4 Books for Textbook Authors to Read on National Author's Day

Greetings on National Author's Day!

What better way to celebrate than to begin a journey through a fellow author's work, eh?

Here are four books I recommend for textbook authors that have helped form my perspective on writing educational material.


Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott.

Besides the fact that I love Lamott's informal and humorous storytelling, this book is one of the best books by a successful writer on on authoring that I've read.  And I've read a few.

The title is based on advice given by Lamott's father to her overwhelmed brother when he realized that the report on birds that he had months to write was due the next day. Dad advised, "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird." What textbook author can't relate to that as we start a new project or revision?


Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, and Mark A. McDaniel.

Written for students and teachers in an engaging, nontechnical style, this book identifies some key concepts in how we best learn for the long term. It turns out that there are some surprises revealed by recent learning research that turn some of the long-held ideas about learning upside down. Many of the techniques we have used help us learn for the next test, but do little if anything to help us "make it stick" in the long term.

When I was a new teacher, I was SO frustrated that my students seemed to remember nothing from their prior courses. Then I realized that no matter who their teacher or which school they attended before, this was just the way it is. I learned that my energy is better spent getting my students up to speed than to complain about their prior learning. And on changing my techniques to bolster long-term learning. After reading this book, I realized that it's the common methods of teaching and learning, not the failures of prior schools or teachers, that make my students underprepared. It confirmed some of the techniques I'd begun using in my courses and introduced me to others.

When we write textbooks, we teach. So I've been trying to adapt the emerging principles of learning science in my writing. This book has been a useful guidebook for that journey.


The last two (of four) books I'm recommending today have already been reviewed by me in recent posts, so I'll just list them here and link them to those previous posts.


Writing and Developing Your College Textbook: A Comprehensive Guide by Mary Ellen Lepionka, Sean Wakely, and Steve Gillen.

This new edition is available for pre-order for a December 2016 release.


Guide to Textbook Publishing Contracts by Steve Gillen

Short, well-illustrated book that every textbook author should use when reading, negotiating, or re-negotiating a publishing contract.

Writing and Developing Your College Textbook: A Comprehensive Guide

The title of this book says it all, it truly is as comprehensive a guide to getting a textbook project off the ground (and keeping it going) as one could imagine.

Honestly, I had some reservations about the Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA) jumping with both feet into publishing books themselves. But this is the second book I’ve seen come out of that effort and both are outstanding in their usefulness and their instructional design. I’m a believer now, TAA!

(See my previous review of Guide to Textbook Publishing Contracts.)

As a book of 320 pages, one is always concerned about whether it’s just too big to be very useful for a busy academic. Nothing to worry about, there!

First, the book is thoughtfully “chunked” into parts, chapter, sections, and subsections—making both reading and “raiding” the book easily accomplished. You can learn more about “the art of chunking” on p. 164.

Second, the internal design features many lists, tables, samples, graphics, and sidebars that organize the information visually. We all know that this helps any user find information and build a conceptual framework for how it all fits together.

Most importantly, perhaps, is that the text narrative is written in a direct, conversational style that tells the story of what’s involved in developing your own textbook. It’s like having a team of mentors sitting on your shelf, ready to give advice whenever you need it.

When I hear about a new guide or manual, I want to know who created it. Is it someone who can reliably be a virtual mentor to me? For this guide, we have three main authors who exceed usual expectations in that regard:

• Mary Ellen Lepionka has done it all: professor, author, editor, publisher. 
• Sean Wakely brings his wide and deep editorial and textbook development expertise. 
• Steve Gillen is a former publishing attorney who has been in private practice representing textbook authors for decades. 

I’ve experienced and benefited from the work of all three for a long time, so I’m not surprised that their collaboration has produced such a useful guide.

Besides the main authors, the guide is sprinkled with brief “Author to Author” essays written by textbook authors whose long experience ranges widely in discipline, publishers, types of textbooks, and personal style of authorship. They tell stories that clarify how textbook authorship isn’t simply something “on the side” of your main career, but is a profession unto itself—one that has all the intricacies, jargon, customs, and pitfalls of any professional endeavor.  In short, they tell you why you need this guide!

Of course, no guide like this can tell you everything, but I can’t find any important topic that isn’t considered (at some level) in its pages. And I really tried to find one!

I wish I’d had such a helpful and thorough guide when I started working on textbooks thirty years ago. But I’m glad to have it now. It will help me keep up to date on current trends in my profession—and get advice on specific topics from trusted colleagues.

I looked at a pre-publication copy for this review, but you can download a free 17-page sample by visiting this page at TAA's website:

Writing and Developing Your College Textbook: 

A Comprehensive Guide 

Fill out the form in the pop-up window, or click the circular "download" button on the page.

