First Have Something to Say

Book excerpt: In his trademark informal, irreverent, and engaging style, renowned library writer and speaker Walt Crawford draws on his wealth of experience as he assures would-be librarian-writers that they very well might have something worth saying. Proceeding matter-of-factly, he dissects what it really takes to write for library colleagues, countering traditional received wisdom, while questioning the powers that be. Whether you're on a tenure track and want your articles to offer more pleasure than pain, or just have something to share with colleagues, these suggestions will guide you in making both your writing and speaking inform, explain, illuminate, synthesize, reveal, and entertain your audience. You'll learn: Ways to build confidence in what you have to say and nix writer's block; How to make your mark by retaining your unique personality in articles and speeches; The pro's insights for dealing with the basics of copyright and contract clauses; Who are all those gatekeepers - referees for journals, editors, publishers; How to work with them to get published - and when to go out on your own; When to say no to Power Point in your presentations; If you are ready to take the next ste