Ian McCoog is an Assistant Professor of Medical Education at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) in Scranton, Pennsylvania and an alum of our Foundational Certificate.

His first book, Leadership Bites: An Approachable Handbook for Emerging Leaders, is the perfect handbook for emerging leaders, blending academics and narrative storytelling. Ian pairs the history of leadership theory from the 1880s to today with inspirational, eclectic, and sometimes personal short stories spanning the worlds of sports, education, and contemporary culture. This approachable guide includes a foreword by leadership expert Thomas J. Starmack, in addition to charts and pictures to illustrate what makes a great leader.

Ian chatted with Creative Lead, Damian Tarnopolsky, all about the inspiration behind this book project.

Damian: First of all, congratulations on the publication of Leadership Bites! Can you tell us more about the book? What led you to write it, and what do you hope readers will take from it?

Ian: A colleague and I teach an MD4 elective in which students learn about 5 foundational leadership theories and then reflect upon their own experiences to apply what they have learned. I was inspired by our students’ stories and decided that pairing leadership theory with short stories would be a novel approach. So, I started researching more theories while taking the Foundational Certificate in Narrative-Based Medicine to hone my writing skills. In the end, I came up with 18 leadership theories and stories that span psychology, society, sports, contemporary issues, and a few of my personal experiences.

Damian: You’re a graduate of the NBM Lab’s Foundational Certificate. What impact, if any, did your experience with the Lab have on this project and your other work?

Ian: Throughout my education, I was trained in academic writing. I have long been interested in creative writing and dabbled with fiction and narrative non-fiction. I felt like I had good ideas but was looking for a program that would help me turn ideas on paper into effective storytelling. The NBM Lab was a great opportunity for me to learn more about writing, get feedback on some of my pieces, and tie what I learned back to my faculty work at GCSOM. The NBM Lab helped build my confidence as a writer and frame the content in Leadership Bites.

Damian: Many of our NBM Lab participants are contemplating projects like this but aren’t sure where to start. What was the experience of writing this book like? Do you have any advice you can pass on about seeing the project through from idea to conclusion?

Ian: Someone gave me the advice, “touch your writing every day.” And while I didn’t always achieve that, I felt like it was good advice. Spending even a few minutes reviewing a section or jotting down ideas serves as incremental investments in your project as a whole. Also, and I doubt this applies to everyone, but I’m a bit of a night owl. I got in the habit of staying up for an hour or so after the rest of my family went to bed and devoted that time to writing. It has become a routine that I look forward to as I continue doing it now.

Damian: On a similar note, once a manuscript is finished it can be very challenging to find a publisher. How did you go about getting your work out into the world?

Ian: I had a lot of help and a lot of luck. Once the manuscript was finished, I hired an editor who I genuinely believe made it a publishable product. She helped me with the format and keeping a consistent theme and voice throughout the work. As far as a publisher, I stumbled upon an article one day about an independent publisher (Rootstock Publishing) in Vermont where my family and I visit in the summer. I reached out to Rootstock and they expressed interest in my project. Once the manuscript was polished, I submitted it to them and crossed my fingers. A few months later I received the acceptance notice and they have been amazing to work with throughout the process.

Damian: What’s next for Ian McCoog? Any new writing projects percolating, or something else we can keep an eye open for?

Ian: Well, two things actually. I have been working with medical students on an oral history project for two years. The students interview retired physicians and document life lessons about the field they are entering. It has been really cool. This is the last year of data collection so we’re anticipating an academic paper and I am hoping to write a collection of short stories that highlight the transfer of wisdom from one generation of doctors to the next.

On the more playful front, I have been writing a novel about minor league baseball, a small town, and an ambitious young woman who is tasked with bringing it all together while holding together a complicated personal life. The first draft is almost done and I’ve had a great time writing it.