Comments on: From Blog to Book: Why I Wrote Your Money: The Missing Manual http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/ Common sense advice on money saving tips, how to get out of debt, high interest savings accounts, cd rates, money market accounts, mortgage rates, money management and more. Wed, 22 May 2013 19:03:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: David http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-625731 David Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:55:09 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-625731 @J.D. Thanks for the link and the numbers. From what I've read, 5,225 is not shabby at all, so I understand why your publisher is happy. The link you posted says that most initial prints run about 5,000 copies. @J.D.

Thanks for the link and the numbers. From what I’ve read, 5,225 is not shabby at all, so I understand why your publisher is happy. The link you posted says that most initial prints run about 5,000 copies.

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]]> By: Landon http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-625381 Landon Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:36:02 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-625381 Congratulations on your book. Even though you say you didn't do it for the money, book royalties is the perfect example of residual income that can lead to greater financial independence. This blog possibly gave you the confidence to share your ideas to another audience given that you can capture the attention of so many readers and benefit their lives. Congratulations on your book. Even though you say you didn’t do it for the money, book royalties is the perfect example of residual income that can lead to greater financial independence. This blog possibly gave you the confidence to share your ideas to another audience given that you can capture the attention of so many readers and benefit their lives.

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]]> By: Kevin M http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-624141 Kevin M Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:24:50 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-624141 I was going to ask "would you do it again" since now you know the whole process, but since you're thinking of another book, I have my answer. Also, I think Rob brings up some great points both about the book's intangible benefits and about the process itself. I was going to ask “would you do it again” since now you know the whole process, but since you’re thinking of another book, I have my answer.

Also, I think Rob brings up some great points both about the book’s intangible benefits and about the process itself.

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]]> By: Rob Bennett http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-623951 Rob Bennett Wed, 04 Aug 2010 12:22:55 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-623951 I believe you when you say that making money was not your primary objective in writing the book. J.D. If it had been, you would have become frustrated with all the work involved and ditched it at some point. But I believe that in the end it really may end up making you a lot of money in an indirect way. As you say here, you have learned about the publishing process and about what is involved in tying your ideas together. That knowledge (which can only be gained through experience) is going to pay off when you write the next book. That's the one that is going to make lots of money. That's the one you were meant to write. But the first one was a necessary part of a process leading you to writing the second one (the story one -- which is the personal finance book that does not exist today and which only you can write). There <i>is</i> a unified theory to what you are saying in all your blog posts. But it's a mistake to try it tie it all together in terms of a single set of instructions re personal finance topics. Your unified theory is a <i>process</i> thing. You possess insight into how humans need to go about learning about personal finance. That's why you connect with people. All of the people who meet here are working through these same struggles and you articulate things that others cannot put into words. Process insights are of huge importance. This is of course only one person's take on all this. Rob I believe you when you say that making money was not your primary objective in writing the book. J.D. If it had been, you would have become frustrated with all the work involved and ditched it at some point. But I believe that in the end it really may end up making you a lot of money in an indirect way.

As you say here, you have learned about the publishing process and about what is involved in tying your ideas together. That knowledge (which can only be gained through experience) is going to pay off when you write the next book. That’s the one that is going to make lots of money. That’s the one you were meant to write. But the first one was a necessary part of a process leading you to writing the second one (the story one — which is the personal finance book that does not exist today and which only you can write).

There is a unified theory to what you are saying in all your blog posts. But it’s a mistake to try it tie it all together in terms of a single set of instructions re personal finance topics. Your unified theory is a process thing. You possess insight into how humans need to go about learning about personal finance. That’s why you connect with people. All of the people who meet here are working through these same struggles and you articulate things that others cannot put into words. Process insights are of huge importance.

This is of course only one person’s take on all this.

