I’m starting to get feedback about the contemplative computing book manuscript, about a month after I sent it out, and it occurs to me that an author’s relationship to a book is somewhat like a parent’s relationship to a child.

In both cases, you can claim a unique role as the creator: you brought this thing into the world.

However, you’re not the only person who’s been involved in shaping its character.

Indeed, one of the most important things you can do as a parent is make smart choices about what other people get to influence your child. In the case of children it’s about deciding who gets to teach them or coach them, who their friends are (within some limit), etc.

With a book, you’re looking for an agent who can sharpen a proposal; a strong editor who can make a book leaners and smarter; a designers can do a good job on the layout and cover, and so on. Sure, ultimately the author’s name is the one on the spine (just as your child probably shares your name); but lots of other people had a role in shaping the book.

IHere are things that teachers and coaches and editors and indexers can do that you can’t, things that will make your child/book stronger. I don’t think this lessens our pride either in a child, or in a book.