian.macdonald@pragprog.com
@bmac_editor
Street Cred Slide
Brian MacDonald
brian.macdonald@pragprog.com
@bmac_editor
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Why write
a book?
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Why write
a book?
1. Share what you know
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Why write
a book?
1. Share what you know
2. Fringe benefits
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Why write
a book?
1. Share what you know
2. Fringe benefits
3. $$$
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Pre-writing
Refine the idea
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Pre-writing
Refine the idea
Solve a problem
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Pre-writing
Refine the idea
Solve a problem
What will the reader
be able to do?
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Pre-writing
Refine the idea
Define the audience
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Pre-writing
Refine the idea
Define the audience
Define the approach
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Pre-writing
Refine the idea
Define the audience
Define the approach
Define the scope
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Do some
homework
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Make an outline
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Make an outline
Brainstorm tasks
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Make an outline
Brainstorm tasks
Put tasks in order
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Make an outline
Brainstorm tasks
Put tasks in order
Dump Chapter 1
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Find a publisher
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Find a publisher
Research the catalog
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Find a publisher
Research the catalog
Make a contact
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Create a proposal
1. Marketing info
a. metrics
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Create a proposal
1. Marketing info
a. metrics
b. competition
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Create a proposal
1. Marketing info
a. metrics
b. competition
c. why you?
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Create a proposal
1. Marketing info
a. metrics
b. competition
c. why you?
2. Outline
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Create a proposal
1. Marketing info
a. metrics
b. competition
c. why you?
2. Outline
3. Sample
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Self-Publishing
Why not DIY?
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Self-Publishing
It’s about the money.
Mostly.
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Self-Publishing
All the reward
means all the risk.
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Self-Publishing
Don’t do it all yourself.
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Rejection
It might not be
personal...
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Rejection
It might not be
personal...
...unless it is.
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
The Process
The contract
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
The Process
Find out about
the tools
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
The Process
Meet your editor
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Acquisitions Editor
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Acquisitions Editor
Development Editor
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Acquisitions Editor
Development Editor
Tech reviewers
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Copyeditor
PRODUCTION
Acquisitions Editor
Development Editor
Tech reviewers
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Proofreader
Copyeditor
PRODUCTION
Acquisitions Editor
Development Editor
Tech reviewers
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Layout
Proofreader
Copyeditor
PRODUCTION
Acquisitions Editor
Development Editor
Tech reviewers
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor
Indexer
Layout
Proofreader
Copyeditor
PRODUCTION
Acquisitions Editor
Development Editor
Tech reviewers
The Process
Brian MacDonald @bmac_editor Print
Indexer
Layout
Proofreader
Copyeditor
PRODUCTION
Acquisitions Editor
Development Editor
Tech reviewers
Programming Elm
By Jeremy Fairbank
jfelm_ATO_2018
Forge Your Future
with Open Source
By VM Brasseur
vbopens_ATO_2018
brian.macdonald
@pragprog.com
@bmac_editor
Available at
www.pragprog.com

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Writing the Next Great Tech Book