I found you on Craigslist, the cheapest of the cheap. And even then I haggled and got you even cheaper, because you were ugly and no one else wanted you— and she was leaving for Paris on Wednesday. You were rusty all over and you smelled of reasonable suspicion and your tires were all different … Continue reading An Ode to Bootstrap Belle
This is the worst line in all the children's books I've read: It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood today, and now it is nighttime. I hate that line. I'm not sure why. It seems inartful, like fishing with dynamite. I guess it gets the job done—but at what cost to our sensibilities? My … Continue reading What Makes a Good Children’s Book Makes a Good Book
One year ago I gave my wife a book about tidying for Christmas. (I’m still alive, so that tells you something about my wife.) I bought The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo on a whim and, perhaps, a modicum of husbandly intuition. It ended up my wife’s favorite gift of the year. … Continue reading Tidying Up Legal Publishing
I believe lawyers can reach more people, expand access to justice, and improve their practices by publishing books.Of course, lawyers have been publishing books to market themselves for a long time. I have an example on my shelf: Your Life, Your Legacy: The Fundamentals of Effective Estate Planning. It looks like it was designed by … Continue reading Lawyer Books Can Be More Than a Dictated Consultation
Writing an e-book seems easy, at least when it's the kind you give away. All you need is a short PDF that's interesting or useful to potential clients. Yet few lawyers actually produce a good giveaway e-book. I confess to planning a few e-books myself, none of which got far off the ground. I love … Continue reading What Makes a Good Giveaway E-Book
There's no lack of advice for young lawyers starting their careers. The genre has a centuries-long history, and the latest economic shakeup has produced a lot of interest in helping young lawyers succeed. Like books on preparing for law school, there will always be an appetite for books aimed at those just beginning their legal … Continue reading Book Review: The Early-Career Guide for Attorneys
With apologies to Jeremy Richter for taking my time, today I'm publishing a conversation I had with him about a month ago. The best explanation I can give is in Jeremy's own words, taken from the episode: "When push comes to shove, the family and the law practice have to rank higher." Anyway, Jeremy explains … Continue reading Podcast Episode 5—From Blog to Book, with Jeremy Richter
To anyone who's been paying attention, there hasn't been much to pay attention to when it comes to blogging and lawyers. The notable exception is LexBlog, which has launched its own network of legal blogs and announced a new $49/month hosted blog plan. Apart from that bit of ruckus, all's quiet on the blawgosphere. Many … Continue reading Is Legal Blogging Dead?
Today I am publishing my latest conversation with a lawyer about legal writing, editing, and publishing. This time it's Keith Lee, who graciously took time to talk to me about his experience blogging, how it led to a book deal with ABA Publishing for The Marble and the Sculptor, and how he's thinking of writing another … Continue reading Podcast Episode 4—You Need a Platform, with Keith Lee
Today I am excited to release my latest conversation about lawyers writing and publishing, this time with Carolyn Elefant. Carolyn recently put on a webinar about her experience writing and publishing an e-book that unexpectedly generated a lot of business. I attended and shared notes on Twitter. Then Carolyn agreed to talk with me about … Continue reading Podcast Episode 3—The 7-Figure E-Book, with Carolyn Elefant