Too difficult. Rewrite or other book?

Odile · Oct 18, 2006

Writing problem:
I've let my educated and not educated friends read the book. (in human sciences, through studying or reading)

Educated friends have no problem whatsoever reading the book, except some parts in which they miss education. And they recognise themselves in the book and like reading it. With one friend I was reviewing parts of the book in a chatroom, it was fun because she really understands me.

She's a teacher for special education... hm... I should ask her for a quote.

Not educated friends though fall apart in 2 groups.

One understands what I write and especially relate to the examples. Then follow a list of examples how the ideas in the book relate to their past experience.
The other group finds parts of the book too difficult and puts the book aside. They are the ones that often ask me how and what in a forum. The forum is about children.

Now for my problem: should I make my book less difficult, rewrite is to be very easy (and maybe loose my educated audience) or should I put in more examples to make it more easy to read? Should I keep it the way it is and write another simpler book, should I add easy chapters? Surely some of you have had this problem too and have solved it?

Odile

Bartholomew · Oct 18, 2006

Never write down to your audience. If you've explained in simple English and provided examples, nothing else on earth you do will make them understand.

You don't want to insult your target audience trying to reach your hand out to people who aren't going to care anyway.

Odile · Oct 18, 2006

but what if my objective is to explain?

Thanks Bartho for your quick and clear answer. I think you're right... Thats why I didn't change anything about my manuscript that is currently being read...

but what if it's a book about children and the parents can't understand what I say, should I rewrite it then? Suppose that I can write in 2 ways, one is theoretical, the other is explaining difficult things that happen in easy language. What if I can do both... Is there a format wherein you can both give theoretical and practical advise on different levels ...

I guess I'm searching for advice on strange book formats.

Odile

cree · Oct 18, 2006

Write TO your audience.
If you try to satisfy disparate audiences who do not have a common foundation, you will lose them all.
If your audience is academic types, that is a much different audience than, say, a parent who just found out their kid is autistic.
Who is the book for?
It sounds like you are unclear on that?

Janis Love · Oct 18, 2006

The Larger Audience

Odile,

I would write for the larger audience since one of the main objectives is selling books. A book geared towards academia types is very different than a general audience. I understand what you're talking about since our NF book is about kids. Originally, we thought our target market were only kids and parents, but then professionals and academia types really loved it. We ended up getting another audience that we hadn't anticipated on. Because of this, we did change the book a little since the larger audience is going to be adults.

By the way, is your book self published or do you have a publisher?

Janis

Odile · Oct 18, 2006

level of expected knowledge

The audience has the level of say at least first year of psychology. They have some basic knowledge of psychology.They might have studied in another field, e.g. engeneering and done some reading about management and psychology. They might have read books on human development to prepare for parenthood. They're themselves of the thinking type mentioned in the book and/or have children with this thinking type and high level functionning autism might fit in the description as well. This is because I'm writing on a matter that binds these cathegories.
I think I'm going to listen to you.
Thanks for helping me making this choice.

Odile

Odile · Oct 18, 2006

choosing for parents

Hi Janis,

Thanks for your advice. Choosing for the bigger audience means I will have to explain more than I do now. Maybe illustrations will help too. I think your sketch of the situation fits what I'm experiencing. First I thought this book would be a great help for parents that I regularly talk with in a forum. But my best responses and recognition is from parents who recognise themselves in the description...
I don't have a publisher yet, there's a publisher reading my manuscript in Belgium. That's the Dutch version he's reading. I was thinking of publishing in English myself.

Odile

Odile · Oct 24, 2006

And now I have two publishers reading my manuscript.
One publisher is more scientific, the other is bigger and has a large educational section (is that how you say it in English). I will be able to reach many parents and teachers through the second one.
But the first one is more enthousiastic.
Is it a crazy idea to make two books, one more to appeal to academics and the other a more accessible version for parents?
Is it possible to write approximately the same book for two audiences with two publishers?
A philosophy student promissed to give me book titles, after I wrote the book. Now maybe I can use these for this purpose.
Another thing is that I got a book title yesterday evening that is written for two audiences at the same time. This is resolved by lay out and introductions to chapters. This might work for the parents version.

