The Creation of a Book part 2

One of the first things I do in creating a non fiction book is to gather research materials. My publisher sends me whatever books I may need (I am lucky in this respect as not all publishers will do this). I also look for online resources.

As I am gathering the online resources I am making a list of where and what time I gathered the materials. If at all possible I use these materials for research and rarely quote them, as it is sometimes hard to ascertain the actual author and websites change so often. This  why it is important to note when you collected the information. Later in these posts I will deal with the formatting of a bibliography.

For my beer book I have about 6 resources for making beer at home and as many for growing grains, hops and herbs. Now it is a matter of actually getting the words on the page!

The Creation of a Book part 1

I am working on my eleventh book called, The Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Hops, Malts, and Brewing Herbs: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply. (Atlantic) Over the next couple of months I will take you step by step through the process of creating a book.

I have already signed a contract for this book and they have approved my detailed outline. This outline consists of a skeletal outline of the chapters followed by a detailed explanation of each chapter.

The editors have looked it over and made some suggestions and we agreed that the focus of the book will be on the gardening aspects rather than just a book about home brewing. In fact, I am in negotiations to create a more traditional home brewing book.

So right now I am working on the first 20k words. When I am done I will submit the work, the editors (2 tier) will review and send back to me with corrections and I will next stage of 20k words until we reach 65k.

 

Here is my latest book on the shelves. I have two that are in layout- one eBay income basics and the other is a more general wine making book. 

I am off for my Via coffee. More soon!

del.icio.us Tags: coffee,via,starbucks,atlantic publishing,writing,homebrew,beer,wine,winemaking

Addicted to Coffee

I admit it. I am addicted to Starbucks. What writer isn’t? So here is my addicted broken down for you:

 

At the store:

Mocha Latte- no whip

Cinnamon Dolce Latte- no whip

 

Ice Coffee- in summer- black

Robust Coffee of the day- Black

 

On the go:

I bought this cool cup over the holidays for my Via. These are packets of Italian Roast (and other flavors) that you just need hot water and dissolve. In the handle of the cup is a secret compartment for 2 coffee packs.

In the morning:

I get coffee beans, grind them at home, and use a French press. This is so much better than filtered coffee and it is close to the taste you get at the store.

The French Press is easy to use:

1. Boil Water

2. Grind 4 scoops of beans (or less, I like mine to shock me awake). Grind to medium consistency. DO NOT grind to a powder or you will drink a lot of grounds.

3. Pour coffee and water into a press. And press exactly 4 minutes and pour.

 

This is the press I use.

del.icio.us Tags: coffee,starbucks,writing,press,cinnamon dolce latte,mocha,via,tumbler,addicted to coffee

The Doomsday of Writing Myth

Don’t believe the hype! There are jobs out there.

With the economy, I have seen many blogs and forums talking about how all writing jobs have dried up. I think this is a myth. I see things changing, but the old writers are continuing to try to drink from the same old well.

There are PLENTY of jobs out there. People have not stopped reading, they just have shifted their focus from paper to electronic screen. This does not mean the books are becoming VHS tapes, because people still like to feel a book in their hand and not all books fit on a standardized screen.

We are now global with our markets- so why are people still looking at what is happening locally to magazines and newspapers as the sign of freelance Armageddon?

There are plenty of resources in which clients are paying top dollar for work. Here are some resources to look at, and I will also be sharing some of my secrets over the next few blogs as well.

Just hold tight. Take a deep breath- the opportunities are endless, you just have to be creative. Let go of the past ideas of freelancing and embrace the electronic age.

 

del.icio.us Tags: freelance,ebooks,electonic media,books,writing

Beer and More Beer

del.icio.us Tags: beer,book writing proof editing,writing,publishing,health

Currently I am working on two different beer books. The first is how to grow a beer garden in your own backyard. This is a how to manual for daring home brewers to grow the ingredients at home.

 

The 2nd book is on creating healing beers and wines. This one is already fast tracked to be published in four languages. (ipublicaides)

I have been a home brewing for many years and so both of these books are very exciting projects. This is of course means a lot of pubs, microbreweries and taste testing. It is research, do you hear me tax man!

Passive Income

As a freelance writer passive income is something I have been really trying hard to start. As you may have seen I have added some marketing items to this blog. At the rate I am going with Adsense- I will be able to buy a Starbucks Coffee next year. (and if you want to buy a cup of coffee- please use the link---haha)

 

 

Seriously- Freelancing means that you are working for a fee and often selling the rights to the work which means no royalties. passive income means that once you create it, it generates money on its own. Royalties are a good example for a writer.

I use affiliate programs to sell my books so that I can make a little commission on some of the books I have created. I am on look out for other forms of passive income. This way I can be more selective in the jobs I take and not confine myself to the working poor.

There is plenty of work out there, it is just that there are not enough hours in the day to do it all!

So what forms of passive income do you all use? Comment on it!

del.icio.us Tags: coffee,writing,passive income

Wild Wine Book

If you are at all interested in making wine at home, this recent release of mine has many recipes and takes you step by step through the process.This book was actually many years in the making, because when I won first place for a plum wine at the NC State Fair in 2002, I knew I wanted to write a book about making wine. I wrote some articles for Winemaker magazine including one about plum wine that really started my writing career off. Click on the book above and buy a copy!