Guide to Textbook Publishing Contracts

One of the first experiences a textbook author will have is dealing with a publishing contract. Very few of us are attorneys ourselves and very few of us will have had any prior experience negotiating a publishing contract. Our expertise is in our teaching discipline—not in contract law.

I have learned—the hard way—that I should NOT be the only one looking at contracts and amendments presented to me by my publisher.  I've therefore made it a habit to have an attorney specializing in textbook publishing contracts to review, suggest, and debate the points in anything I sign.  Now I have a much better idea of the potential risks and rewards involved in each new professional writing project.

And a handy new resource has just dropped into my inbox! The Textbook and Academic Authors Association (TAA) has just announced the publication of their new Guide to Textbook Publishing Contracts by attorney Stephen E. Gillen. 

I've already learned a lot about publishing contracts from TAA in general, and Mr. Gillen's presentations at the TAA conferences in particular.  So when I saw this announcement, I was intrigued to see what—if any—new things I could learn from it. I was happy to discover that Guide to Textbook Publishing Contracts exceeds my already high expectations. Gillen uses his extensive experience working with textbook authors to present a clear and concise introduction to the murky and mysterious world of publishing contracts.  

He begins with an introductory section that gives authors some important concepts from which to start the contract process.  These include what leverage an author might have with the publisher, what homework needs to be done, and determining what's important to you.

The main section of the guide goes through each of the key provisions of a typical textbook contract. For example, the Grant of Rights, Royalties, Copyright, Manuscript Submission, and Choice of Legal Venue.  I counted 23 different provisions that we usually see in a publishing contract—some of which have always seemed impenetrable to me. And I'm a pretty competent reader!

For each contract provision, Gillen gives a sample in a sidebar so that you can see exactly what he is referring to. Then he explains the idea behind it—what the section intended to provide for. But he also gives astute advice on how to make it better—for you.  Besides giving specific negotiating advice, he also includes samples of "better" versions of key provisions.  Sometimes, he even gives "better still" versions!

After reading Gillen's guide, one comes away with an appreciation for the complexity of publisher contracts and—perhaps more importantly—an acute awareness of the many hazards and pitfalls that exist for authors in a typical publisher's boilerplate contract. And there is comfort in knowing you have a book on your shelf (or e-reader) that tells you where to find the traps, giving specific advice for rendering them harmless.

There is also a "bonus section" of 20 questions you should ask your editor, a list of resources, and a helpful glossary of terms.

Gillen's straightforward writing is easy to read and understand—perhaps from decades of explaining convoluted legalese to us ordinary folks who write textbooks. Also helpful is an attractive internal design that helps readers navigate Gillen's engaging narrative and examples easily.  It's not a huge book, so one can read it in one sitting.  And easily find sections later when you need them.

I've never recommended a law book to my friends (or anyone, for that matter). However, I strongly advise anyone interested in textbook authorship, whether looking forward to a first contract or having recently signed your umpteenth contract, to read the Guide to Textbook Publishing Contracts.  Then remember where you put it when you are finished because you'll want to go back and use it each time you are offered a new contract or amendment.

One last point.  After you read this book, you'll realize that it will not substitute for hiring a textbook attorney to help you with publishing contracts. Instead, you'll learn enough to realize that professional advice is needed.  But the guide will help you become an educated client who can communicate clearly with your attorney. And that, my friends, will save you a bundle in billable hours—because there will be less time spent explaining the basic principles to you.

For more information, go to Guide to Textbook Publishing Contracts at the TAA website.

Disclosure: I'm an active member of TAA (publisher of this guide) and have been a client of Mr. Gillen.

New grant for textbook authors seeking contract advice

The Text and Academic Authors Association (TAA) has announced a new grant program to cover the cost of hiring an intellectual property attorney to provide assistance in negotiating a textbook contract. Members can apply for grants of up to $1,000 and non-members can apply for grants of up to $250.

The grants are limited to first-time textbook authors who have been offered a publishing contract. TAA recommends hiring an intellectual property attorney specializing in the negotiation of textbook contracts.

What a great opportunity!

“Textbook authors often enter into the contract process ill prepared, especially for the first few contracts,” comments my friend Robert Christopherson, author of the leading physical geography textbook, Geosystems. “TAA’s textbook publication grant offers first-time authors the opportunity to negotiate the most favorable agreement.”

Once a contract is signed, except in very few instances, it cannot be altered for the life of the book. That is why it is critical for first-time authors especially to learn how to negotiate a favorable contract so as to protect their intellectual property and their investment of time and resources in developing the book.


Want to know more?

To learn more about this grant or to apply, visit 

taaonline.net/publication_grants/textbook.html