Ideas about turning your blog into a book?
Turn your blog into a book!
I just saw an ad on Facebook that sent me to a site where they will create a softcover (or even just a PDF) of one’s blog. I thought this is a great idea, except for a few caveats.
First, if I was to do that, I would not be so spontaneous with my posts. In other words, I would actually design each post to be part of a different chapter in the book. For example, I would use the categories to organize the thoughts of one chapter. Each post would be a portion of the chapter, and I could write in whatever order I chose as long as I controlled the content through the categories (or chapters).
Second, I would want to make sure that I used high enough resolution photos (or at least had access to them), so that when I did go to print I would have high enough quality photos to be able to print.
Third, I would make sure the blog was exclusive to the subject I was going to end up printing the book about. Which, now that I think about it, would be a great idea since this in itself would be keeping me focused.
Now, the benefits I see to this are:
1) I would be able to write over a period of time using the same discipline I have when writing my blogs.
2) I would be able to have all my readers give me feedback,a cting as editors themselves, which would refine my story over time, making it better.
3) Although those who follow the story as I write would be less likely to buy the book (or maybe not), whatever revisions I made would be retroactive, so, if they really wanted to see the final product, they would have to buy the book.
4) I could monetize the blog/book, over the time I write it so as to fund the project, and see residual returns, and still keep full control over the book.
5) I could take pre-orders of the book so that I could actually publish myself.
Wow! Think of the possibilities… Let me know your thoughts on this, and I’ll see if perhaps I can test it out myself. Please leave a comment!
This content originated on Blog4Funds.com
Keep in mind that nearly all blog sites have some scary wording in their “terms of service.” Even though they say that you retain the copyright, *they* consider themselves the “publisher” of your blog material to use as they wish in the future–say, if they wanted to do a compilation book of great blog entries.
They would pay you, probably, but by using their free blog service, you’re agreeing to give them this option.
If you’re self-publishing, it’s no big deal, but large publishing houses have gotten stung by publishing blog books for the very reason you state–everyone who would be an initial buyer has already read it.
In my own case, I do intend to make my blog a book, as the blog’s purpose is to chronicle my journey in chronic pain, so each post is a well-thought-out essay.
As for monetizing one’s blog, I’d love to hear how much money people are making doing that, to see if it’s worth it.
Great article.
Mary Ann Farley