Lessons learned from a book project

This is the fifth book project that I was involved in. The first one, we had a really good mentor, and his wit and talent in writing did it, we only had to start writing our own chapters. In the second, third and fourth, I was really not involved much in the editing, as we just had to make sure our assignments were written good.

The above compendium-cum-coffee table book was so far the most stressful, and one where I think I received the most demeaning remarks of all. (Thank you baby for hanging in there despite the stress from it all, and thank you hubby and kids for the kind understanding and love. And thank you partner Alima for bearing with me the whole time.) I hope and pray that the printing press who got the contract would double time and be able to print it in time for the book launching. Anyway, whether it comes out on time or not, we finally pulled it through. I definitely will not try and look inside it when it comes out, at least not as soon yet, as I am sure just like theses and dissertations, after you have looked at it for the nth time, there will still be mistakes. My only hope is that the errors will be minor.

The following are lessons I learned from it:

1) Any book project has to have a lead who is "elected" to that post by his or her colleagues, and at the same time 'determined'. We had marching orders to produce a coffee table book. But it seemed people were not open to submitting their technology write-ups for reasons I didn't understand. There was too much 'opposition' and 'comments' before it even started. It helped that the one in-charge was kind of determined 'against all odds' and we had but to obey. I obeyed grudgingly at first, was not cooperative and half-hearted with the assignment.

2) For such kind of 'institutional' books, it always pays to have a committee/team formed, which decides as a group. It's much easier that way and there'll be lesser resistance. 

3) You cannot please everybody, and you will meet people who have so many comments, but who would not help; and people who comment, and will go out of their way to help. 

4) There will always be conflicts of definitions, and no one way to do it. We were told to do it one way, and then told to do it the other way. Opinions will differ and you can be caught in between. In the end, you either have to go with the majority and be flexible, or everything will stand still and not move forward.

5) At some point in a project, you will feel like quitting (my very patient partner even felt like resigning). But we just thought about the time and effort we have already spent, and that kept us motivated. 

6) Self-importance, self-significance, or worst, self-aggrandizement is a sinful human nature. Like it or not, we are all guilty of it.

7) Finally, and most important of all, my learning on the importance of "relevance" and "applicability" of technology has been reinforced again. My "socioeconomics" mindset sees some of these technologies and products, and I sigh because however, technically feasible and useful they appear, they probably will end up on the coffee table book, because they may not be economically feasible. Also, am just wondering, how private companies can work with universities in the Philippines. A university or research institution face the same dilemma - how to ensure commercialization?

[8) From the husbandry, "without a husband like me, you would not be able to do what you do and still keep your family intact.(LOL)"]

If I have a choice (which usually an employee doesn't have), I will never agree to an assignment like this ever again, at least not at BSU. I'd rather write a research journal article and be rejected or lambasted by reviewers in writing.

I know it is not the end of it. We'll probably hear more comments after it is launched. But at least it is almost over. There will only be one BSU Centennial celebration in my lifetime, and I think we did our best for this output given the circumstances, resources and time we were given. The mistakes on this book will be charged to experience. Let those who will do it for the next centennial do it better. 

My one wish is that Dr. Rodolfo Abastilla was still alive. I suddenly terribly miss him.

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Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

-Thomas Ken, 1674