Writing is tough, even if you're a writer. Since it is part of our job description at most colleges and universities, it is a requirement that some of us find more challenging than others. As a writer, I thought it might be of value to pass on a few strategies that have worked for me. Let me know your thoughts on any of these:
1. Pick the Right Topic: There are 2 criteria I use to decide on topics:
(a) New or unique contribution--Your work provides new information, a new application, new evidence, or something unique that no one has published. For researchers, this is not a problem. For example, among the 30+ books published on the Net Generation, only a few proffer new survey evidence on characteristics, while others apply available evidence to education, the workplace, or other areas.
(b) New spin on existing material—What ever currently exists, you’re convinced you can do it better—meaning, making the material more interesting, more comprehensive and up to date, more appropriate in writing style, focusing on a different niche audience, etc.
In other words, if you don’t have a work that is new or better than others already available, it probably won’t get published by a commercial publisher. Of course, you can self-publish it.
(Personal Note: Over the years, I have observed and been told by faculty and parents that college students are disorganized, waste time, procrastinate, and possess minuscule knowledge of time management. This past spring I thought about a book on that topic. After Googling everything I could find, I concluded there is NO BOOK on the topic for college students. There are 50+ books aimed at managers and employees in business and industry. There are guidelines, chapters in books on study skills, and other scattered resources for students, but no book.
What could I contribute based on the criteria mentioned above? A NEW APPLICATION of evidenced-based practice in b & i, a WRITING STYLE using humor and college student cultural examples and lingo, and a QUICK READ structure for students who don’t want to read. That’s exactly what I did. It was published in Aug.—The Five-Minute Time Manager for College Students [www.coventrypress.com or http://www.amazon.com/]. End of Bloated Note.)
The next blog will cover 2. How to Create Chapters Quickly and Easily. Stay tuned.
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
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