Steve Portigal, a user research consultant and author, discusses the motivations for writing and the challenges of creating a second edition. They explore the evolution of brands, the responsibilities of working on projects with rich histories, and the process of content production and teaching for books. They also provide information on finding the speaker online, book sales, and preordering their new book.
Writing books allows for the permanence and curation of ideas, validating important concepts over time.
Teaching workshops and receiving feedback helps refine and validate ideas before formalizing them in a book.
Deep dives
Motivation for Writing
In this podcast episode, the host, Jorge, interviews guest Steve Porterman, an independent user research consultant and author. They discuss the motivations behind writing books, particularly in the design space. Steve shares his personal journey of becoming an author and how it was influenced by his peers and his own aspirations. They reflect on the value of books in the digital age and the cultural significance they hold. Steve also talks about the process of deciding to write a second edition of his book, Interviewing Users, after 10 years, and how he identified new topics to add based on his experiences and teachings.
Importance of Books as Medium
Both Jorge and Steve highlight the distinct characteristics of books as a medium for sharing ideas. They discuss the permanence and curation that come with books compared to more flexible digital formats. Books are seen as cultural artifacts that validate and encapsulate important concepts over time. They also delve into the discipline and market influence that writing a book entails, emphasizing the responsibility to maintain the integrity of the ideas while adapting to the evolving landscape. The significance of multiple editions and the enduring reputation of certain branded books, like 'The Polar Bear Book,' demonstrates the value and trust readers place in these enduring works.
The Process of Writing a Second Edition
Steve explains his process for writing a second edition of Interviewing Users. Initially reluctant, he eventually recognized the value of revisiting and expanding upon the content after receiving encouragement and identifying gaps in the field. He started by brainstorming new chapter headings and drawing upon his extensive workshops, blog posts, and LinkedIn content to generate a superset of ideas. He strategically determined what to bring forward, what to add, and what to omit based on his experience and observations. The iterative nature of teaching and feedback informed Steve's decision-making and helped ensure the book's relevancy and longevity.
Teaching as Preparation for Writing
Jorge and Steve discuss the importance of teaching material before writing about it. Steve shares how teaching workshops on his topics helped solidify his understanding and allowed him to receive valuable feedback from participants. Teaching became a way to test and refine the ideas, establishing a clearer structure and sequencing that resonated with learners. They draw parallels between blogging and teaching as lower-risk ways to explore and share ideas before formalizing them in a book. Both agree that teaching the material provides essential insights and validation, ensuring that the written content is valuable and understandable to the target audience.
Steve Portigal is an independent user research consultant. He is the author of Interviewing Users and Doorbells, Danger, and Dead Batteries. Steve was previously on the show last year, talking about research skills. This conversation is a bit different: both of us have written new books, and we thought it’d be fun to compare notes about the process. We decided to split our conversation into two parts. This episode focuses on the motivations for writing, and the second part will focus on processes.