First Issue

I’ve always been a fan of getting straight to the point. Being brief, being concise. Yet I’ve never been a big fan of Ernest Hemingway’s terse and minimalist style. Until the day I read about his 6-word story.

The exact details of how this story came to be are a bit sketchy. Most sources say it was a contest or challenge that Hemingway took up. A handful say he bet his round-table cronies (William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Dororthy Parker et al) that he could write a novel in six words – no more, no less.

Whatever the circumstances surrounding the story’s generation, the result was astounding:

For sale: baby shoes. Never used.

A complete and compelling story in just six words. They are six words that stay forever etched in my memory.

I thought of them the other day as I went to create my next 140-character Twitter post. I wondered how long it would take someone to launch a Twitter writing contest to tell a complete story in 140 characters. I didn’t have long to wonder because the very next day I heard about this contest over at Copyblogger.

The six-word story contest, the 140-character contest and others like them are all about writing fiction. What if you brought the same paucity of words to non-fiction?

Could you write an “all you need to know” guide in say, 25 words or less? I throw down the gauntlet to non-fiction writers everywhere.

Doot-doo-doo-doooo! (that’s one of those old-timey announcement horn calls, just so you know)

Well, this is it…the official launch of First Issue, the new blog for trade non-fiction authors and self-publishers.

First Issue aims to clarify and simplify the steps involved in sharing your ideas with the world through a book. Publishing can seem like a bewildering endeavour—but we’ve been there, done that, so can share from our experience.

What can you expect here? Let’s lay it out.

The focus
Information, commentary, and advice covering all aspects of non-fiction book writing, publishing, and marketing. Tidbits on trends and developments in the publishing industry. News on what the “big guys” are doing and what that means for the “little guys.” A look at marketing innovations. An exploration of how books and related intellectual property can expand or enhance a business.

The niche
Trade non-fiction (books written for the layperson), especially on business topics.

The goal
Provide support and guidance to non-fiction authors, especially those navigating the publishing industry for the first time.

Who’s the blog writer?
I’m Jennifer, one of the principals at Highspot. In a nutshell, we help business owners turn their ideas into books. Believe it or not, despite years working as a writer and editor, this post marks my initiation into the world of blog writing. First Issue indeed. Yes, I’m a bit of a blog newb so feel free to provide pokes and guidance if I’m off course. Insightful comments, engaging debate, and constructive feedback are always welcome.

Find me at:
Email: blogger@highspotinc.com
Twitter: jennifertribe
Facebook: 623661635
LinkedIn: Jennifer Tribe