Odile

K1P1 · Oct 24, 2006

Odile,

I think it's an excellent idea to do two books. In my opinion, it would probably be better to publish the more technical adacemic version first, to establish yourself as an expert, and then publish a "popular" version for the general public. Two books to appeal to two different audiences makes excellent sense. It means that there won't be extra material in either book that doesn't appeal to one of the two target audiences, so it will be easier for them to read and to use. It means more sales because each book would be smaller and priced lower. I think it would also be easier to write or finish each manuscript with just one of your target audiences in mind.

Does this make sense?

Odile · Oct 24, 2006

Hi Maggie,

thanks for your reply.
It makes perfect sense what you write. (now I go on thinking aloud)
I realize when I read what you say it is better to write two books. That it is easier for me to realize might be partly true only, because I'm strongly associative and prefer to mix and complicate things. Clear and easy is difficult for me. Also I might have to do much rewriting.
Having said that, I have to think it over some more. Also why not ask the publisher his and her opinion.

Odile

Odile · Oct 30, 2006

Today I have my first rejection.
The news is not all bad. They read my manuscript and even discussed about printing it. Because it is not a handbook for a course in Higher education, they decided not to print it. Now there still is another publisher reading it...

Odile

K1P1 · Oct 30, 2006

Odile, sorry I didn't see your post until now.

I am the same way. I always see the complex organization or solution instead of the clear, simple one. I think that, for the benefit of the reader, it's important to stick to the topic and to provide a clear flow of information throughout any work as long as a book. That means we have to be selective rather than including all information for all audiences. Just my opinion.

Sorry about the rejections, but it's a fact of life in publishing. It does sound like the seriously considered it, which is excellent. If you are ever in a position to produce a handbook for a course in Higher education, you know who to submit it to. Best of luck with the other publisher.

Odile · Oct 30, 2006

Thanks Maggie,

I enjoy reading your replies. I'm learning al lot. Who knows if I'll write a handbook for some course in Higher education later (maybe for my husband).

Before sending the manuscript I heard this voice In the back of my mind saying: "this publisher isn't interested in your book unless you make it a handbook for education." I didn't listen to it - why I wonder. (wishful thinking?). I should listen to myself better.

Odile

Bartholomew · Nov 7, 2006

Odile said:
Thanks Bartho for your quick and clear answer. I think you're right... Thats why I didn't change anything about my manuscript that is currently being read...

but what if it's a book about children and the parents can't understand what I say, should I rewrite it then? Suppose that I can write in 2 ways, one is theoretical, the other is explaining difficult things that happen in easy language. What if I can do both... Is there a format wherein you can both give theoretical and practical advise on different levels ...

I guess I'm searching for advice on strange book formats.

Odile

Always explain concisely. Just keep your target audience in mind.

Think about how a zoologist might write about Aardvarks to fellow zoologists.

The lumbering Orycteropus afer giganticus is often stereotyped as ingesting naught but the ingenious insects of its region. This, as I'll explain through my research below, is a misnomer, as this species, like its smaller cousin Orycteropus afer, is actually omnivorous.

Now consider how that same zoologist might write this passage for college students.

The Giant Aardvark (Orycteropus afer giganticus) was long thought to subsist entirely on insects, however, recent research has shown that, like their normal sized relatives, Giant Aardvarks are actually omnivorous.

Now think how our zoologist would write this passage for a child.

People used to think that the Giant Aardvark never ate anything except bugs, until scientists saw one munching on a leaf.

Think about what level of knowledge your target audience will have in relation to you. If you're a PHD and they're all students, write so that you're using terms, but explaining them at the same time. If you're target audience is very broad, you can probably relay your information through metaphor after the initial explanation. This won't be seen as talking down, because it might offer even the most intelligent of your readers a new way to look at the subject.

Hope that helps,

B

Odile · Nov 18, 2006

Thank you Bartho,

I now have in mind a follow-up series of books that will be much easier to read with images and many examples. Thanks to Bartho I now know that my first book is for the level students and up. I think I'll print your words to peek at them when writing them...
If I don't find a publisher (= agent in my small country), I'll do the POD thing for the first one, and I'll then write book proposals for the series that are aiming at the larger audience.

This site is wonderful, I'm learning a lot.

Odile

Too difficult. Rewrite or other book?

Odile

Bartholomew

Comic guy

Odile

cree

Janis Love

Odile

Odile

Odile

K1P1

Procrastination is its own reward

Odile

Odile

K1P1

Procrastination is its own reward

Odile

Bartholomew

Comic guy

Odile