Guidebook writer... or juggler?

Author: Paddy Dillon
Date: 18 August 2009

At the moment I have nine separate guidebook projects at various stages of development. Even as I write these words, one of them is ready for imminent delivery to my publisher, others are partly completed, and a couple of projects still require contracts to be exchanged. Sometimes I tell people I’m a juggler, because I find it easy to juggle all my projects around.

The outdoor writer’s Christmas

Author: Paddy Dillon
Date: 24 November 2008

When everyone else seems to be rushing round like turkeys to the slaughter, I always find that Christmas creeps up on me unawares. Sometimes, I start to take notice of it as late as 23rd December. My main concern, if I plan on going anywhere, involves working round the fact that public transport grinds to a halt.

The proof’s in the proofreading

Author: Paddy Dillon
Date: 4 November 2008

How many times is a route description read before it reaches the final reader? The truth is, I don’t know. I write route descriptions ‘on the hoof’ using a battered old Psion palmtop, small enough for my pocket. I don’t like scribbling notes that need to be transcribed later, so it saves me a lot of time, and I prefer to spend that time outdoors...

Shuffling the paperwork

Author: Paddy Dillon
Date: 13 October 2008

This has been a busy year, with five guidebook projects to complete, involving two new books and complete overhauls of three more books. As an outdoor writer I enjoy the outdoor part of things best, so I cram in as much time outdoors as I possibly can...

The life of a guidebook writer

Author: Paddy Dillon
Date: 3 October 2008

Follow the trials and tribulations of prolific outdoor writer Paddy Dillon as he provides insights into the world of guidebook writing and publishing in this revealing blog - written exclusively for Stanfords. Here’s his first report...