Buck Hollow Sporting Goods - click or touch to visit their website Midwest Habitat Company

Writing a book ....

K

KANSAN

PMA Member
Hey everyone,

I'm hoping to get some insights. As some of you know, I've been lucky enough to have some articles published over the years, and I continue to write as often as I can about whitetails. From time to time, the question has come up "When are you going to write a book??" I've always had some reservations about doing so, mainly on whether or not I was a good enough writer to put a project like this together and what exactly I'd write about. Over the past few months, some friends of mine have been asking more and more, and pushing me to write one. With that said, I've got a few questions; since there are a ton of books on the market, what kinds of subjects would you like to see a book cover? If I put one out, do you think it would go over well? I've always tried to give some practical advice for real-world hunting situations, and I'd stick to what's worked for me up to this point in my writing career. Any thoughts? I highly respect the folks here at IW, and any feedback would be appreciated!
 
I would say maybe a book actually covering how to hunt mature public land bucks or land that amyone can get access to. It might touch base with a lot of hunters because we always see books or shows done with these guys who hunt with oufitters or land no one else can hunt. It makes it much easier for those guys but if you put yourself on the same level as the average hunter it might do you better. Just my opinion.
 
Jody, I've read most of your articles in NAW and they're good, you have a knack for it. This may not be the type of input you want but I'd say put on paper many of your own experiences. I love reading about actual experiences and if you can make a book and spin your successes into ideas on how to help others I'd say that is a good idea. I know it maybe isn't the idea you were thinking but I just am to the point where I've read so many "how to's" they're starting to contradict each other and I'm wondering how many more "how to's" can be written. I've learned more from my experiences than any "how to article" I've read and i just cannot get enough reading about actual expereriences, good, bad, funny, whatever.
smirk.gif
 
I think as far as tactics and knowledge of deer hunting goes, it all has been pretty much said. Instead of writing a "how to" book, how about something that timelines the changing face of deer hunting. Include the ideas and changes that has made deer hunting what it is today. Things like the sudden increase in importance for deer hunters to take trophy bucks, positive and NEGATIVE aspects of QDM, loss of hunting oppurtunities for some and the vast gain for others, outfitters, leasing, impacts of the internet, videos and even books like the one you are writing. Deer hunting means something a little different to everyone and everyone has different goals. Point out the differences and maybe layout some ideas on what it takes to be successful in the everyday changing world of hunting. Im sure the way you hunt now isnt the same way you did ten years ago(I think thats a major problem with alot of hunters, the lack of the ability to adapt and change when needed, and not just in the woods.) Talk about how changes you have done enable you to be sucessful each year. Its just an idea, I know I have become tired of reading the same stories over and over, "Hunt the wind" "Hunt funnels" ect...
 
I have written several books including one I wrote with Tom Miranda back in '93 called Corn Fed Giants - a step by step guide to locating and harvesting whitetails in farmland. I put a lot of stuff in that book that I felt like wasn't common knowledge at the time, but since, there have been hundreds of books on deer hunting published. Some of this stuff has been hashed over and over and over and over.

Having said that, I just read a book published by North American Whitetail by Bobby Worthington that I thought was refreshing because it dealt so much with the bow hunting/bow shooting part of it. That's the tough part... coming up with a new angle that hasn't been hammered to death. Possibly something relating to the public land angle that was mentioned earlier.

Unless you are Myles Keller or Bill Jordan you have a lot of promotion in front of you because hardly anyone has ever heard of you. Names sell books, unless you have pics of yourself with a LOT of huge bucks you can use in advertising. I had the good fortune of being friend with TOm Miranda and he helped me market the book on ESPN in exchange for putting him on as the co-author (he actually only wrote one of the chapters himself but I did use a lot of info out of his videos).

If you are going to self publish a book, you can make good money but you better have deep pockets because it costs a lot to do it. A minimum of $15-$20,000 I would suggest. If you want to try to sell your ideas to a publisher, you will not have the risk but you will not make as much. Don't think you are going to make six figures off it no matter what you do. I have done it both ways. I actually spent about $30,000 on one of my books and lost money on it for the first two years then finally broke even when I sold the rights to it. I also had one that went into a fifth printing and I made a lot of money off it... but that was a fishing book. Just be aware that it is far easier to lose money than to make it. I was in the business of helping others self publish their own books for quite a few years but I'm out of that now.

