I'm writing a book

Yes, you heard right. I'm currently attempting to write a book on A Level Physics. It's a lot of hard work, and that explains my infrequent updates on this blog. Definitely not easy. I sleep <5 hrs a day to try to write, and think of ways to improve it, to make concepts clearer to the students.

What am I writing
I'm writing on an A level physics study guide. I chose to start on physics because physics is my forte.
After all, I'm among the top 10 scorers for 2001 A level Physics in Singapore, and among the top 39 in Asia for the 2nd Asian Physics Olympiad.


Why am I writing this book
While I was tutoring my students, I found that most of them could not understand their school notes well, nor understand current study guides on the market well too. There isn't much guides for them to choose on the market as well.

I really want to reach out to all the students who have difficulty understanding some of the concepts. But I also understand that my time is limited. In writing this book, I hope to be able to share my knowledge and benefit more students before I (might) forget the stuff one day.

What makes my book different
My unique understanding, and analogies to explain certain concepts. I try to link things up, and make complex things simple.

Well, I try. There's all I can divulge.

How is the market for such books
Admittedly, not big. A levels is a small market here, unlike O levels. Margins will definitely very small.

But hey! My main aim is to reach out and help those students. Profit for my time, of course since I'm still financially unstable, but I don't need supernormal profits.

The low profit margins is why you see less A level books and more O level books in bookshops.

I have some ideas on how to market, but I don't think I will share it here.

Publisher or self-publish or?
This is what I'm considering. To go through a publisher, or to self-publish as my own publisher.

I have decided to go on the latter path, because I want to try out something new in life. That is, register a business and own it! Whether I would succeed a not is immaterial, although I would try to of course; it's the experience and adventure of doing this I want to have.

I have ideas after my guide is written on a series of other self help materials to help students score better. Better to have my own ideas and publish them, than to spend the effort to get other publishers and convince them to publish.

When will it be out
I aim for March 2011, but I'm unsure if I can hit it. My students this year get my notes as I finish each chapter. So far, the feedback has been good, and I have made some changes to the way I phrase some concepts to make them clearer based on students' feedback.

All I know is, I have to work harder to get this out. There are just so many students floundering and having headaches over the A level Physics. I really believe my book will be beneficial to them.

But belief is one thing. I have to get it out, published, and market to the students. Nothing can replace pure hard work here.


Ganbatte to my book and the students who need it, and do pardon me for my reduced frequencies of updates. I really need to get this book out asap, else one more year of students will miss it out, and some will eventually grow to hate physics as a subject.