I have six years of blog entries. That's a lot of writing! Some of you have suggested that I turn the blog into a book. That would be a formidable task, but I found an online tool that will do it for me for $80. Well worth it, I think. So instead of my next book being about Sasquatch, I think it might be about Drift Away.
I don't know how many pages this book would be, but the blog has to be over 1,000. Ain't nobody got time for dat. So I need to whittle it down, a lot. What should the book cover?
My thought is to certainly cover the cruise down the east coast, and perhaps how we acquired the boat, and the funny boat projects. I would delete minor, dull boat projects and most of the "view from the bridge" photographs. I would include some of the high points of living aboard in marinas, such as Isle of Hope and Brunswick Landing, but omit the mundane stuff. My gut feeling is that anyone who buys this book wants a sense of adventure and what cruising is really like, not the boring stuff (not boring to me, but I lived it).
I would include the novelties of the blog, such as victory beers and the Navi-Nut (patent pending) (Hi Kurt!), and a bit about what it is like to travel with large dogs.
Any ideas or suggestions? Should I omit the year from the dates? Or the dates entirely? Keep one blog entry per chapter and title it "the Drift Away Toilet Companion"?
I don't know how many pages this book would be, but the blog has to be over 1,000. Ain't nobody got time for dat. So I need to whittle it down, a lot. What should the book cover?
My thought is to certainly cover the cruise down the east coast, and perhaps how we acquired the boat, and the funny boat projects. I would delete minor, dull boat projects and most of the "view from the bridge" photographs. I would include some of the high points of living aboard in marinas, such as Isle of Hope and Brunswick Landing, but omit the mundane stuff. My gut feeling is that anyone who buys this book wants a sense of adventure and what cruising is really like, not the boring stuff (not boring to me, but I lived it).
I would include the novelties of the blog, such as victory beers and the Navi-Nut (patent pending) (Hi Kurt!), and a bit about what it is like to travel with large dogs.
Any ideas or suggestions? Should I omit the year from the dates? Or the dates entirely? Keep one blog entry per chapter and title it "the Drift Away Toilet Companion"?
That's a tough one. Some books/blogs are too technical. Others are boring as hell, for a variety of reasons. I went from following 1/2 dozen sailor's blogs to just following yours.
ReplyDeletePartly because I know you. But, partly because you tell a decent story. Your sense of humor and sense of whimsy keeps things light and interesting. Even when you broke your bloody neck.
There was one looper I followed for a while, that turned out to be a whiner. Here he is on the adventure of a lifetime, half way round the world from his home, cruising the loop in a massive boat and he's whining about every bloody thing that comes to his attention. Un-marked shoals, Weekend traffic on the Mississippi, etc.
A couple of highlights I still remember from your adventure... the old south streets of Beaufort. Lovely old homes on tree lined streets. Your trips to driftwood beach. The Characters you met along the way. Your photographer friend. The canoe looper photog. (I bought his book... wow.)
You took so many photographs, maybe attempt a photo essay style like the canoe guy or these folks: http://greatlooplastdance.blogspot.com/2017/02/lake-michigan-petosky-and-charlevoix.html (the one blog besides yours, I still follow)
The toughest bit will be ending it well. Unless you can wrap that sense of adventure and whimsy into what became your next steps.
Bottom line, I'm sure you'll figure it out. Enjoy.
cheers.
Hi Dave-- I like the name "Drift Away Toilet Companion" As you know what Drifts away down the Toilet..
ReplyDeleteIt's been fun following your Adventure that you-- Pam and all your Critters.. Thank you for sharing over all the Years..
I'd break it up into chapters per blog entry. Also, new thing is graphic "novel" which means less verbiage and more pictures You are a concise writer, so that is do-able. I think dates are needed. I'd go low on projects and a lot on experiences, people, stuff people can use if they want to cruise same areas.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd like to get some information about the production of your blog, which I think is among the best I've read. I'd like to do one when we return to the ICW this fall and would like do's and don't's. How did you start in getting subscribers? Etc? Maybe you could you do a blog entry on cruising blogs? I think others might be interested too.
I'm thinking of breaking the blog up into major sections by year, and then compiling each blog entry by either season or major event, such as cruising down the ICW by section.
DeleteI started writing, and notified my real life friends and Facebook friends. After that, it took on a life of its own.
Don't used technical jargon unless you have to, and then explain what it means to the novices. Keep each entry brief, don't write long winded posts. Write like you talk and don't use 25 cent college words, keeping the blog conversational. Keep it light, and if you mess up, be sure to include it in the blog. Take as many photos as appropriate for the topic.
When I have time in between working on my novels, I'll try to get up a post about writing cruising blogs and writing in general. Good idea, Vicki.