Journalist and Media Career Development specialist, Lekan Otufodunrin writes on how to re-purpose social media posts for book publication.
When Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL Magazine, Azuh Arinze wrote a Facebook post on how he met and fell in love with his wife, Edith, to mark their 14th marriage anniversary, it was just as he puts one of those writing ‘brainwave’.
Minutes after publishing the post, according to him, “both my inbox and wall, were awash and inundated with comments and messages from those who read and enjoyed the story, nudging and urging me to tell more stories like it”
As he recalled in his new book Encounters: Lessons from my Journalism Career which is a compilation of his Facebook posts, he was so overwhelmed by the unexpected development and had to continue writing and sharing many other stories of his over two decades experience as a reporter.
“Encounters tells the story of what has worked for me. From expert networking to building self-confidence, never taking no for an answer, being professional, and knowing when to apologise,” Arinze, former editor of Encomium Weekly and Real Stars explained in the book launched virtually recently along with another one, Success is not served A LA Carte with top personalities joining the event.
The reviewer of the book was Emeka Oparah, Vice President Corporate Communications & CSR Airtel Nigeria who commended Arinze for being tenacious, conscientious, committed, courageous, and industrious.
“Azuh Arinze by sheer hard work and dedication has so mastered the art of writing well that he does it effortlessly and passionately. Particularly Encounters, where he wrote from his heart and not what he recorded on his tape recorder, Azuh showed he has come of age in the business of storytelling. After all, 20-something years is NOT a joke!
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“I read all of the 60 stories he told very well in this book, and I dare say all of them were unputdownable. From the opening shot, which was a highly edited version of how he (truly) met and wooed his wife, Edith, to the last, though not the least, which was about the irrepressible UK-based Dayo Olomu, the author poured his energy into torch-lighting the lessons we should learn from those encounters.” Oparah stated in the review.
Arinze is also the author of the bestsellers, The CEO’s Bible and Tested and Trusted Success Secrets of the Rich and Famous.
In 2016, I published, The Journalist You Ought To Be: Step-by-Step principles and opportunities in media career development.
The 40 different issues addressed in the books were from series of my Facebook posts meant to inspire journalists.
The feedbacks to the posts over a period of time enriched my writings and made it possible to offer insights on issues journalists wanted answers to.
It was not hard selling the book with the Foreword by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, based on the wide readership and commendation of the online publications.
Already in its second print, the book has become a recommended text for student journalists in media training departments and professionals who want to enhance their careers.
I have a Twitter thread on essentials of online publishing I am planning to develop into a book. The replies and follow up questions to some of the tweets require some deeper research that can lead to the publication of a major book on practical online publishing.
While not all social media posts can become a book, some definitely can if they are well thought out with additional details that will make the book must-read.
Aggressive marketing on various platforms and speaking engagements will also be needed to ensure that as many copies of the books as possible are sold over a long period.