Question for you.
Many of you know that I've been a writer for a long time. Mainly articles for boating magazines, this blog, and the blog Bleecker Mountain Life. That one became peppered with stories of Sasquatch. At the urging of a few readers, I wrote a book called "Living Among Sasquatch: A Primer" which is selling amazingly well. It has 84 reviews on Amazon with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. That encouraged me to write a tongue-firmly-planted-in-check novel. It is based on the first book, but told from the Sasquatch's perspective as he struggles to make sense of us, humorously getting most of it wrong. That one is new to the market, but has five 5 star ratings. It is titled "Living Among Little People: A Guide For Sasquatch".
Now that I'm retired, I have more time for writing. I'm already more than halfway through my third book, another novel and a sequel to the second. Writing is a hoot for me.
I have ideas for future projects. I'm considering using this blog as a reference for a book about Drift Away, and our adventures, misadventures, projects, and travels. It would be told with the same quirky (or idiotic, depending on your point of view) sense of humor as my books and this blog. I'd describe finding the boat, fixing it up, traveling, almost sinking at Liberty Landing Marina, losing both engines off of Sandy Hook, and include the many places and people we met along the way. Navi-Nuts (patent pending) and Victory Beers would figure prominently.
But my question is this. Since everything is already on this blog, would it be merely redundant to write a book about it? I'm sure that it would sell to people who never found this blog and are dreaming about cruising, but I'm not sure how many folks haven't found this blog. It's still getting many hits everyday.
So any ideas and advice, positive or negative, would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
Many of you know that I've been a writer for a long time. Mainly articles for boating magazines, this blog, and the blog Bleecker Mountain Life. That one became peppered with stories of Sasquatch. At the urging of a few readers, I wrote a book called "Living Among Sasquatch: A Primer" which is selling amazingly well. It has 84 reviews on Amazon with a 4.5 out of 5 star rating. That encouraged me to write a tongue-firmly-planted-in-check novel. It is based on the first book, but told from the Sasquatch's perspective as he struggles to make sense of us, humorously getting most of it wrong. That one is new to the market, but has five 5 star ratings. It is titled "Living Among Little People: A Guide For Sasquatch".
Now that I'm retired, I have more time for writing. I'm already more than halfway through my third book, another novel and a sequel to the second. Writing is a hoot for me.
I have ideas for future projects. I'm considering using this blog as a reference for a book about Drift Away, and our adventures, misadventures, projects, and travels. It would be told with the same quirky (or idiotic, depending on your point of view) sense of humor as my books and this blog. I'd describe finding the boat, fixing it up, traveling, almost sinking at Liberty Landing Marina, losing both engines off of Sandy Hook, and include the many places and people we met along the way. Navi-Nuts (patent pending) and Victory Beers would figure prominently.
But my question is this. Since everything is already on this blog, would it be merely redundant to write a book about it? I'm sure that it would sell to people who never found this blog and are dreaming about cruising, but I'm not sure how many folks haven't found this blog. It's still getting many hits everyday.
So any ideas and advice, positive or negative, would be welcome. Thanks in advance.
Having done a blog is merely like writing chapters. It usually begs to be made into a book if the original stuff is good. You will find that you will not be just regurgitating what you've done, because the perspective will have changed. I am also a writer and a writing instructor at a university. Vicki Lathom
ReplyDeleteThanks Vicki. My Bleecker Mountain Life blog became the basis for my first book, and you're right. I can be much more 'wordy' in a book. Blog posts, by nature, are short and sweet. I really wish I started writing earlier in life, but see my blog entry from a few days ago why I did not.
DeleteI think blogs and books are entirely different audiences. Or even if they do overlap, you reach different people because of their preferred mediums. Also, Blogs have become so saturated, I spent a couple of hours the other day searching for a blog where the writer was currently doing the loop. Tons and tons of finished loops from 2012-2014. But not so much active.
ReplyDeleteBottom line is, you've already written a lot of it. A good editing job and a few more stories to add some new stuff for folks who might have already read the blog and you've got yourself another potential passive income source.
Just do it.
Ain't Life Grand!
And I see that you just bought a trawler. Congratulations!
DeleteHow did you all know about the trawler? I've written several things for a travel blog, "Millivers Travels," about cruising. If you google me, all the stuff shows up.
ReplyDeleteI knew nothing about trawlers. I was a sailor for 40 years. But not knowing what I was doing never stopped me before, so what the heck. We bought it. I learned as I went along. Repairing generators, resolving fuel problems by replumbing everything with the proper size fuel lines, installing Filter Bosses (they're the best!), replacing most of the water plumbing... stuff like that.
ReplyDeleteI'll check out your blog!
I say go for it! You can go into greater detail in the book and I am sure more details will pop into that brain of yours (well maybe) that will make the book an even more interesting read. Maybe even a chapter on Drift Away's new life with new owners. Good Luck!!
ReplyDelete