Photoshop Insider

I’m Speechless

By Scott on Monday, December 3rd, 2007 at 7:39 am | updates.

I have to say, I am absolutely blown away, humbled, and just flat out thrilled at the thoughtful, clever, and creative comments that were posted after my article on why nobody reads the introduction of books (and why it’s so important to me that they do).

The comments were so good in fact, that I wound up rewriting (at the last minute), the entire introduction section incorporating ideas directly from those comments. As hard as it was to rewrite and retool part of the book at the very last minute; it was 100% worth it.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I’m going to outline how I changed the Intro section, and I hope to list the names of those people who will be getting a signed copy of the book thanks to their ideas being chosen, and Ill post the winner of the free Full Conference pass to Photoshop World Orlando (yes, there was a winner).

But beyond all that, I am just so touched, and so grateful that so many of you (nearly 300) would take the time to post your thoughts and ideas, and share your vision for how to address this problem. I just had never expected the volume of responses that came in, and I was just as tickled as I could be at the quality of the ideas I received.

It was an eye-opening experience, and my sincere thanks go to everyone who contributed their suggestions, which I believe have not only improved this book, but all my future books to come. In short; you guys rock!!!!

Comment form for this post

^#1

Hey Scott,

Good books and good, entertaining writers deserve good reviews and credit. Technical manuals and guides are hard to write and even harder to get people to read since most people don’t read their product manuals.

I put your book in y camera bag first then I put my camera. Since I can always buy a new camera where ever I am if I forget mine, but they may not have a copy of your book in the everywhere in the world!

Don’t thank us, thank you for your great books.

Steve

Steve on December 3rd, 2007 at 10:51 am

^#2

Hi Scott,
I hope Steve (comment #1) would be disqualified for being a brownnoser. I do not brownnose. I do believe however that you are God’s gift to mankind for writing excellent technical books. More power to you and my best for continued wonderful book writing and success in your every endeavor.

(Steve, just kidding of course - I echo your sincere and truthful comments).

Keep up the good work, Scott!

Edwardson

Edwardson on December 3rd, 2007 at 12:06 pm

^#3

Congrats to the winner!
Ok, I have to go now.
There is a book there waiting for me at the post office.
Lets see here on the note they send me..hmmm…..
“THE PHOTOSHOP CS3 BOOK FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS”
Wow its here!!

—runs to the office—

Thomas Thiger on December 3rd, 2007 at 1:16 pm

^#4

Hi Scott,
I’m really glad you got so many helpful comments on your post… So many that my browser litterally choked! Anyway, I don’t have anything helpful to contribute because your introductions are something I always read! I’m a big fan of your writing, and always enjoy your quircky humour and conversational style. I love that your voice comes through in your writing, as does all the Photoshop Guys. Thanks for all tour great work! I’ll be getting Vol. 2 as soon as it’s available!

Steven on December 3rd, 2007 at 2:35 pm

^#5

Hey Scott,

I guess this kind of response really drives home what people really think of what you do … as they say, “actions speak louder than words” … You clearly have a continually growing army of fans!!!

Keep up the great work Scott .. each book release raises the bar that bit higher in setting the standard for all Photoshop books!

All the best to you and yours,
Glyn

Glyn Dewis on December 3rd, 2007 at 6:33 pm

^#6

Hi scott
I wanted to ask you I bought your 7 point system and they told me that I can use it with cs2.
But when it comes to the smart filter layer what is my alternate route besides buying cs3.

Fdr on December 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 pm

^#7

Scott -

I, too, was floored at the number of comments about your Introduction “dilemma” (which is not one for me because I ENJOY reading them). I tried to leave a comment, but it got truncated as my system froze trying to deal with over 200 comments already left. Guess that has told you something, huh? A very good thing, too. Keep it all coming, Scott. I appreciate all of your hard work on your books and find them invaluable!

Libby on December 3rd, 2007 at 7:15 pm

^#8

…and I’m touched that the scripting error that Firefox complains about and that crashes IE 6 is still there on the page!

Adam B on December 4th, 2007 at 6:03 am

^#9

Dear Scott,

I am waiting to know who is the winner !!!!

in His eternal loving bonds,

Joel

Joel Christian on December 4th, 2007 at 12:29 pm

^#10

“…and I’m touched that the scripting error that Firefox complains about and that crashes IE 6 is still there on the page!”

Got the same errors here. Please fix this or I call my Mom!

Lol!

Thomas Thiger on December 4th, 2007 at 1:02 pm

^#11

Hi Scott,

My rule of thumb for cookbooks has always been that if you get one great recipe from the book, it was worth the purchase.

While your Digital Photography book had dozens of fantastic tips, the one that stands out as the winner for me is the one on avoiding blinking (close your eyes…3 2 1…open them). Pure genius. I use it all the time and it always works. Even chronic blinkers are now fair game.

Rich

P.S. Sorry I didn’t volunteer to be your best friend. I’ve been kind of busy lately. You know how it goes.

Rich Taylor on December 4th, 2007 at 3:19 pm

^#12

Ugh, Scott, please update your blog - dying to know if who won the pass and books and what the intro is going to be like Actually, I just miss reading your posts! Seriously, I know that you are swamped - and hopefully still in Hawaii enjoying pineapple soft serve.

Stacie C Morris on December 4th, 2007 at 5:19 pm

^#13

when he said speechless…he meant it

Ned Leary on December 4th, 2007 at 6:52 pm

^#14

I was thinking the same thing. I’ve been seeing Speechless all day.

Timothy Scobee on December 4th, 2007 at 7:11 pm

^#15

Hi Scott,

I’m looking forward to the book and the introduction. As one of the nearly 300 people to offer suggestions, I’m glad I could shed my limited wisdom on your dilemma.

OK - now I’m going to rain on your parade — about he 7-Pont System book. After faithfully reading the introduction, I went to the website to download the files - all 258 MB!!!! I’m sure you can feel my pain when I tell you that I have dial-up internet access I refuse to pay $80.00 per month for high speed access when others, in the same town, but a different neighborhood, pay less than $30.00.

I sent a nice note to Kelby Trarining asking if a disk could be mailed or, at least, break-up the lessons into individual files that won’t hurt my fragile phone lines. Not possible - according to Linda Speranza.

I offered my advice on your introduction dilemma. Any suggestions from you on my dilemma? Yeah - I can beg a friend to get the files but there is a principle at play here. Please don’t assume that everyone in the world who uses Photoshop and uses your books has internet access - let alone high-speed access.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Ron

Ron O'Connor on December 4th, 2007 at 8:04 pm

^#16

Scott you “ROCK”,

I still can’t wait until your new book comes out. Scott you have such a great gift to teach others about Digital Photography in such a new fun way and even understanding Photoshop tricks or touches in it. Scott please come to Ann Arbor, Michigan “PLEASE” for a tour. You are in my family prayers.
Thank you for what you have teach me in Photoshop User Tv with the Three Photo Moto Amigos my friend call you.

Jason Moon

JAM Photography Studios on December 4th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

^#17

Scott,
Your work is incredibly helpful, but the best thing, is that now you have a good reason to write 300 even more incredible books with 300 introductions

Cedric on December 8th, 2007 at 2:04 pm