Rob

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]]> By: Beth Jennings http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-623381 Beth Jennings Wed, 04 Aug 2010 03:23:36 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-623381 I do my own custom books and I can tell you the satisfaction is pretty high! Find a way because your material is highly valuable and I know many people would want to access it. In the age of innovation i'm sure you'll find a way - a minor hurdle. I do my own custom books and I can tell you the satisfaction is pretty high! Find a way because your material is highly valuable and I know many people would want to access it. In the age of innovation i’m sure you’ll find a way – a minor hurdle.

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]]> By: Mike Piper http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-623141 Mike Piper Wed, 04 Aug 2010 01:05:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-623141 For me, there's another reason: Books are neat. Holding a book in your hands and saying, "I made this" is a pretty cool experience. :) For me, there’s another reason: Books are neat. Holding a book in your hands and saying, “I made this” is a pretty cool experience. :)

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]]> By: The Financial Power http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622941 The Financial Power Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:56:25 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622941 Congratulations on your book. I really like the idea of having your second book on real stories. Finances is similar with religion. Theology doesn't give you a personal relationship with God just as financial theoretical practices will not give you a personal hands on experience. In our financial journey most of us will make some mistakes, which helps us grow. Until we move one feet in front of the other one we will slowly get better and richer. Congratulations on your book. I really like the idea of having your second book on real stories.
Finances is similar with religion. Theology doesn’t give you a personal relationship with God just as financial theoretical practices will not give you a personal hands on experience. In our financial journey most of us will make some mistakes, which helps us grow. Until we move one feet in front of the other one we will slowly get better and richer.

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]]> By: Kevin http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622931 Kevin Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:55:27 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622931 J.D., it makes perfect sense, and obviously I missed the sidebar disclaimer. Thanks, and keep up the great work! kc J.D., it makes perfect sense, and obviously I missed the sidebar disclaimer. Thanks, and keep up the great work! kc

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]]> By: J.D. Roth http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622921 J.D. Roth Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:53:44 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622921 <b>@David (#5)</b> To be honest, I didn't have any expectations for sales going into this. None at all. My publisher may have, but they haven't told me. I just did some googling, and found <a href="http://parapublishing.com/sites/para/resources/statistics.cfm" rel="nofollow">this site</a>, which seems to indicate that a successful non-fiction book sells 7500 copies (implying, I think, that the average book sells fewer than that). <i>Your Money: The Missing Manual</i> is no best-seller, but it's done okay. My first royalty statement showed 5,225 copies sold in the first three months, and my publisher seems pleased. @David (#5)
To be honest, I didn’t have any expectations for sales going into this. None at all. My publisher may have, but they haven’t told me. I just did some googling, and found this site, which seems to indicate that a successful non-fiction book sells 7500 copies (implying, I think, that the average book sells fewer than that). Your Money: The Missing Manual is no best-seller, but it’s done okay. My first royalty statement showed 5,225 copies sold in the first three months, and my publisher seems pleased.

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]]> By: J.D. Roth http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622901 J.D. Roth Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:41:45 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622901 Hey, Kevin. Good question. I've always been pretty straight that GRS posts contain affiliate links. After the FTC ruling, I tried running disclaimers at the bottom of the posts that had them, but readers thought that was silly. Instead, I've opted for a disclaimer displayed prominently in the sidebar. Does that make sense? Hey, Kevin. Good question. I’ve always been pretty straight that GRS posts contain affiliate links. After the FTC ruling, I tried running disclaimers at the bottom of the posts that had them, but readers thought that was silly. Instead, I’ve opted for a disclaimer displayed prominently in the sidebar. Does that make sense?

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]]> By: Kevin http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622871 Kevin Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:31:03 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622871 J.D., Interesting post and you bring to light some factors that weren't mentioned in Trent's post. On an unrelated note: why do you choose to not acknowledge that a post such as this one contains affiliate links? I thought the FCC requires some sort of note when that's the case. Sorry if you've been asked this before and I missed it. J.D.,

Interesting post and you bring to light some factors that weren’t mentioned in Trent’s post. On an unrelated note: why do you choose to not acknowledge that a post such as this one contains affiliate links? I thought the FCC requires some sort of note when that’s the case. Sorry if you’ve been asked this before and I missed it.

