The student can also be the teacher

Photo courtesy of canstockphoto.com/tang90246

I’ve spent the last year, researching and learning what it takes to publish a book. After almost a year of doing this, I still feel like there is so much more to learn and that what I know just barely scratches the surface. There are still days when it all seems overwhelming but thankfully, over time, those days are fewer and farther between.

Despite feeling like I’m still a neophyte in all of this, my friend, Adele pointed out, recently, just how far I really have come. She and I attended a Meetup about publishing with an emphasis on what goes into a contract between you and a publisher. During that meeting, I peppered the speaker with questions, and I offered up my experience to others attendees. I didn’t think anything of it at the time, but later, on the drive home, Adele commented on just how much I really know and how easily I am now sharing what I’ve learned.

Tables turn

In the last month, I have had several people ask for:

• advice on where to begin if you want to publish a book
• help on critiquing their book
• advice on setting up a blog
• advice on blogging

I offered up what I could to each of them … always with the caveat of “this is what I know so far.” I hardly think of myself as an expert in any of those things; but truth be told, I have learned quite a few things on this journey.

No matter where you are in the process in gaining experience or new skills, there will come a time when the tables will begin to turn and you will be the teacher AND the student. In my mind, there are always new things to learn. So you never stop being a student. But, if you’re open and willing to share what you know, then soon you will become a teacher or adviser as well.

Sharing your wealth of knowledge

I’m not going to get all preachy and tell you that you owe it to yourself and to others to share the knowledge you have within. You can choose to share or not to share. That’s completely up to you.

However, what I will say is this. I’m one of those people who believes in karma. You know, “if you do something good, something good will happen to you, and vice versa.” To me, sharing your knowledge falls under the good deed category. If you can make someone’s life a little easier or better by sharing what you know, then you are doing something good. At some point in time, all that goodness that you have shared will come back to you. And, the extra little bonus is the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you do do something good.