BlogPaws - The Pet Social Media Resource

Can procrastination (and your blog) help you get your book written?

By Tom Collins

Blog writing and book publishing have always scored at the top of our surveys for topics pet bloggers want to learn about. So here are some quick thoughts on those themes, inspired by two blog posts that hit my inbox this morning.

Confessions of a Reluctant Business Author came from friend and book client, Sybil Stershic, who wrote about some lessons she's learned after completing her second book. (Disclosure: Yvonne and I have published both of Sybil's books via our WME Books service.)

And a few minutes later, another "confessions" post came in from Dr. Coates' "Fully Vetted" blog on PedMD, with an alternate title of Procrastinating All the Way to Reno, in which she describes the concept of "structured procrastination."

How do these confessions connect?

Can I Turn My Blog Into A Book?

Guest Post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

I've written many times about how to get started in blogging, editorial calendars, how to write, etc. but what about you bloggers that have been blogging for years and wonder... what's next? I'm always wondering what next so, here goes. 

If you've got a wealth of blog posts, then by all means you should look to turn it into a book. If you have posts that are all geared toward one objective such as, blogging about Poodles, or how to travel with your furry friend then viola you've got all the material you need at hand. If you have a more generalized blog, one on which you write about social media for pet lovers today, pet friendly hotels tomorrow, and how to choose the best veterinarian the next day, you can divide your book into sections that make sense and again viola -- a book. 

Book Review: Tip Top Dog Care

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

I met the author of the book, "Top Dog's Top Tips For Tip Top Dog Care" at a recent networking event and when I found out that she was a dog lover, well it was only natural that we started talking! Author, Eileen Proctor, was speaking to the group about ways to get your name in the media. She speaks to entrepreneurs and pet lovers alike. Because of her involvement in animal rescue and myriad animal causes, she penned this book of tips.

The book, written in a light, breezy and humorous style, offers common sense tips and advice. In the section, Adding Fur Friends to Your Family, Proctor covers items such as why rescue animals make such amazing family members to how to introduce your new fur friends to current furry family members.

Book Review: Dog Cancer Survival Guide

Guest Post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

The Dog Cancer Survival Guide by Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM and Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, dip. ACVIM (ongology) was provided to me to review and it was certainly not light reading -- in either material contained within or in sheer heft. It was, however, a comprehensive guide on not only what to do to help your dog -- and your family -- cope with this devestating diagnosis. 

The book is divided into five sections: 

1. My Dog Has Cancer, Now What?
2. What You Shoudl Know About Dog Cancer
3. Full Spectrum Cancer Care
4. Making Confident Choices
5. From The Oncologist 

Presentation Secrets - Part II

by Yvonne DiVita

Back in October, I wrote a post about presentations, citing a book I'm reading, Presentation Secrets by Alexei Kapterev. One thing I love about this book is its focus on storytelling. Everything in life is a story and if you can learn how to be a great storyteller, you can do anything. IMBO

Today I want to focus on Chapter 2 of the book: "The Story's Focus."

The major take away here is that you must focus on just one idea. Kapterev writes, "All great presentations can be distilled into one idea, and it's not always the same idea the author started with. The process of creating the presentation can transform the idea. So prepare for change, but start with an initial idea."

I bet a lot of you are thinking, "Of course, you start with an idea. One idea. I'm presenting at xyz conference in two months on photography. That's my idea."