Comments on: Everybody wants to write a book http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/ Personal finance blog for college students, recent graduates and everyone else -- including entrepreneurship -- for getting rich. Featured in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 18:46:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Ramit Sethi http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-69137 Ramit Sethi Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:45:00 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-69137 Flexo, that's an excellent point. Flexo, that’s an excellent point.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-69136 Flexo Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:37:54 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-69136 Just to be clear, I don't mean to say that writing a book is not important for everyone... obviously it is important for those who do write. Just to be clear, I don’t mean to say that writing a book is not important for everyone… obviously it is important for those who do write.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-69135 Flexo Thu, 07 Aug 2008 04:34:54 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-69135 I can completely believe that 81% want to write a book. It's actually a perfect example of how surveys and statistics miss the mark. When you answer a survey like this you're given two options: write-a-book or not-write-a-book. 81% of people who responded choose the former. Why not? There's no obligation to actually write a book when you answer a simple survey. It's quite safe, and it actually makes you feel good, to answer, "Yes, I'd like to write a book." A more accurate survey would attempt to quantify the *amount of desire* but that would be a survey in which the level of complication approaches infinity. And no one would take it, they'd look at you with your long questionnaire and walk away. 81% say they want to write a book. Maybe less than 1% do end up writing one (let's round up to 1%). *That doesn't mean that 80% are lazy.* Not at all. It just means that 80% would like to write a book if they didn't have better things to do. Sure, they want to write a book -- it's better than not writing a book -- but they also want to succeed at their job, spend time with their family, and *be busy being non-lazy at many other more important activities.* I can completely believe that 81% want to write a book. It’s actually a perfect example of how surveys and statistics miss the mark. When you answer a survey like this you’re given two options: write-a-book or not-write-a-book. 81% of people who responded choose the former. Why not? There’s no obligation to actually write a book when you answer a simple survey. It’s quite safe, and it actually makes you feel good, to answer, “Yes, I’d like to write a book.”

A more accurate survey would attempt to quantify the *amount of desire* but that would be a survey in which the level of complication approaches infinity. And no one would take it, they’d look at you with your long questionnaire and walk away.

81% say they want to write a book. Maybe less than 1% do end up writing one (let’s round up to 1%). *That doesn’t mean that 80% are lazy.* Not at all. It just means that 80% would like to write a book if they didn’t have better things to do. Sure, they want to write a book — it’s better than not writing a book — but they also want to succeed at their job, spend time with their family, and *be busy being non-lazy at many other more important activities.*

]]> By: Derek http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-61396 Derek Fri, 09 May 2008 18:01:06 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-61396 I do NOT want to write a book. It's a hell of a lot of soul-destroying, frustrating, low-return-on-investment effort! But every day, new thoughts occur to me, and I wake up sometimes with passages running through my head... And in any case which one would I write, since there at least 7 books in my head, some even structured on paper, others even partly written? And why would I do so, since people mostly read, either to benefit themselves, or to be entertained, and while my books might do either, their intention would be neither... And so I do not write because I do not have a good enough reason to do so. I do NOT want to write a book. It’s a hell of a lot of soul-destroying, frustrating, low-return-on-investment effort!
But every day, new thoughts occur to me, and I wake up sometimes with passages running through my head…
And in any case which one would I write, since there at least 7 books in my head, some even structured on paper, others even partly written?
And why would I do so, since people mostly read, either to benefit themselves, or to be entertained, and while my books might do either, their intention would be neither…
And so I do not write because I do not have a good enough reason to do so.

]]> By: k-couch http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-2302 k-couch Tue, 26 Dec 2006 16:44:28 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-2302 after reading all of these comments I still want to write a book and turn that into a movie. I have a real story that i can tweak to seem like the most amazing tale ever.....but every time I get a couple pages of my ideas and thoughts down on paper I start to second guess the interest others will have in the book. Is that normal ? Is there any system or method to properly organize my work or do i just keep going and sort it all out at the end ? need a little help here after reading all of these comments I still want to write a book and turn that into a movie. I have a real story that i can tweak to seem like the most amazing tale ever…..but every time I get a couple pages of my ideas and thoughts down on paper I start to second guess the interest others will have in the book. Is that normal ? Is there any system or method to properly organize my work or do i just keep going and sort it all out at the end ?

need a little help here

]]> By: julie gasparro http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-2301 julie gasparro Wed, 09 Aug 2006 07:54:08 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-2301 I have so very much to say! I want so very much to have someone help me lay out the groundwork of how to write out the amazing thoughts and feelings and dreams and stories that constantly run thru my mind and heart! I'm scard and apprehensive about laying out on paper what's inside of me and yet I know that from everything that I have read and been amazed by in my lifetime, what I know is growing in me rivals it all! please help me figure out how to get it out and share what I know and feel with the world. thank you. julie I have so very much to say! I want so very much to have someone help me lay out the groundwork of how to write out the amazing thoughts and feelings and dreams and stories that constantly run thru my mind and heart! I’m scard and apprehensive about laying out on paper what’s inside of me and yet I know that from everything that I have read and been amazed by in my lifetime, what I know is growing in me rivals it all! please help me figure out how to get it out and share what I know and feel with the world. thank you. julie

