Why Writing a Technical Book Won’t Make You Money | Dave Langer

Welcome to the very first episode of Tech Pubcast: a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to write and publish a technical book.In this episode, host Jess Haberman (literary agent and former acquisitions editor) sits down with Microsoft Excel MVP Dave Langer to unpack the full journey of writing a tech book, from idea to publication and everything in between.Dave shares what it’s actually like to write a book while building an audience, navigating the publishing process, and managing the unexpected challenges that come with it, including imposter syndrome, technical reviews, and the realities of marketing your own work.Whether you’re thinking about writing a technical book, growing your personal brand, or just curious about how publishing really works, this episode offers practical, honest advice from someone who’s done it.In This Episode, We Cover:How Dave went from idea to published authorDefining your audience and scoping your bookWhat publishers are really looking for in a proposalWhy building an audience matters more than you thinkThe truth about marketing (hint: it’s on you)Time, effort, and what it actually takes to finish a bookManaging imposter syndrome during the writing processWho should (and shouldn’t) write a tech bookAbout Dave Langer:Dave is a technology professional with nearly 30 years of experience, a Microsoft Excel MVP, and author of Python in Excel: Step by Step. He specializes in helping business users leverage analytics and Python to drive real-world impact.Get Dave’s book, Python in Excel Step by Step: https://a.co/d/0daLmheXConnect with Dave on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davelangerWork with Jess: jesslhaberman.com/contactConnect with Jess on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jhabermanThinking about writing your own technical book?This episode is your starting point. Subscribe for more conversations with authors, editors, and industry insiders on how great technical books get made.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Tech Podcast and Guest Introduction02:37 The Journey of Writing a Technical Book05:12 Understanding the Audience and Defining Scope07:48 The Publishing Process and Lessons Learned10:23 Marketing and Building an Audience12:56 The Investment of Time and Energy in Writing14:41 Goals and Expectations of Writing a Book17:14 Challenges Faced During the Writing Process19:36 Advice for Aspiring Tech Authors22:09 Future Plans and Conclusion