What follows is the most common flow of email conversations with readers. If you have a different question, you can ask in the comments in the bottom of this page. You could also try email, but you probably won’t get an answer.
- You: You write good stuff.
Me: Thank you, I appreciate it. That’s always nice to hear. It’s awesome to know that my work helps other people. That thought keeps me going. - You: When will your revise book X?
Me: When I have sufficient time and attention. - You: What are you writing now?
Me: I’ll announce the title when publication approaches. - You: Why don’t you announce titles when you start writing the book?
Me:The early announcement of Absolute OpenBSD caused several other publishers to hurriedly acquire and publish their own OpenBSD titles in an effort to be first to market. There is a real tactical advantage in being first to market. I now announce books when I’m far enough ahead that other publishers cannot catch me. It’s nothing against other authors who try to sell their books, it’s entirely about other publishers. - You: Why do you have a publisher? You no longer need a middlemen between you and your audience.
Me: Permit me to refer you to John Scalzi’s comments on this topic. You can also see my post on non-fiction self-publishing. Having said that, I’m planning a couple of smaller publisher-free nonfiction projects. - You: Will you write something on topic X?
Me: Probably not. I can write somewhere around one non-fiction book a year. I have a list of thirty-odd nonfiction books I want to write. - You: Are you available to speak about X at at event Y?
Me: Unlikely, but possibly. It must be an event that interests me. I don’t charge a speaking fee, but I do need expenses: lodging, food, and travel. I’m not going to fly to the middle of nowhere to talk at some group meeting unless I can break even on the thing. - Them: Can I have an account on blackhelicopters.org?
Me: No. Blackhelicopters.org is my private playground and I make no guarantees about its uptime, downtime, or naptime. - Them: Please help me me promote my cool new project.
Me: My time is completely occupied doing things important to me. I have no spare capacity for new projects. - Them: Please help me promote my new commercial venture that competes with free software you’ve written about.
Me: No. - Them: Will you read something I wrote and tell me what you think?
Me: No. - Them: I have a great idea for a book! I’ll give you the idea, you can write the book, and we’ll split the money.
Me: I have an even more awesome idea! Keep your idea, write your own book, and keep all the money. - Them: Do you believe in ghosts?
Me: No. - Them: But you say elsewhere that you live in a haunted house!
Me: That is correct. It is haunted. Exceedingly so. - Them: Will you write something about your haunted house?
Me: No. - Them: But that’s not fair!
Me: Well, then, I guess it sucks to be you. - Them: What is your opinion on X?
Me: My opinions are my own. I publish those that I believe are both coherent and well thought out. I will not defend an opinion in email unless I have argued cogently for it elsewhere. And that argument will have to stand on its own. While I might publish a followup at some point, I will not defend my writing.
Want to know something else? Ask in the comments.