Walking down the aisle

Having dinner with Michael Nolan, our acquisition editor, a few weeks ago, I remarked that I always knew I’d write a book some day, but I didn’t know that it would be a book about blogging!

Who would? In my career, I’ve never seen a technology grow faster or change business more quickly. About a year ago, I was in meetings evangelizing blogging to clients who had no idea what I was talking about. Just now, when lecturing, I see more hands raise for “I’m blogging,” than, “I don’t know what a blog is.” And that’s what brought us to this book. The marketing part of blogging is easy. People get that. What’s more difficult is the actual how and why. The blogopshere talks to itself a lot about blogging theory. There are rules, etiquette, pre-requisites, and even manifestos. What we’re going to do is turn that blogging theory into business reality and write about business blogging success—and failures.

Getting back to dinner with Michael, I also told him that writing a book was like walking down the aisle. I was nervous, anticipating the commitment, and jittery about the details. It’s a long-term relationship and I hope I do it right.

Reflecting on the book, a few lyrical quotes

• “Ain’t gonna work for no soul-sucking jerk” — Beck
• “I’ve Got Depth Of Perception In My Text Y’all … So What’cha want” — B-Boys
• “Pressure’s gonna drop on you”
  
  “Speaking King’s English in quotation”
  
  “Overpowered by funk? Funk out! ”
  — Clash