After buying some top-of-the-line furniture, I discovered that some assembly was required. Relying on my past experience of assembling furniture (which was nil) I spent twice as much time as I would have, had I read the instructions.

Like most men, I know that reading instructions is vitally important, but I enjoy winging it.

Recently one of the authors I work with did the very thing I need to do when assembling things… she took time to read the instructions.

This kind, elderly woman had already completed one book project with us and her second book was in the production process. The project flowed through the editing, design, and typesetting phases like clockwork.

She called me and said, “I love the production process; it is so much easier and enjoyable when I read the instructions.” She explained that, with her first project, she didn’t take time to read them. As a result, the process seemed painful frustrating.

I’ll never forget the way this reserved lady giggled with delight. She thoroughly enjoyed the production process because she understood what was happening, and what was going to happen next.

This author crossed over from frustration to joy simply by reading instructions. Her joy encouraged me to pay close attention to instructions. My hope is for all my authors to have this same joy during the production of their book.

Work is so much more rewarding when we understand what is going on. Reading instructions is the tool that helps make this happen.

Tim Noreen is a project manager at WinePress. He writes: While serving as the middle-man between author/editor/designer/typesetter/printer, I feel more like a translator. Communicating the author’s ideas to various technicians—and then explaining things from those technicians to the author—is an art-form I enjoy day after day. While projects are developing, friendships are being made.