Tomorrow, May 2, 2012, is a celebration that culminates months of work and not the kind of work I usually do. In other words, I didn’t do this work in scrubs or meeting with patients at my office. Instead, I spent much of my free time tapping keys on a computer to write a book for the popular Dummies series.
The book launch for Probiotics for Dummies is tomorrow, which is an opportunity to celebrate all the hard work that went into creating this book, and certainly not just the work I’ve done. I’ve had wonderful help with researching, editing and generally putting the book together. The editors at the Dummies publishing house were amazing to work with and it was interesting to learn how a book in that series is created.
One thing about the writing process – and this is my third book – that I’ve found to be true is a quote attributed to Michael Crichton: “Books aren’t written, they’re rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn’t quite done it…”
The writing process is challenging. When doing a non-fiction work like Probiotics for Dummies, a lot of the initial work is spent researching. It’s critical that any information you present in the book be complete and up to date. Since new information on how probiotics can help people maintain health and treat disease is being published weekly, it was tough to include everything pertinent that’s happening. (That’s one reason I blog – probiotics, as well as other gastrointestinal issues, are constantly impacted by researchers and discoveries, and I believe patients need that information.)
After hours and hours of research comes the process of determining the logical order to present the information. Luckily, this is something the Dummies staff has a great handle on because they’re used to simplifying complicated subjects. Hitting that right line between simplifying and giving enough information is one of the hardest things about writing medical books.
And then came the writing. And rewriting. And editing. And more editing. And wow. . . even more editing. It’s a process. A long process that I fit in between 10-hour days at the office. But I felt such a commitment to getting this information out because I really do believe that probiotics hold many keys to important health advances.
So I’m excited not just that my many supporters and I completed the book and it will be available tomorrow. I’m excited because this is information that can help people.
And honestly, I’m really glad to be done with rewrites! If you’re interested in reading Probiotics for Dummies, CLICK HERE.
Go with your gut,
Dr. S. Challa