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]]> By: ajc @ 7million7years http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622851 ajc @ 7million7years Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:20:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622851 Hah! Grand Unified Theory of money?! I've been searching for that for years ... the idea had been sitting at the back of my mind and I've been slowly 'teasing' it out by blogging over the past 2 to 3 years and now, I'm damn close to getting it all down on paper; now I'll have to buy your book to see if you've really beaten me to it :) Hah! Grand Unified Theory of money?! I’ve been searching for that for years … the idea had been sitting at the back of my mind and I’ve been slowly ‘teasing’ it out by blogging over the past 2 to 3 years and now, I’m damn close to getting it all down on paper; now I’ll have to buy your book to see if you’ve really beaten me to it :)

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]]> By: David http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622661 David Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:09:29 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622661 I'm curious how well Your Money has sold. Like actual numbers, how they compare to expectations, and how they compare to the industry. I’m curious how well Your Money has sold. Like actual numbers, how they compare to expectations, and how they compare to the industry.

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]]> By: Budgeting in the Fun Stuff http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622601 Budgeting in the Fun Stuff Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:59:16 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622601 Thanks for your breakdown. I've only been blogging for about 6 months and a book isn't in my future plans yet, but I too can see the benefits of perceived legitimacy. I also can understand why you didn't want your first publishing experience to be a blog dump...it would kind of cheapen the experience, right? Congrats and I hope you can de-cranktify your wife sucessfully, lol. :-) Thanks for your breakdown. I’ve only been blogging for about 6 months and a book isn’t in my future plans yet, but I too can see the benefits of perceived legitimacy. I also can understand why you didn’t want your first publishing experience to be a blog dump…it would kind of cheapen the experience, right? Congrats and I hope you can de-cranktify your wife sucessfully, lol. :-)

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]]> By: Tara http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622551 Tara Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:40:57 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622551 I second Lisa's comment on self-publishing. As a blogger, I'm assuming that you are proficient in HTML and as such, you could write your book and publish it via a platform like Amazon's Kindle Publishing Platform. You could promote the Amazon link via your blog to sell the book and people would also be able to find it on Amazon.com. Then perhaps it would gain popularity and be found by a publisher! I second Lisa’s comment on self-publishing. As a blogger, I’m assuming that you are proficient in HTML and as such, you could write your book and publish it via a platform like Amazon’s Kindle Publishing Platform. You could promote the Amazon link via your blog to sell the book and people would also be able to find it on Amazon.com. Then perhaps it would gain popularity and be found by a publisher!

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]]> By: FinEngr http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622531 FinEngr Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:24:54 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622531 Very impressive & congrats! From your 2nd to last paragraph, it sounds like you're taking a very Ric Eldeman approach by including real stories. Hard to believe people are already asking about a second book - guess that's why you're on Big Project hiatus - the upward trend never seems to stop. Very impressive & congrats! From your 2nd to last paragraph, it sounds like you’re taking a very Ric Eldeman approach by including real stories.

Hard to believe people are already asking about a second book – guess that’s why you’re on Big Project hiatus – the upward trend never seems to stop.

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]]> By: Lisa http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/08/03/from-blog-to-book-why-i-wrote-your-money-the-missing-manual/comment-page-1/#comment-622521 Lisa Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:20:16 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=38801#comment-622521 J.D., If you don’t want to wait for a publisher who is interested in Get Rich Slowly: The Book, consider self-publishing. I think you have the connections to do it and do it well. I like Peter Bowerman's book on the process: The Well-Fed Self Publisher. Of course, this would not jive with your plans to slow down as it is significantly more work ;). J.D.,
If you don’t want to wait for a publisher who is interested in Get Rich Slowly: The Book, consider self-publishing. I think you have the connections to do it and do it well. I like Peter Bowerman’s book on the process: The Well-Fed Self Publisher. Of course, this would not jive with your plans to slow down as it is significantly more work ;) .

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