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If I were to write a book.....
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denise



Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

TwinCentre wrote:
Thank you all for your replies, but especially those of you who had something positive to say.



Really?? Shocked

Your statement seems oh-so-close to that habit that some newbies have of only acknowledging the positive advice--e.g. they want to hear how they can make the most money with the fewest qualifications and the least amount of work, and sometimes they get snippy when people try to inject some reality into the situation... But according to your own statements, you're not a newbie, so why are you hesitant to accept negative comments? The comments aren't criticizing you--just, again, adding a bit of realism.

As to your ideas, how would they be different from what's already available? Imagine I'm a new teacher--one who fits into your categories. Why should I choose your book over anyone else's, or over the internet? If I want to know about visa requirements in the EU, what information would your book give me that I couldn't get by googling visa requirements for the EU? And since you're not an American/you do have a degree, how can you realistically put yourself into those positions to offer meaningful first-hand experiences? Where does your knowledge come from, how will you keep it current, and how can you make it relevant to your target audience?

d
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TwinCentre



Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 273
Location: Mokotow

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

denise wrote:
TwinCentre wrote:
Thank you all for your replies, but especially those of you who had something positive to say.



As to your ideas, how would they be different from what's already available? Imagine I'm a new teacher--one who fits into your categories. Why should I choose your book over anyone else's, or over the internet? If I want to know about visa requirements in the EU, what information would your book give me that I couldn't get by googling visa requirements for the EU? And since you're not an American/you do have a degree, how can you realistically put yourself into those positions to offer meaningful first-hand experiences? Where does your knowledge come from, how will you keep it current, and how can you make it relevant to your target audience?

d


Dunno....ehm....I like writing I guess....and not everyone has time to go 'googling'....and I wouldn't offer first hand experiences.....ebooks are full of the like.....just collated information to make peoples lives easier. And, I am far from a newbie, but I like positive comments...so I want to thank those people who gave them because.......they make me feel 'good'. What harm can be done? I as I said in my original post, I want something to do instead of tending to the garden. All very innocent really.


Last edited by TwinCentre on Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:00 pm; edited 1 time in total
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denise



Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Right... I hope that answer is good enough for the publishers!

And, like it or not,'google' has made its way into the lexicon as a verb.

d
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TwinCentre



Joined: 22 Mar 2007
Posts: 273
Location: Mokotow

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You publish your own ebooks Denise...as mentioned previously in this thread by other posters.
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Zero



Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Spiral78:

None of this renders the idea nonviable as a book. Because of the length of the publishing cycle, anything you write may be out of date by the time is comes out, unless it's Abraham Lincoln's biography. Even then, research turns up new facts from time to time.

State in the book that the laws are ever-changing. State what they are as of the time you're writing. State what factors are in play.

Working under the table is not viable anymore? Write why that is. Write what the risks are, what has changed from the old days. Find someone who is doing it right now, as I'm sure there are some, and write about why it is or isn't working out well for that person. Maybe interview someone who got caught, as a cautionary tale.

You don't need permission from the multinationals to mention them. Write about the general concept, tell a story or two about expats who are using this route, how they got where they are, what the pros and cons are. Maybe you'll inspire someone to pursue a career in global finance. If language skills are necessary, mention that.

The fact that there aren't "definitive answers" doesn't mean one shouldn't write about the topic. Quite the opposite, I would argue.
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denise



Joined: 23 Apr 2003
Posts: 3419
Location: finally home-ish

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Zero wrote:
None of this renders the idea nonviable as a book. Because of the length of the publishing cycle, anything you write may be out of date by the time is comes out, unless it's Abraham Lincoln's biography. Even then, research turns up new facts from time to time.

State in the book that the laws are ever-changing. State what they are as of the time you're writing. State what factors are in play.

Working under the table is not viable anymore? Write why that is. Write what the risks are, what has changed from the old days. Find someone who is doing it right now, as I'm sure there are some, and write about why it is or isn't working out well for that person. Maybe interview someone who got caught, as a cautionary tale.

You don't need permission from the multinationals to mention them. Write about the general concept, tell a story or two about expats who are using this route, how they got where they are, what the pros and cons are. Maybe you'll inspire someone to pursue a career in global finance. If language skills are necessary, mention that.

The fact that there aren't "definitive answers" doesn't mean one shouldn't write about the topic. Quite the opposite, I would argue.


Now, this information sounds quite viable. Maybe you should write your own book!

To the OP--I sense that you're getting snippy at me for no reason. Really, part of the writing cycle--a HUGE part of it--is thinking. What will you write? How will it be relevant? etc, etc. Rather than answer my questions, you got vague and dismissive.

Another part of the writing cycle is submitting your work for feedback, which, if it's worth anything, will NOT always be positive, although it should be written diplomatically. I have tried to be diplomatic with you--my questions for you were honest. If you have answers for those, then I'd say you've got a direction. If you just get snippy, then I'd say you need to ask yourself why you are avoiding the questions. Is it because you don't have the answers? Is it because you can't handle honest feedback? If the answer to either of those is "yes", then I'd say you're back at square 1 as a writer.

"I like writing" took no effort on your part to write. Come on, if you like writing, then put some more effort into it here! Zero gave you lots of good ideas--what about your own ideas? How can you add your own angle?

And yes, I know that you self-publish stuff online. If that's the way you want to go, then best of luck to you.

d

edit: Right... you've edited your initial comment to make it seem less snippy... OK, let's just let it rest, then, shall we? Good luck.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Zero, I do appreciate your perspective, and agree that some info could be put together along the lines of what you suggest.

However, my reservation about such a project is that the potential newbies will be motivated to buy the book (or access it in whatever form it was available) in order to find out how to get a job in the EU. And I don't think that such a book can give any definitive answer about how to go about doing that. It can only state what MAY be possibilities at the time of writing.

Extensive research will still be required by each potential teacher, at the time he/she actually wants to give it a try. I think this will leave end users with the same feeling they get with Susan Griffin's books - it wasn't really much help.
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Zero wrote:
Here's what I think would sell: "Breaking Through: How to Live and Work in the EU as an American." I would research until I had identified all the options, whatever they may be: work-study abroad programs, marrying a local, getting sent by a multinational company, working under the table, freelancing/telecommuting, finding a high-demand technical niche, claiming citizenship based on a grandparent, etc. Maybe you could devote a chapter to each method you identify, describing the how-to along with the pros and cons. You could also have a chapter or two on the "next best thing," working in the "other" European countries, Eastern Europe etc.

This book would be like catnip for American hipsters! Maybe I should write it myself!


I wrote an article on that. The problem as sprial says is that sutff changes all the time. I've probably already updated my infor 4 times this year and it's still January Smile
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deepteeth



Joined: 12 Jan 2011
Posts: 23
Location: Russia

PostPosted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 6:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Start a simple WordPress blog with a catchy name and clear, simple formatting.

Write one (1) focused, concise blog post every day. Often you can write them all in advance and schedule them to post later.

Learn about SEO and online advertising. Find every major TEFL/expat/travel forum on the net and get involved with it. Include a link to your blog as part of your signature. Sign up for every possible social media site with your blog's title and use them, at least occasionally.

Do this for 2-3 years and you will probably be making as much money as you would with a book, with more regular checks. What's more valuable is people will respect you for your determination, research, and knowledge.

Many of the most successful writings of all time were published in samizdat. If you're serious, why should yours be any different?
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Glenski



Joined: 15 Jan 2003
Posts: 12844
Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

PostPosted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 3:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nobody said there was harm in doing what you're doing. We're just playing Devil's Advocate like a publisher would. You don't seem to be getting that.

"I wrote this because I like writing. Will you publish it?"
This will not get past the admin assistant in any publishing house. That is what we are trying to tell you.
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