How Writing a Book Is Like Starting a Company

http://onstartups.com//tabid/3339/bid/79666/8-ways-writing-a-book-is-like-starting-a-company?source=Blog_Email_[8%20Ways%20Writing%20a%20Boo]

by andygcook • 14 years ago

41 14 14 years ago

onstartups.com

moped• 14 years ago

As someone who's working on a non-fiction travel memoir (and tried my hand at a startup), I'd agree with the author.

Another comparison not mentioned-- many writers who attempt to write a book fail.. whether it's actually completing the 1st draft, finding a publisher, or gaining traction once launched. Kinda reminds me of a pg talk, where he argues that startups fail by default, and it's our goal is to avoid dying at each milestone.

jasonlbaptiste5• 14 years ago

Great point! Even once published, odds of success are low. You're funded aka have an advance, but the odds you deliver a return are low, just like startups+VCs.

boopsie• 14 years ago

After I wrote my first book, I was told, "Live on the advance. Go to Hawaii on the royalties." By which the speaker meant, "Don't count on success."

I dare say there is a complement in startups.

andygcook• 14 years ago

@Jason - Did you get any feedback from readers as you wrote the book? Or did you mainly retool articles from your blog and use the comments as feedback?

jasonlbaptiste5• 14 years ago

Completely new material. I took a case study method as opposed to a tried+true methodology.

What I did was understand what readers wanted from my blog posts and took that into account. I basically just wrote everything I wish I could have told myself 5 years ago.

joejohnson• 14 years ago

For both a book and a startup, ideas are cheap. The real value is in the implementation.

jasonlbaptiste5• 14 years ago

Yup. I already have my next book fairly well outlined. The key is - will I write it?

joshkaufman• 14 years ago

I've read the pre-press galley: it's a solid, useful book. As I mentioned in my official blurb, the chapters on PR and fundraising alone are worth the read. Tons of good advice, illustrated with clear examples. Highly recommended.

jasonlbaptiste5• 14 years ago

thanks Josh!

seancoughlin• 14 years ago

One important difference that the author doesn't mention is that after a start-up launch you're still going to be testing hypothesis, making improvements/ changes/ pivots such that your product 6 months after launch might not look anything like your product at launch. With a book, you might add more to a new edition, but the product is more or less set after post-release.

Still, I think it's an interesting post - especially about how writers can learn from iterative/ lean methods. Thanks for sharing!

danmaz742• 14 years ago

The book looks interesting and I considered buying it, but then I discovered that the Kindle edition is more expensive than the hardcover. When it is like this, I feel cheated (to say the least). So, I'm sorry, but I'll not buy it. Too bad.

jasonlbaptiste5• 14 years ago

wait, where did you see this? kindle is 12.99 and hardcover is 16.95. Maybe international edition? Let me know so I can have the publisher look into this.

In the meantime, email me - j@onswipe.com. I'd like to send you a copy for free.

danmaz742• 14 years ago

Hm... yes, I'm from Italy. Didn't even think I would see different prices just because of that; the prices I see are 16.95 for the hardcover, and 19.38 for the Kindle edition (on amazon.com, and I see the same prices even if I'm signed out). If this is Amazon's doing, I apologize with you, and shame on Amazon! And thank you for the free copy offer, but I don't want to take advantage of this ;)

spatten• 14 years ago

Nice article. At first, I thought it would be more similar to our manifesto on Leanpub: http://leanpub.com/manifesto.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a new take on the concept. It's a nice complement.

For comparison, the points from the Leanpub manifesto are:

1. There are market risks, technical risks and a very low probability of success.

2. Both writing a book and creating a startup are highly creative processes undertaken by one or a few people working closely together.

3. Historically it has taken about a year, often spent in isolation or "stealth mode", to develop and release the first version.

4. Historically, startups have been funded by VCs and authors have been funded by publishers, both of which are hit-driven businesses.

How Writing a Book Is Like Starting a Company

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