But first, a weather rant. I think I've moved back to Germany, except that it isn't as cold. Seriously, Germany can go for weeks with no sun, low lying gray clouds, rain and more rain. People who aren't used to it get depressed. I used to love it, though it took me awhile.
Now I live in Hawaii, land of aloha and sunsets. Nuh-uh. Not for the past three weeks. Rain, rain, low-lying gray clouds, no sun (or spots of sun). I feel like I never moved! Except it alternates between chilly and humid outside, which is different than Germany for sure.
It's hard to feel sorry for anyone who lives in Hawaii, I know, but consider this advice: never plan your vacation for Hawaii in February. In fact, it's best to avoid the winter months all together (Dec-Feb especially). We had a beautiful December in 2005. 2004 was horrible. You just can't predict it, so come in the spring and summer when the weather is better and the tourists aren't so many.
I know that has nothing to do with writing, but I'm tapped out today. Well, except for this interesting little article I came across at the New York Times: From Blogger to Publisher. Apparently, for a mere $30, you too can turn your blog into a keepsake book! Yes, one more thing to clutter your shelves!
Pricing for printed versions of your book from Blurb starts at $30 for an 8-by-10-inch full-color hardcover volume with dust jacket and up to 40 pages. A book of up to 80 pages is $3 more. (Blurb plans to eventually offer paperback editions selling for about 30 percent less than hardcover.) Authors will also be able to set up online bookstores through Blurb's Web site.
The software “downloads and reformats the contents of a Web log into a book that bloggers and their admirers can purchase online.” Yep, just what I was looking for. Another way to collect more stuff.
One word–hyphenated… self-published. LOL
This actually is kind of cool. I keep database backups in excel format, but they’re hard to read. If I decided to dump my blog, I might consider it, just to have a record.
BTW, a know of a couple of blogs that have been published this way and have done well. Baghdad Burning comes to mind.
It’s amazing how silly self-publishing is getting. I have no doubt that a lot of folks will fall for this too. Hmm, a copy for my mom and my grandma and….. 🙂
Good point, Terry, that there really are some blogs this is a good idea for. And for your own record, too. I never thought of it that way because I was caught up in the idea that millions of people were about to start self-publishing their blogs and trying to sell them. 🙂
I might pay for a copy of Miss Snark, if it were indexed and I could refer to it whenever I needed. OTOH, I’d like to just be able to type in a search phrase and get what I needed online.
Lynn, I want to thank you for your several links. I have found some very good reading material. (trying to stick nose into the computer, it would fit better if it was a book)… :-0
Glad you’re finding good stuff, Cyn! The blogosphere is quite amazing, though it can take too much of a writer’s time too. 🙂
Interesting idea. I wonder if it’ll take off? One of the things I like about blogs is the fact that they constantly change so having them in book format doesn’t appeal as much. But I suppose it would depend on the content of the blog.
I think it could work for really fascinating blogs, like Miss Snark, or like some of the more political blogs. But I prefer the online component myself. I don’t think I want blog books. Terry’s idea of archiving is a good one though. It’ll be interesting to watch and see what happens. 🙂