How to THiNC…
How to ThiNC
Yesterday, my new book, How to THiNC, A Guide to Creating & Publishing a THiNC Book, was released in Second Life. The big release was tied into the companion seminar to the book, which…hopefully…helped other writers with their own goal of self-publishing in Second Life.
This is a new foray for me…electronic publishing…but, if yesterday’s comments and sales turn out to be more than simple platitudes, then it will be a lasting one.
How to THiNC grew out of a need, both for myself and my workshop members, to learn the process of publishing in the virtual world. THiNC is one of the few companies in Second Life to offer publishing tools, and really the only one who offers a first-life analogue (meaning their book looks and feels like a first-life book).
In teaching myself how to use the THiNC publishing system, I experimented with image sizes and resolutions, fonts and image-types, and word processors and graphics editors. I certainly wasn’t an expert before I began this process, but I’d like to think I became one along the way. That said, I’m sure that there is more I have to learn, and maybe even some things I got wrong, but the information in the book stands as a comprehensive overview of the whole process.
While I’m pleased at the reception the book has received, I’m very pleased with the turn-out at the seminar. While we didn’t quite “crash-the-sim,” we certainly filled it. The crowd wasn’t just members of my own workshop, either…the seminar drew in quite a few members of Third Life and FarPoint Media too. I think there were even a few people there who were drawn in by word-of-mouth, and not any association to my group at all!
Over 75% of the people attending the seminar purchased my book. To each of them, I say “Thank you.” I hope that you find it useful in helping you to make your own books.
How to THiNC wasn’t supposed to be my first book to be published in Second Life. That spot was meant to be reserved for Body Language. Before I could publish Body Language, though, I had to learn the publishing process. How to ThiNC grew out of that… Now that it’s done though, my focus returns to my now-second book. Hopefully you’ll see it in about four weeks from now!
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Oh, and the seminar has received its first review as well! Pamqui Vita wrote about the seminar and the book on his Spanish-language blog, Profesionales de la Información en Second Life.
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For those of you using Second Life who would like to find my workshop and my book, just follow the slurl to the F&SF Writer’s Workshop Storefront. It will be on display from October 15th onwards…
First seminar was a success!
I’m pleased to say that my first speaking engagement at the Writer’s Convention last weekend went really well. I survived all of the pitfalls and problems that were likely to occur at a “First Annual” event, and which did indeed happen, and managed a respectable presentation. Or so I was told afterwards by people I trust to tell me otherwise, had I not.
A slow start due to a problem with seating meant I was a little rushed along the way to fit my time limit, but the faster pace didn’t seem to harm the content. I would have liked to go out to the audience and solicit questions along the way, but I just didn’t have the time until the end, and even then, only two or three were answered. I’ve been asked if I’d offer the seminar again, at a later date and a different venue, so perhaps I’ll have the chance to tweak things on take two.
For a first time, I’d say that I am pleased with how things went, though. The slides worked well, or so I was told, and all those little things I did to make myself look a bit more professional paid off. Which has earned me a few more speaking engagements, I think.
Beyond the chance to reoffer this seminar, I’ve already been scheduled for a second, on a different topic, and asked also if I would be willing to sit down and be interviewed. I’m not sure about the interview, as I’ve never been the topic of conversation before…at least, not to my knowledge — what happens around the water cooler, I’m sure I don’t know — but I’ll manage. It’s what I do 
Both events will help me market myself and my first Second Life book, which I expect will be published in early October. I’m looking forward to seeing the reaction it garners and have high hopes that it may actually succeed. Time will tell — and sales, of course…
