Book update: a book is forever ??

A book is forever ??

My heart sunk when I read those four words. I was frustrated and did not want to believe it was true; but deep down, I knew it was true.

If you’ve been waiting for a book update, I’m sorry it’s taken so long. The truth is I’ve never written a book before. I thought when I was done with a shitty first draft in Jan 2024, I was 80% closer to done.

A lifetime of working in tech made me think that I could publish the book digitally and offer free updates as I iterated and polished the book. Launch and learn. Books are now print on demand and new editions come out all the time.

But then I read Anjanette “AJ” Harper 's book - write a must-read. It’s a book about writing and publishing books. I read it in record time. I wanted to learn anything and everything about publishing a book quick snap. I wanted my book to go-live.

But then I learned about editing. I learned about AJ’s 17 step editing process. Seven-freaking-teen.

If I thought my heart could not sink lower, it did. I discovered new depths.

Editing is all about making the book better, making the book a must-read. It reminded me of my early days in Design where I obsessed over every pixel of every screen. This was until I worked in tech and launching and learning beat it out of me.

Writing this book is a real homage to my good ol’ days of craft. I realised that yes, a book is forever. Even digital books. I highlight and notate the shit out of my books, digital and physical. My brain ticks as I read interesting sentences that leap out of the page. I write notes, these notes take me back to that moment years later when I re-read the book again. These notations do not go away. These highlights do not go away. They form part of my reading experience. They represent my reading of the book.

No way will I exchange my highlights, my notations, my folded dog ears. No way will exchange my first edition, out-of-date copy of the book. This book was once the author's, but now it is mine; bent, wrinkled, coffee-stained, read. No way will I exchange it for a newer edition, even if you gave it to me for free.

A book is forever.?

As I write, I am in editing hell. I am pouring over chapters and pages of words I had written before. I see the imperfections, I see the opportunities to rewrite to make it sharper, clearer, funnier. Better.

Editing pass 4 done, 13 more to go. Writing a book, I am learning, is a labour of love. I kinda knew getting to a shitty first draft was going to be hard, except now I am discovering the labour part through editing. Harder.

I can assure you the book is going to be better for it. I'm going to try my hardest for an early 2024 release. But a book is forever, and it may take a longer. But it will be good, it will be worth the wait. It will be the best that I can make it.

Hopefully, it will be a must read.

Hi. I'm Tim Yeo, and I'm writing The Quiet Achiever: tiny habits to have impact at work without pretending to be extroverts. Signup to be the first to know. https://forms.gle/cNGzKEFzz7s6XGPR9

(Image is an AI generated book cover for inspiration. I like the serif font on this one; makes it feel like the tiny habits will stand the test of time. I’ve always had a thing for black and white, high contrast. Not sure about light-coloured hardcover tho; might get dirty quickly. I’m liking the illustrations, tiny flourishes, but does not take away from title. Also, colours feel organic, pastel. wdyt?)