It may sound like an incredible amount of work for an additional line on your resume, but writing a book can be a stepping stone to the next level of your IT career. Those who have actually done it contend that being a published author is an accomplishment that gets you noticed. “Being an author is a big deal," says one. “Even if your book sucks, even if it's small, even if it's lame, just being the author of a book is something that a lot of people want to do. It gives you credibility." Why does writing a book give people so much credibility?

Because it's hard work and requires a tremendous amount of self-discipline and persistence, say the people who've done it. "Everyone says they want to write a book, but there are few people who actually do it," says Russ Edelman, president of Corridor Consulting, a Microsoft SharePoint consultancy, and author of “Nice Guys Can Get the Corner Office.” Writing and publishing a book also establishes your authority as a thought leader in a way that far exceeds anything you could do through a blog or Twitter, adds Edelman. You deepen your knowledge and expertise while writing a book because you spend so much time investigating your subject matter.

But how do you actually do it? Some suggestions:

• Get comfortable by blogging about your area of expertise.
• If you’re a bad writer, find a ghostwriter and figure out how you’ll handle compensation to craft your rough words into a useful read.
• Get on a writing schedule; add your book work to your regular routine. Even 45 minutes a day could yield a first draft in just a few months.
• Prepare a proposal that’s just a few polished chapters plus an outline of the rest.
• Choose between self-publishing or going the traditional route through a publishing company.

And don’t expect to make any money. Remember that you’re doing it for credibility and status. Source: Network World