]]> By: Common Cents http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-2300 Common Cents Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:53:10 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-2300 makes perfect sense. i have a mfa, have a manuscript, and spent lots of money on my education...yeah, i'd LIKE to write a book, but i've come to realize it is much harder than just saying it. it's a long, hard, tedious process. so much so that sometimes the creative drive gets lost and you get weary. knowing what i know now...do i still want to write one? hell yes! (i've also started saving for the future...cuz i want to be rich too *smile*) good post. makes perfect sense.

i have a mfa, have a manuscript, and spent lots of money on my education…yeah, i’d LIKE to write a book, but i’ve come to realize it is much harder than just saying it.

it’s a long, hard, tedious process. so much so that sometimes the creative drive gets lost and you get weary. knowing what i know now…do i still want to write one?

hell yes!

(i’ve also started saving for the future…cuz i want to be rich too *smile*)

good post.

]]> By: John http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-2299 John Tue, 06 Jun 2006 07:34:59 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-2299 I have $50,000 in liquid assets, and I don't think yearly 10% is likely. 10% is a good year! You think I'm caught on minutae? Yeah, minutae like the budget shortfall! How do you make profits when the dollar's falling globally? You need to do much better to offset the reduced value of the dollars you have! You can be short on specifics and repeat the pap of mainstream investing maxims, but step to bears like Warren Buffett who are abandoning the American market? Now that's rich! If you want to support the 10% number, you need more specifics about how. So far, honestly, you haven't taught me anything, actually. Index funds, yeah, rah. Why is Buffet done with the American market? You need to say more than "index fund". Or mock more bears. Yeah, right, whatever. I have $50,000 in liquid assets, and I don’t think yearly 10% is likely. 10% is a good year! You think I’m caught on minutae? Yeah, minutae like the budget shortfall! How do you make profits when the dollar’s falling globally? You need to do much better to offset the reduced value of the dollars you have! You can be short on specifics and repeat the pap of mainstream investing maxims, but step to bears like Warren Buffett who are abandoning the American market? Now that’s rich! If you want to support the 10% number, you need more specifics about how. So far, honestly, you haven’t taught me anything, actually. Index funds, yeah, rah. Why is Buffet done with the American market? You need to say more than “index fund”. Or mock more bears. Yeah, right, whatever.

]]> By: Rosemary Esehagu http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-2298 Rosemary Esehagu Fri, 02 Jun 2006 23:38:46 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-2298 I wish that the 81% who want to write a book would actually do so. The world would be a healthier (and happier?) place as a result. Writing is good for the soul/self, and there is no better way to track one's self and one's progress. I wish that the 81% who want to write a book would actually do so. The world would be a healthier (and happier?) place as a result. Writing is good for the soul/self, and there is no better way to track one’s self and one’s progress.

]]> By: Gabe Rosen http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book/#comment-2297 Gabe Rosen Thu, 01 Jun 2006 19:15:21 +0000 http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/everybody-wants-to-write-a-book#comment-2297 Of course, imagine if all those folks actually did get off their asses and write books. I used to have this debate with my creative-writing major roommate. He felt that untalented writers should be discouraged from the very beginning, which struck me as negative and contrary to the best principles of education. After taking a few workshops with some hopeless Romantics (not romantics), I began to agree with him. And on the flipside, there are folks who really should write a book but would never presume to do so. I'm just thankful I know them and get to experience their brilliance firsthand. I think we'd all do well to revisit Ramit's dictum of "week-long deliverables or an asskicking". I used to fantasize about big projects and promote them enthusiastically to my friends, then accomplish nothing when faced with the reality of a few years of solid work with no guaranteed payoff or acclaim. These days I'm a bit more modest. I think about swimming to Alcatraz, but I'm starting out by mastering the local cove. I'd like to runa marathon, but for now I'm content to add distance one mile at a time. A book with my name on it would be nice too - but maybe I should update my blog for the first time in two months before I get carried away. Of course, imagine if all those folks actually did get off their asses and write books. I used to have this debate with my creative-writing major roommate. He felt that untalented writers should be discouraged from the very beginning, which struck me as negative and contrary to the best principles of education. After taking a few workshops with some hopeless Romantics (not romantics), I began to agree with him.

And on the flipside, there are folks who really should write a book but would never presume to do so. I’m just thankful I know them and get to experience their brilliance firsthand.

I think we’d all do well to revisit Ramit’s dictum of “week-long deliverables or an asskicking”. I used to fantasize about big projects and promote them enthusiastically to my friends, then accomplish nothing when faced with the reality of a few years of solid work with no guaranteed payoff or acclaim. These days I’m a bit more modest. I think about swimming to Alcatraz, but I’m starting out by mastering the local cove. I’d like to runa marathon, but for now I’m content to add distance one mile at a time. A book with my name on it would be nice too – but maybe I should update my blog for the first time in two months before I get carried away.

]]>