Do I look that thick? Bobs getting my job

[Gentile]

That reminds me of a funny story. A project manager I once worked for was also a budding fiction author. However, he couldn't get a publisher to take on his book. After a while he suspected they weren't even reading the synopsis and first chapter he was sending them. They were just giving him the bum's rush, as they say.

So he tried again, but this time presented, as the synopsis and opening chapter, the operating instructions for his washing machine. He got exactly the same replies.

In the end he published it himself, kept them under the bed and gave them away to lucky relatives as Christmas presents, then became a project manager, which is how we met.

FTFY

[Doggy Styles]

FTFY

Linky to FTFY

You can find other several references on the interweb.

[Gentile]

Linky to FTFY

You can find other several references on the interweb.

In all seriousness, it's getting easier and easier to publish stuff yourself now. You can do it through Kindle, and sell your work through Amazon. I've thought about doing it myself during time on the bench.

[Doggy Styles]

In all seriousness, it's getting easier and easier to publish stuff yourself now. You can do it through Kindle, and sell your work through Amazon. I've thought about doing it myself during time on the bench.

It sounds a great idea, but I'd have to write something first.

When I was at school I used to love writing fiction but sadly I can't be arsed now.

[Gentile]

It sounds a great idea, but I'd have to write something first.

When I was at school I used to love writing fiction but sadly I can't be arsed now.

Yes, I like writing fiction too: short stories. That Arthur C Clarke book in my collection is a belter for inspiration.

The other type of book I was thinking most techies have inside them are technical "how to" books, in the Wrox: Programmer to Programmer genre. I don't know how much money is in them, mind you; I don't think anyone's ever got rich off of writing them, put in that way. Still, they'd be good for marketing purposes I image.

[NickFitz]

In all seriousness, it's getting easier and easier to publish stuff yourself now. You can do it through Kindle, and sell your work through Amazon. I've thought about doing it myself during time on the bench.

Leanpub is worth a look.

[Gentile]

Leanpub is worth a look.

Cheers for that, Nick. I'd been using Mobipocket when I was experimenting with publishing something to Kindle a while back (about this time last year). I see they're no longer supported by Amazon now, though.

I don't want to drag Chef's thread too far off topic. I wonder if it'd be considerate to open a new thread, if anyone wants to discuss more Kindle Publishing stuff?



Edit: Kindle Publishing discussion continued here

[TestMangler]

Cheers for that, Nick. I'd been using Mobipocket when I was experimenting with publishing something to Kindle a while back (about this time last year). I see they're no longer supported by Amazon now, though.

I don't want to drag Chef's thread too far off topic. I wonder if it'd be considerate to open a new thread, if anyone wants to discuss more Kindle Publishing stuff?

Absolutely, I wrote a Kindle book about slow cookers and published it with mobipocket (as a kind of a piss take). When they were doing their final settlements a couple of months ago, I got $110 from them !! I want to write (or steal) another kindle ebook !!

[Sysman]

Yes, I like writing fiction too: short stories. That Arthur C Clarke book in my collection is a belter for inspiration.

The other type of book I was thinking most techies have inside them are technical "how to" books, in the Wrox: Programmer to Programmer genre. I don't know how much money is in them, mind you; I don't think anyone's ever got rich off of writing them, put in that way. Still, they'd be good for marketing purposes I image.

I've written huge chunks of technical manuals but not in my name. I know one chap who wrote a technical "How to" book. It took him an awful lot of time and he even took some time off work for a final push to get it out.

It was a good book and I still refer to it occasionally. He obviously did a lot of research and testing for it.

Niche market though and I doubt whether he saw much money out of it.

[Scoobos]

I've written huge chunks of technical manuals but not in my name. I know one chap who wrote a technical "How to" book. It took him an awful lot of time and he even took some time off work for a final push to get it out.

It was a good book and I still refer to it occasionally. He obviously did a lot of research and testing for it.

Niche market though and I doubt whether he saw much money out of it.

What sysman said . I've been here and done this and its an absolute timesink for very little return (I wrote a vendor approved book which was a user guide for sysadmins for a niche product)