Good luck.
 
Jody ,I have read all of your articles and they are outstanding. I really agree with Saskguy. Tell about real expericences, things that have worked. just be honest. you do have a knack for writing. Of the 28 yrs I have been bowunting ,THE BEST INFO WAS SELF LEARNED.Thanks for sharing the stories,Best of luck to ya in whatever ya do.You sure came to right place for advice, this site is full of great people and great info.The best on the net as far as I am concerned.
 
Sorry for posting again Jody but I thought Fred's post was real good and valid. I also wondered if I'm the only guy out there interested in reading about guys who are "regular people" like me, guys who are absolutely nutso about whitetails but guys with a job and a family and limited time and limited $$. I could be wrong but most of the guys writing books and selling videos etc are ina different league than guys like me, they di=o it for a living, are looked up to and are "pros" yet I'll bet everyone of the regular guys like me on here has some stuff that any deer hunter would find interesting. I can think back and recall so many things that make me laugh, like the time I was 18 doing a "push" or drive as you guys call it near Biggar with my uncles. I had to
$h!t so bad a went right over a deadfall and had to watch a buck pass right through the slough bottom I was beside. The I had to cut my long johns off to wipe myself. Then there was the time I looked outside to see my brother half ass stumbling/running across my lawn to try get a poke at a big buck that had came right onto my approach at high noon while I was inside making coffee and he was outside chatting with my friend Smitty. He grabbed Smitty's gun and tried to get to the cutline, when he did he knelt down, pulled the trigger and click.....no clip. I mean there are millions of little quirky tales out there like these. I know if I've got such a smattering of them, I'm not the only one.

I say write a book from a regular Joe deer hunters perspective, for the regular joe deer hunter like me.
grin.gif


But if my ramble makes no sense, Fred'd sure in the hell does.
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think as far as tactics and knowledge of deer hunting goes, it all has been pretty much said. Instead of writing a "how to" book, how about something that timelines the changing face of deer hunting. Include the ideas and changes that has made deer hunting what it is today. Things like the sudden increase in importance for deer hunters to take trophy bucks, positive and NEGATIVE aspects of QDM, loss of hunting oppurtunities for some and the vast gain for others, outfitters, leasing, impacts of the internet, videos and even books like the one you are writing. Deer hunting means something a little different to everyone and everyone has different goals. Point out the differences and maybe layout some ideas on what it takes to be successful in the everyday changing world of hunting. Im sure the way you hunt now isnt the same way you did ten years ago(I think thats a major problem with alot of hunters, the lack of the ability to adapt and change when needed, and not just in the woods.) Talk about how changes you have done enable you to be sucessful each year. Its just an idea, I know I have become tired of reading the same stories over and over, "Hunt the wind" "Hunt funnels" ect...

[/ QUOTE ]

I also agree with Freddie.....
grin.gif


There are a lot more hunters out there that are doing it the hard way, then the ones that sit in a pre-set tree stand in a different state every week.....simple marketing. Names may sell books, but only if the name is respected by the buyers. (Example...Jimmy Houston...well known name...yes?!...how many deer hunting books could he sell now?)

Keep it real Jody!
waytogo.gif
 
You can put me down for a copy Jody, I have enjoyed reading your articles in NAW.

[ QUOTE ]
what kinds of subjects would you like to see a book cover

[/ QUOTE ]

I may be off base, but maybe talk to Old Buck about using one of his paintings for the cover?
 
There is a magazine called Rub-Lines which is nothing but stories of real people deer hunting, some are well written and some not, but it is out there.
 
Break the book in to sections . . My experiences sections. Controversial topics / changing times section.
Short section on the best tips that all of us that are well read have herd of before. (For the new readers) Resource sections that give websites that provide info on topomaps, and discussion groups like those found on Iowa Whitetail. (You might even find a way to put others tips from those sites into those sections.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom