On blogs and books

[franceslievens]

One of the best known Flemish bloggers of the moment is Mme Zsazsa. She fits into the revival of DIY that's so apparent in today's blogverse. To Flemish standards Mme Zsazsa has heaps of followers. And now she has a book that tops the best seller charts. It's called Allemaal rokjes ("Skirts Galore") and everyone wants to have it, because everyone wants to make skirts. Mme Zsazsa gives radio and tv interviews to make sure that those that didn't feel like making skirts want to anyway. The conversation goes something like this: "Why did you write the book Mme Zsazsa?" "Because there weren't any good books on sewing." Because there were no books on sewing I'd read, would be a more accurate answer, I believe.

From blog to book isn't new. Asha Dornfest of Parent Hacks started her site as an easy way for parents to share experiences and give tips, because books on parenting teach you nothing. Currently she's in the process of writing a book (co-authored by Christine Koh) on minimalist parenting. It's the parenting book that leaves all the other parenting books in the shadow! Or the one you write because there simply aren't any good ones to read.

What strikes me most in this anecdotal research into the wondrous world of blogs turned into books, is that the act of publishing a book is looked upon as having made it. Suddenly the blogger is no longer that marginal figure behind the computer screen, but a name printed on paper no less. The book is always bigger than the screen, it seems. Our warped minds still prefer the real paper book over the ephemeral blog. Still we're glued to screens to get all the best information. How can the book contain something new then? And most of all: does a book really target a new audience?

Comments

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

We have a very successful teacherblog (http://fraufreitag.wordpress.com/) turned book "Chill mal, Frau Freitag" (and she's got her second book out, too) and yes, her book audience is different to her blog audience. I haven't bought the book(s) - I'm reading her on-line - but I've considered buying the book for non-blog reading relatives and with the book being on all sorts of bestselling lists she has widened her audience considerably. I really like her and her friend "Fräulein Krise". I think for her the book and the blog world are sort of parallel universes - she doesn't advertise the book(s) on her blog and rarely mentions being a published author. Her blog posts always feature a youtube clip, so she's got an extra selling point for her blog (which does not feature any advertising). But then, she has got a job already...

Clearly, the publishing industry is trying to jump on the blog bandwagon and wants to have its share, too. I think some bloggers see being published in a book as some sort of mainstream recognition and some might even start out with that goal; others just write for the fun of it and then end up being successful and getting offers to put their blog into book form.

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

The blogging world is a very recent thing over here, so this book has been all over the news – especially when you consider that the first print nearly sold out over the course of one week. This particular book is an extension of the blog: similar lay-out, same techniques and from what I gather she plugs it a lot. Of course it's fun you can grow into that (haven't I dreamt about it), but hyped like this, it's almost saying the book's the better thing and the blog is only plugging the book.

Of course there are blog book and blog books. I don't think the "Parent Hacks Book" will only expand on the blog.

We don't have enough teacher blogs. I'm checking this one out.

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Here's the link to Fräulein Krise (http://frlkrise.wordpress.com/).
They are quite similar, so people have even speculated they're the same person. (I don't think so.) Both work at schools that are a little rougher around the edges than mine with more students with a non-German background and don't seem to have sixth form students. They write about their students affectionately and with lots of humour and don't whine about how hard their job is (which is a teacher stereotype here).

(I've had this really secret ambition to start some sort of European teacher blog in which we all write about our different experiences, school systems etc....)

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

Fraülein Krise is very good! Loving her already (and secretly envying her writing). I should sprite more often like this shouldn't I? Maybe we should start our blogging again, but not under the wings of LJ?

Sometimes I think I've got too many hobbies and everything is only half, work included...

[sister-luck.livejournal.com]

Sharing your envy: Their writing seems so effortless. I don't think I could do what they do without it being all clunky and thinky and hard to read. (And yes, it would have to be elsewhere. With room for weekly themes and everyday blather. I've thought to much about it already.)

That post about puberty and hormones: That was my week, too, with one girl (lots of make-up, trying to look oh-so-grown-up) pinching a boy's nipples affectionately. Teacher me: "Hey, you wouldn't want him to do that to you, would you?" - "Oh no, Miss, he wouldn't. That would be wrong." He, prancing along corridor, with his chest out: "Look, at my nipples, Miss! They stick out!" *headdesk*

[frances-lievens.livejournal.com]

I'm quite happy to have stepped out of the hormone-infested secondary school. The girls definitely start to become moody in sixth form, but the boys are later...

The best way to become a better and effortless writer: write every day. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I have been too quiet since the children are born. I really want to get back to the effortless writing and thoughtful posts. I am convicted the iPad will help: I've already written my lasts entries on it. Only unfortunate thing is that I can't read my messages...

First op September would be a great moment to start a teaching blog: most European countries start around that time. We could promote with our various colleagues. ;-) If you want to brainstorm, feel free to send ideas.