| While the most cynical observe that "books are | | | | ingredient, few will be interested. With so many |
| where words go to die," the fact is we're publishing | | | | competing demands on our time, your writing has to |
| (and buying) more books than at any time in history. | | | | be crisp, focused and purposeful-something only |
| If you're involved in the chiropractic profession and | | | | possible when you are passionate and have a cause |
| considering writing a chiropractic book, here are some | | | | to advance. |
| tips from someone who has written ten chiropractic | | | | Write short declarative sentences. Avoid political |
| books. So far. | | | | correctness. Be bold. And reveal your most intimate, |
| The chiropractic profession has a history of book | | | | vulnerable and idealistic notions. Risk everything to |
| writing. D.D. Palmer himself started things off with his | | | | speak that which is on your heart and expose your |
| 1910 The Chiropractic Adjuster. His son, B.J. Palmer, | | | | most fervent beliefs. Only then can you begin to |
| pecked away at the typewriter throughout his career | | | | compete with the mediocre and the average that |
| and wrote 41 books about chiropractic ('Tic) and the | | | | surround us and attract a readership worth writing |
| chiropractor ('Tor) that have become known as the | | | | for. |
| "green books," because the hardcover books | | | | Know Your Market |
| featured dark green bindings. My favorite is The | | | | To hit the target, you need something to aim at. |
| Bigness of the Fellow Within. | | | | Who are you writing for? Who is your audience? |
| With the advent of word processing programs, | | | | Who is going to buy your book? |
| desktop publishing resources, digital printing | | | | Chiropractors. They are a relatively small group. Some |
| technologies and electronic "eBooks," expressing | | | | suggest there are only about 50,000 practicing |
| yourself with the printed word has never been easier. | | | | chiropractors up to something. Plus, it's a very |
| Which, like many opportunities has an upside and a | | | | fragmented group with many different "tribes," |
| downside. Consider these suggestions as you write | | | | philosophies, techniques and ways of practicing. |
| and publish your chiropractic book. | | | | Chiropractic Assistants. Sure, there are probably more |
| Begin With the End in Mind | | | | chiropractic assistants and paraprofessionals than |
| If your chiropractic book is going to be anything | | | | chiropractors, but how will you reach them? How |
| more than a private expression, it's important that | | | | many will buy a book about chiropractic, which for |
| you have clarity about what happens when your | | | | many, is rarely a career path? |
| book is written, edited and proofed. Now what? | | | | Chiropractic Patients. There's little question that the |
| Start there. Otherwise you'll join the ranks of | | | | number and quality of books about chiropractic |
| countless others who have slaved over their | | | | written for the lay public is limited. These days most |
| manuscript, sometimes for years, but never see it | | | | prospective chiropractic patients use the Internet to |
| published. | | | | learn about chiropractic. |
| When it comes to publishing your book, you have | | | | Chiropractic Students. Each year thousands graduate |
| several choices: securing an independent publisher or | | | | from chiropractic colleges. They enter the workforce |
| self-publishing. Both have their pros and cons and the | | | | after learning what's needed to pass board |
| better choice depends upon your resources and your | | | | examinations, but know little about actual practice. |
| motives for publishing your chiropractic book. Getting | | | | Most chiropractic students read little else other than |
| a publisher can be difficult and in the process you | | | | the required texts. |
| surrender most of the profits. If there are any. Self | | | | Repurpose Your Content |
| publishing is easier and in some ways more profitable, | | | | There are only a handful of authors who are |
| but you need to have a clear marketing strategy to | | | | successful enough to make a living by writing books. |
| sell your book when it's ready for market. Otherwise | | | | None are in the chiropractic field. Yet, there is a |
| your car will sit in the driveway as your garage is | | | | critical need for quality chiropractic content, either for |
| used to store your inventory of books. | | | | brochures, websites, patient handouts or other media. |
| Break It Up Into Smaller Pieces | | | | As you write your chiropractic book, consider ways |
| I'm reminded of the old adage, 'How do you eat a | | | | you can leverage the content you've created for use |
| whale? One bite at a time." When writing as | | | | in other media. |
| something as large as a book, it helps to break it up | | | | Seminars. Is your book something so compelling that |
| into parts. Many call them chapters. Write enough | | | | your chiropractic audience would show up to hear |
| chapters and you have a book! | | | | you deliver it? If you love airline travel, taxis, hotel |
| When I started writing about chiropractic in 1987, I | | | | rooms and restaurant food, living on the road could |
| was given the opportunity of contributing to a | | | | provide a way to extend the life of the content you |
| chiropractic newsletter published by Renaissance | | | | create. |
| International. The assignment? A 1200-1300 word | | | | Podcasts. Get into a recording studio, or hook-up a |
| essay about some aspect of chiropractic from a | | | | microphone to your PC and start sharing your |
| patient's point of view. | | | | thoughts with audio or video feeds to your website. |
| Those who bristle at the thought of such a | | | | Attract your own "tribe" by supplying much needed |
| restriction of 1200 words overlook the fact that | | | | information to the profession. |
| having a constraint can help bring order, discipline and | | | | Emails. Consider creating an emailed newsletter. |
| precision to writing. Or at least it did for me. Write | | | | Repurpose your content by offering an emailed |
| one such essay a week, and in about a year, you | | | | version of portions of your content. Offer for it free |
| have the makings of a respectable-sized book. | | | | to build your list and look for other ways to monetize |
| Write With Passion | | | | your investment. (Google offers their search service |
| If you're going to make it for the long haul, you're | | | | for free. They make their income via Adwords.) |
| going to need to be passionate about some aspect | | | | Blog posts. If you have the depth of knowledge and |
| of chiropractic. Wanting to see your name on a | | | | discipline that is necessary to write a chiropractic |
| physical book probably won't be enough to sustain | | | | book, then producing regular posts to your blog |
| you. An irrational passion; a cause greater than | | | | should be easy. Consider sharing your book through a |
| yourself can be helpful in giving you the motivation to | | | | series of blog posts over the course of a year or so. |
| write when no one is watching or cheering you on. | | | | Writing a chiropractic book isn't for the meek, |
| You've got to want to right a wrong, expose the | | | | impatient or easily discouraged. But its worth it. If |
| truth, save lives or have some other cause bigger | | | | you can stop revising your manuscript and actually |
| than just surviving to make the solitary sacrifice of | | | | publish it! |
| getting your thoughts down. Without this essential | | | | |