How much you know or don't know: knowledge traps waiting to snag you

Knowing too much about medicine and too little about writing and publishing can result in a book that is ponderous and complex, with sentences and paragraphs meandering through acres of verbal undergrowth. Your reader will be lost.

Unlike the situation you face when writing for a professional journal or commercial publisher, with self-publishing you are both judge and jury until your book has been produced. Only then will you learn if you have been successful. No amount of knowledge can substitute for good organization and style in making your book effective.

Even technical and scientific topics can be presented clearly. Don't let your knowledge interfere with good communications.

On the other hand, never approach a prospective publishing consultant by saying you know absolutely nothing about writing or book publishing. As soon as you admit you know nothing, the unscrupulous operator is ready to pounce on you with costly and time-consuming options for producing your book.

Learn what you can. Ask questions. Base your book on your knowledge of the subject matter and the interest and comprehension level of your reader.

Click on another trap in the list on your right that you'd like to know more about.

If you've had a bad experience with self-publishing, share your tale with us so we can help other physician authors avoid the same problems.

For more information about physician publishing, choose a topic from the list on the left. When you're ready to talk about your publishing project, call us. Or send us email at hodi@mindspring.com

Publishing traps
waiting for the physician author

Knowledge Traps

Price Traps

Reader Traps

Time Traps