So I want to write a book............possibly

Coin books are not best sellers. Even the Red book only ranks #1,900 th on Amazon's list, and a book on a rather unpopular area ( which I believe Barber coinage would be) such as Civil War tokens by an extremely well respect author Q.D. Bowers only ranks as 529,000 th, and they are backed by a powerhouse Whitmans.I intend no disrespect to Barber or CWT fans.

Both BNB and Doug's post contain an important common fact , people do not want just rehash, They want originality, new and sharp photo, historical research, correct scientific proof to buy a book rather than just read it off of forums or wiki. I don't mind $100+ for a book that gives me information NO other source has, because knowledge is power and will repay the output by many times in collecting, buying , or selling.

Writing is a hard and time consuming task similar to athletic training. Strict time regimentation, excess money for travel and research, a GOOD agent who can help one complete their goals and GOOD editors , who can prevent the book from being a reading nightmare.

Any such ambition should be applauded, but I would write no more than a proposal and maybe a first chapter to use to find a willing agent. Without one it will go no where. IMO.

 

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A proposal and first chapter is exactly what my agent required before a contract on each book.

 

I get what you are saying about the amount of work, I truly do, but nothing you are writing is discouraging me from undertaking the task I am setting my mind to. When someone presents me with a scenario describing how tough its going to be, it just pushes me harder to complete what everyone is telling me I cant do.

I still think your point is moot though. You know absolutely nothing about me, and the way that I operate or the things that I have been through. I also dont abide by statistics or get scared because only a certain percentage has managed to complete something. There is still that percentage that completed, and I like to think of myself as capable of doing whatever I set my mind to.

I too have been through something that took more determination than what most people are willing to put forth, something that so completely changed my life that I dont understand why more people arent doing what I did. Alas, thats a story for another time though.

As for my arrogant, cocky, strong-willed demeanor, its something I am working on, but at the same time, without my confidence that I have found, I wouldnt be able to accomplish half the things that I am able to do in my life. Its just my burden to bear, and my issue to overcome.

Oh, and you were wrong about the depth of my awareness with my arrogance. I am FULLY aware of that issue, its something I have been addressing for at least the last 4-5 years. Apparently its not getting any better (dont think its getting too much worse though).....oh well.......if my arrogance is the worst part of my character, then I will be just fine I think.

I also want to turn the table a little bit, and this is to be sort of a butt hole, you keep telling me because you did all this work on your book that you know how hard of an undertaking it is. What if I said you were just inadequate and it took you longer or harder to work at something than other people? The point I am trying to make there, is without knowing anything about a person, other than what they choose to share on an open forum, what sense does it make to compare what you are capable of doing to what I am capable of doing? Neither one of us really knows the other, therefore that opinion is skewed. I get you have experience from doing it before and your words do hold plenty of wisdom on how tough of an undertaking this will be, but like I said, those things dont scare me, if anything it empowers me to do exactly what I said I was going to do.

In all seriousness though, I actually do realize my arrogance is an issue, but its a fine line between presenting arrogance and presenting confidence, especially when we do not know one another other than through cyber space. I also have a pretty humble side too, you all just rarely ever get to see it.

 

You are correct; you know nothing about me.

 

Im not looking for Amazons best seller award. I want to make information that may (or may not) be available to a certain group of interested collectors or dealers and present it in such a way that the end user will be grateful for the way this book is laid out, the ease of use, and obviously the new information contained within.

Heres an example, you yourself just said that you would pay $100 for a book if it had good information. Well let me ask you this. Since numismatic books are rarely updated and revised, wouldnt you like to see a book with relevant information be for sale for $100, instead of trying to track down a book that is outdated,, albeit with good information, but still outdated and costly (double or more of what the new book costs). Or would you rather buy the book that contains ALL of the relevant and pertinent information and also encompasses more than just one type or denomination?

Lets go back to Barbers. Say you are new to collecting and you are interested in the Barber series as a whole. What book provides that information? Not a one. You have to buy outdated, separate books. So now, I come along with my comprehensive encyclopedia that has the info that D. Lawrence used (along with other accepted experts) except I have used their research, incorporated my own, and now encompassed all of Barbers designs/denominations into one book. That is available now, today, fresh hot off the press for 1/3 of what it would take to acquire a library of old reference books on each denomination as designed by Barber. That is my goal, just not with the Barber series.

 

Likewise you for me. So to use your experience as a soap box is a moot point. Now the advice is sound, truly it is, but the shouting down on me because I dont have your expertise or your experience is what I didnt care for, and it came across as a high horse that because it was tough for you its automatically tough for anyone else.

Just because you were able to do something and it may have been tough for you, does NOT mean that it will be that way for everybody. I am sure there are plenty of adept folks out there who can quite literally accomplish whatever they set their mind to. Not saying I am one of them, just that out of anything with odds or a chance, there is always hope. Hope paired with Determination can accomplish just about anything that is worth doing.

 

This thread makes me want to bang out a book on Barbers over the next couple of weeks, nah I'll take a nap instead.

 

Yo, risk-, I already wrote half the book for you...