Home
>
Writing
>
Another Way to Show Your Expertise: Write a Book!

Another Way to Show Your Expertise: Write a Book!

Maybe you should write a book! This is not as difficult as it sounds. You're already an expert in a field by virtue of your work experience and/or academic credentials. And even more important, you are enthusiastic about your field and would like to share it.

Fine, but with whom? Decide what specific group of people, such as lawyers or gardeners or teachers or social workers or colleagues, as an audience for your book. What would your audience be most interested in and why? How would your book address that audience's needs?

Next, make a list of tentative titles for your book and keep adding to it. Words such as "how to" are effective. Find other possibilities by visiting a bookstore and browsing in the stacks of related books. Pay attention to books that you pick up and leaf through and glance at their tables of contents. What material do those books cover and who are their publishers? What aren't they covering? How could YOU fill in what is missing?

Put yourself in your reader's shoes. Suppose he or she wanted a book in your topic, but was unable to locate it in a library or bookstore. What material would he or she be most interested in?

Go back and review your list of titles. Which one(s) would literally grab your attention and why? Show your list to family members and friends and invite them to choose their favorite title. And finally, consider what you have and select one of the tentative titles.

Now you are ready to develop a list of chapters for your book! Each chapter should support your title and "speak" to your intended audience. If your book is about developing great websites, for example, then every chapter should tell your reader how to do just that, from start to finish.

Next, write 2 or 3 sample chapters and while you are at it, check references such as the Writer's Market for possible publishers. Make a list of ten of these possible publishers for your book and create a letter that describes your book. Such a letter is known as a query letter. In it, mention your book's tentative title and a few of its highlights. Explain how your book is better than competing books and why you are the best person to write it. Then send that query letter, accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to each of the ten editors in your list.

In the meantime, continue writing your chapters.

Editors will probably not respond immediately and when they do, their letters may state their interest in your book, and would you submit two or three sample chapters? On the other hand, quite a few editors may politely decline. Find five or ten more possible publishers to contact about your book.

In a few months from now, you may be busily at work on a book which has been commissioned by a publisher and will likely be published. Don't worry about rejections. Experienced, published writers get them all of the time, but keep going, nevertheless. That is what you should be doing too. Recognition of your expertise awaits! Happy writing.

Dorothy Zjawin's writing credits include published articles and a book that are based on her teaching experience. Her website, http://www.profitable-pen.com, is a resource site for all writers and features a free forum.

shuttle from O'Hare Brocton .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

Experts say hackers who used to focus on Windows operating systems are increasingly targeting Apple IDs as part of a new phishing campaign.

Unitree, a Chinese robotics company that developed a backflipping robot, has now introduced a humanoid robot capable of doing a side flip.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

According to the FBI, cybercriminals are sending extortion letters, threatening to release victims' sensitive information unless a ransom is paid.

FireSat is a satellite project designed to detect and track wildfires early, aiming to detect a fire that's the size of a classroom within 20 minutes.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reports that researchers have uncovered a Chrome vulnerability used in a cyber espionage campaign.

Preserving voicemails securely on Android: Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals easy methods to keep memories alive forever.

This phishing kit bypasses 2FA via session hijacking and real-time credential theft. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson offers four ways to stay safe from Astaroth phishing attacks.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses Joby Aviation and Virgin Atlantic planning to launch 200-mph U.K. air taxis linking airports and cities.

Fake Apple virus warnings, security alerts and messages are tactics used to prompt you to call a number or click on a malicious link. The CyberGuy explains how to protect your devices.

The combination of artificial intelligence and neuroscience allows a paralyzed man to manipulate a robotic arm by using his brain to imagine movements.

With the help of artificial intelligence, sophisticated fraud techniques emerging today are virtually undetectable to the untrained eye.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents

If you need to free up space on your Mac, consider deleting duplicate photos in your image library. Apple makes it easy to do, and the CyberGuy explains the process.

Microsoft is discontinuing Skype in May after 22 years of service. Kurt the CyberGuy addresses other options for internet-based phone and video service.

Tron 1, a Chinese company's two-legged robot, is versatile and can walk, roll and pivot, even on rough terrain. Tron 1 stands 33 inches tall and weighs 44 pounds.

Hackers are tricking people into installing password-stealing malware by making them press keyboard shortcuts under the pretense of proving they're not bots.

Saving the voices of loved ones can be a comforting way to keep alive memories. Kurt "the CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to preserve voicemail messages.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

The FBI warns that some free online document converters load malware onto people's computers, making their private information vulnerable to attack.

Toyota's compact electric FT-Me is designed to tackle challenges of city living while offering an accessible and eco-friendly transportation solution.

Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says 23andMe's bankruptcy raises data privacy fears: Opt out, download and delete data now.

UBTech and Zeekr unite with AI robot swarms to make car manufacturing faster and smarter. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how the process works.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says Apple's Passwords app had a three-month phishing flaw from iOS 18 to 18.2 patch.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson discusses how this super-small electric mini-truck takes a big step toward production.

Another Way to Show Your Expertise: Write a Book!

Writing