Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Blogs, books and the no-man's land in between.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 2 comments link this post

There are a few ways to connect blogs to books: books about blogs, and blogs turned into books. It kind of makes me throw up a little in my mouth, just saying that.

Starting with the looming glut of books on how to blog, how to change the world with your blog, and how to blog without changing the world, I discovered a gem of a post that sums it up nicely. Yes, this post made me laugh. The writer discovered a book in the bargain bin and was a little horrified at what it was about:

"Can you read the title of this book? It's called: "No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas for Your Blog."

What? A book to give me ideas of what to "blog" about? The concept seemed foreign to me and still does. And I slightly was annoyed by it. Here's why. If you don't know what to blog about ... maybe you just shouldn't have a blog. Or! If you don't have anything to blog about ... why wouldn't you just wait until you do?

The things is, this book isn't the only one out there instructing people how to blog. There's a whole market full of "how to blog" books just waiting to be placed in the discount bins at a super store near you. I, however, do think it's odd that people are making a living off of writing books instructing people how to go about blogging. I shouldn't be surprised though. People make money off of the lamest things. I'm probably just bothered by it because I didn't think of it first."

Both Jim and Eric have talked about the new blog-book fad. This, of course, is the reversal of the books about blogs, of traditional authors making money off of blogger-readers. This is the concept of a blog being turned into a book. Maybe not so hot, anymore, this fad.

If you think it's still a fabulous idea, maybe this guy can help you. Like any good self-help encouragement guru, he's narrowed down his luck-of-the-draw success into pointers to offer to people who don't understand the definition of "stinkin' lucky." Ironically, he also provides a link to...a book about blogs.

If I were to buy a lottery ticket, I'd use my Blogger blog ID. It's the same thing.

Perhaps an earnest blogger desiring a blook with his name on it should consider this article, which contains a two-sentence summation of the whole mess:

"Not every blog is worthy of publication, however. Just because someone writes a blog doesn’t make that person a writer. Most blogs are rambling pieces of self-indulgence."

Yes. Because the question is one of whether a blog book (the new term is blook, sadly, a twice-defiled word made from a word made from two other words) even makes for good reading. Nevertheless, there is an award for blooks, the "Blooker Award." It is important to note, however, that it is sponsored by a self-publishing company (one I've used for my Bob stuff, no complaints). The fact that the official blook award comes from a company that most other paper-published bloggers use to birth their own blook at their own hands with their own determination and efforts to put blog to paper should maybe be given another name, like "blaward."

Blah.

Of course, if it is true that blogs are the modern version of commonplace books, again, I'm way ahead of the game. In true blogging spirit, much like the Celtic designs where the intertwined animal was eating its own tail, I already blogged about commonplace books.

This post is a shambles. It's writing like this that will prevent me from achieving that impressive 2,000-copy blook sales status I so long for.

I repeat, I'm way ahead of the game. I've had a little graphic on my blog for almost two years announcing the near arrival of a book made from my own blog. Two years. Way ahead of the game. Of course, these guys were way ahead of the game, too. And it looks like the game is over.

Books about blogs, blogs about books, books turned into blogs, blogs turned into books...is there no purity anywhere?!

It's enough to make me want to blog about it.