RE: Serious Question (believe it or not)...

Rachel has addressed this very well. Let me please jump in with a few words.

Joining Gaja to write the Oracle Performance Tuning 101 was purely a coincidence. First, I knew him (from this list and in person since IOUG-A 2000). Second, I volunteered to review (for free and unofficially) a few chapters when I came to know about his book. He liked my feedback and asked me if I would be interested in contributing to the book as a co-author. And offered me just one chapter as a trial. That's how I got the chance to write something. I took over 2 days to ponder over it with my family before finally saying 'yes' to Gaja to write more.

As Rachel implied, it is a commitment that can get very difficult to keep with very tight deadlines from the publishers. Almost all our book writing was done after the end of the day at regular jobs and submissions to various editors were made in the wee hours of the following day! Right, Rachel ?

Gaja mentioned to me many times during the past several months, that this is the first and the last book he would ever write (we shall see, if that happens:) One thing is for sure, writing technical books will not be enough to pay your bills. Then, why did I do it? It was an opportunity to learn more and share what I learnt. And I enjoyed this first unexpected opportunity to do something different. It was not for making money or to put on my resume (I love my current job). Would I do it again? Probably, if the right opportunity knocks on the door, I am ready (now that I have some experience :) provided my family gives me a 'green light'. Just remember, they are the ones who suffer most in your adventure!

Regards,

• Kirti Deshpande Verizon Information Services http://www.superpages.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rachel Carmichael [SMTP:carmichr_at_hotmail.com]
> Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2001 4:40 AM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Subject: RE: Serious Question (believe it or not)...
>
> Literary background is meaningless in writing a technical book... I don't
> have one and I managed :)
>
> Developmental editor if you can't write? Not hardly likely. That's what
> I've
> done on both Marlene Theriault's Networking 101 and Gaja's Tuning 101
> books.
> You need to be able to write to make the books interesting and at the
> same
> time technical enough.
>
> Technical editor has to know Oracle very well, because you are responsible
>
> for ensuring that the scripts and statements in the book are absolutely
> accurate.
>
> Neither is a trivial job. Nor are they ones that can be done in a spare
> moment or two.
>
> How did I get started? I was asked by people I knew to do the technical
> edit on a book. Do I recommend that you do this? NO!
>
> Understand that writing a book is NOT something you do in your spare time.
>
> It does not matter how well you think you can write, or if you know Oracle
>
> backwards and forwards. You have a full-time job while you are doing this,
>
> you have (one hopes) a life that you want to keep as well.
>
> You can't slack off on the job, that's what pays the bills. You have
> deadlines to meet. You can't slack off on those, or the publisher takes
> the
> book away (yes, they can do that). So your life disappears.
>
> Jim, if you really truly think you can do this.... stop and think again. I
>
> spent 6 months of no life writing 101 and this was with co-authors! Yes it
>
> is worth the end product but understand that while you are going through
> it,
> it's hell.
>
> As for how to get started..... Oracle Press has a submission form on their
>
> website for people who are interested in writing a book. They really do
> read
> the submissions.
>
> Am I trying to scare you? You betcha. Because if you STILL want to do a
> book
> after this, then I know that you really will get it done.
>
> Rachel
>
>

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Author: Deshpande, Kirti
  INET: kirti.deshpande_at_verizon.com

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