Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

Chapter 1: Up to the Minute Publishing

Questions inspired by and related to You’ve Read the Headlines. Now, Quick, Read the Book (by Motoko Rich, NY Times, 3/29/2009, posted at http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/books/30quic.html)

Questions: 

  1. How does this necessity/predisposition for more, deeper material ASAP affect popular writing by academics and academic publishing in cutting edge fields of technology?  
  2. Are there particular topics, themes, fields which deserve (possibly even demand) a longer time frame for consideration during the writing process, the community of scholars, and the wider public? 

Quote from the article:

“People can’t wait a year to get timely information on critical subjects,” said Amy Neidlinger, associate publisher of FT Press. “Especially today it’s dated 10 minutes after you’ve just received the first installation.”

Of course many publishers and authors suggest that taking time to produce a reflective work is what books are about, and that they should not succumb to the pressures of the 24-hour news cycle.

Bonus Round: 

  1. How about the below approach to writing an up-to-the-minute book which wouldn’t be worth writing using normal publishing procedures? 
  2. Anyone else you know following this model?

The current economic downturn prompted Robert T. Kiyosaki, the best-selling author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” to write a book that he is posting chapter by chapter online at conspiracyoftherich.com, where readers can see his work free.  … The final book, “Conspiracy of the Rich: The 8 New Rules of Money,” will be published in paperback by Grand Central in September.

Chapter 2 of my book on Up to the Minute Publishing coming shortly.  Don’t miss it as I’ll incorporate your feedback 😉

About the author:

Tom Grosh IV
Website | Posts

Tom enjoys daily conversations regarding living out the Biblical Story with his wife Theresa and their four girls, around the block, at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church (where he teaches adult electives and co-leads a small group), among healthcare professionals as the Northeast Regional Director for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), and in higher ed as a volunteer with the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). For a number of years, the Christian Medical Society / CMDA at Penn State College of Medicine was the hub of his ministry with CMDA. Note: Tom served with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship / USA for 20+ years, including 6+ years as the Associate Director of ESN. He has written for the ESN blog from its launch in August 2008. He has studied Biology (B.S.), Higher Education (M.A.), Spiritual Direction (Certificate), Spiritual Formation (M.A.R.), Ministry to Emerging Generations (D.Min.). To God be the glory!