Occupational Therapy News OTnews October 2018 | Page 28

FEATURE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Feeling the fear and
taking the plunge
B
Rachel White talks to OTnews
about becoming a published
author and offers some of her own
personal tips for anyone thinking
about starting out on a publishing
journey
‘‘
ack in August 2017, Rachel White was ‘delighted’ to achieve one
of her major life goals – the publication of a book. However, as a
practising occupational therapist, she says she was ‘unfamiliar with
the process’ and ‘unsure as to what to expect at each step of the
way’.
Having learned so much during her journey, she goes back to the beginning
of the process and says one of the key aspects is to make sure you do your
research. ‘Before you start any writing, check your contract of employment to
understand your legal position with your employer,’ she stresses.
‘Where the content of your book relates directly to the activities you carry
out as part of your day job, your employer may claim ownership of intellectual
property rights.’
She adds: ‘Many NHS contracts contain a clause about the employer’s
ownership of intellectual property rights. This means that your employer
effectively owns the rights to your work and a say in whether and how this work
is published.
‘Most NHS trusts also have a legal department, which will need to be
involved directly in all decisions around any legal agreement you want to enter
into with a publisher. I was guided through the legal aspects of the process by
the trust solicitor, which was invaluable. If this is your situation, I recommend
early engagement with the legal department for support and guidance.’
One obvious disadvantage, Rachel muses, is that any royalties earned from
the sale of your book will be shared between yourself and your employer. But
‘on the plus side, you may be able to negotiate for some paid study leave to
work on your book’.
Once you are sure that your idea is original and has a unique selling point,
she advises people to ‘talk your idea through with your colleagues and your
target audience to gauge their enthusiasm for the project’.
The next step is to contact a publisher. ‘This may well feel like a leap of faith;
it petrified me,’ she remembers. ‘I had no idea what to expect and was fearful
that my book would be rejected. That said, I would advise making this contact
quite early on in your project. It is helpful to know not only that a publisher is
interested in your work, as this provides motivation for the times when you are
lacking enthusiasm, but also it will give you a timescale to work to.’
It’s difficult to describe in words the sheer
joy and pride I felt when I first held my
published book in my hands.
28 OTnews October 2018