Recently, the reviews on my last book have been a little disappointing. The chief criticism is that it’s too technical in nature. While I do not want to alienate any potential readers, I do feel it’s an author’s obligation to appropriate define a target audience and meet the needs of that audience. I specifically chose to write for people who want to extend themselves and use knowledge as a springboard. That’s not the biggest market, I know, but I feel it’s one that I can best connect with. Let’s hope that pays off as my career unfolds.
In response to this criticism, I’ve posted the following text on the Amazon page. It’s meant to help clarify expectations I have of the reader, and to give the reader realistic expectations of my book. In summary, I believe I have targeted an audience based on willingness to learn. This is very different that defining a target as some level of skill. Post on Facebook and share your thoughts.
Wondering whether this is the book for you? It’s not an easy question, to be sure. Let me start off by saying I wrote with the intent of doing something new, not just in the material presented, but how that material is structured. This book takes work, and that’s not something everyone wants to do. You’ll have to put aside what you’re used to in a Photoshop book and roll up your sleeves.
Think about it this way – if you drive a car, you’re probably reasonably good at everyday traffic, right? Let’s say you’re the average driver and you understand the dashboard lights, can change the oil, and navigate freeways as well as anybody.
Now let’s put you on a racetrack, or maybe crawling over rocks in the desert. You need a whole new set of skills just to keep it together – and not just behind the wheel. All of a sudden, knowledge of internal combustion engines, brakes, and electrical systems becomes vital. Understanding the vehicle from top to bottom is no longer an option, but a requirement. You aren’t just looking at the fuel gauge, but knowing the fuel-air mix, spray droplet size, and compression ratio. And you’re using that to push yourself to perform.
What I present in this book takes you from driving to performing. And you’ll have to put in the effort for that to happen. I’m not talking about competing with others, but winning by having mastery over your tools.
So, it’s not really about what you know coming in, it’s about how you approach Photoshop and how hard you want to work for excellence. Cookbooks and ready-made solutions are great when you have the luxury of always looking things up. But my goal is to get you away from the manuals, to embed the fundamentals inside you so you are never held back by manuals and road signs.
This book is not for you if you’re content making a run to the corner store for milk. But it is for you if you want to sip champagne in the winner’s circle.
Which will it be, then? Milk or Champagne?
So what do you think? Is this a better way to introduce the expectations of the series? Will it help readers make a more informed decision about purchasing?
