Sillyness, Now and Then
When Khaled approached me, asking for some help with exporting his blog content, which would eventually become Broken Kode Season 1, we spoke a little about blogs, blooks and what moving your prose from this medium of immediacy and interaction, to a more traditional, non participatory one meant.
I also confided in him that I was thinking along these same lines as well (publishing some or all of my posts here on Sillyness as a book through LuLu), I just wasn’t ready yet. One reason that I wasn’t ready to undertake this large task was that I had no idea what I wanted out of a dead tree version of Sillyness.
Yesterday I had an idea that I think will be fun, and possibly worthwhile. I would like to take just a minute to lay it our for you and see what you think.
Time changes people, places and perceptions
One of the things I love most about blogging, is that it allows us, in a very real way, to interact with earlier versions of ourselves. What I mean is that I can look back in time, say 4 years, to a post I wrote before the advent of children, deaths and triumphs. That Chris no longer exists; should I mourn for his passing or be overjoyed that I have matured, leaving that man to the cold blankness of time?
Reading that post, I can answer myself across the gulfs of time and cyberspace, and say “No, you weren’t an idiot. You were brave enough to believe in an ideal, one that had no possibility of making a difference. But you believed and that, is worth more than can be imagined.”
And that is the essence of what I want to do with a blook entitled “Sillyness, Now and Then”.
The Premise, as it were
So the basic idea is a conversation or exchange if you will, between earlier versions of myself achieved through selecting various posts from the annals of time, and the current incarnation of myself, the Father… the Husband.
I have no idea what this will become, but I do know that I am excited to write it, and I am excited to create something new, something that hasn’t been tried before… as far as I know.
The plan will be to create two versions of this blook, the first and easiest will be a free form conversation, in the form of a novel. I hope to have it finished by January 1st; at that time if it isn’t a complete disaster I will enter it into the Blooker Prize and begin on the second version.
Version 2 of “Sillyness, Now and Then”, will be a book more in the lines of what Khaled has given us, I am waffling between 7.5 x 7.5 and 9 x 7. It will be full color, with illustrations and photography interspersed with the text.
Barring any unforeseen complications I hope to have the second version finished by May of 2007. So, what say you internet, is this something that seems interesting… interesting enough to purchase?
Stroll on over and visit Joey Brooks
March 1, 2007
This “conversation” idea would seem to be something truly innovative, I’d pick it up. It sounds like it would be an interesting read, just from the idea of the whole thing, which is interesting in itself. So… awesome idea, I say go forth :) .
Stroll on over and visit skippy
March 1, 2007
I’d be very interested in the second iteration, assuming it’s your artwork placed in the pages.
I really like the idea of the current you addressing the you captured in your archived posts!
Stroll on over and visit Chris J. Davis
March 1, 2007
Joey: Thanks for the encouragement!
Skippy: Yes the illustrations and photography would be from me, myself and possibly I.
Stroll on over and visit Alan
March 1, 2007
Hey Chris
I think this is an awesome idea, kind of like an internal retrospective done in a conversational matter between old and new Chris. Awesome concept and I am sure if done right it would generate quite a lot of interest and surely gain you a Blooker prize.
Even if you never get the Blooker it’ll be something for the kids to read and rest of family and hold something of a true sentimental value forever.
Potent and very human stuff IMHO.
Stroll on over and visit Bruce
March 1, 2007
Oh no! Won’t this delay the completion and publication of Pro WordPress Development? That was on my wish list; I guess it wouldn’t be in the running for the Blooker, but it might be more of a hit on Lulu than Sillyness?
Stroll on over and visit Chris J. Davis
March 1, 2007
Hey Bruce.
I am in talks with a publisher about the book, which means for the moment the book is on hold. I would much rather bring a book like that out through a traditional publisher, than on Lulu.
Indeed, it would not be in the running. As for anything being a hit or not, this is much more about doing something new and untried than being a hit.
That being said, I am not giving up on the WordPress book; I will let everyone know once something has happened on that front.
Stroll on over and visit DrBacchus
March 1, 2007
The conversation between who I was and who I am is always fascinating. Usually, it is who I am chastising who I was for the fine kettle of fish we’re both in now. But occasionally it is who I was saying, no, you made that stupid mistake before, and here’s where it got you.
But, sometimes, the me I was can teach me useful things about not being so darned serious, about taking chances, about doing things because I want to, even though there is no good empirical evidence that it’s a good idea.
The me I was did a lot of stupid things, and a few of them even worked out ok.
Stroll on over and visit Will Adair
March 1, 2007
Absolutely cool. What would be really quite remarkable to do is write one every few years and dialog between answering the same fundamental questions and comparing the answers.
Stroll on over and visit Khaled
March 1, 2007
Go for the widescreen format dude, let’s make it traditional that all blooks (that are also a bit more) go for the horizontal format :).
All I can say is that you’re about to go through a WORLD of pain though. It’s going to take a lot more out of you than you expect, even though you’ve done this before (several times). I’ll definitely be there when it’s on offer.
Stroll on over and visit Laura
March 1, 2007
I don’t consider myself a representative spokesman for we internet, but as an entirely unique and unrepeatable individual I would be inclined to purchase it. Your chances of accomplishing that will increase if you remind me, or even better, hand me one of them dead trees at such a time as I have money handy. ;)
Stroll on over and visit Cheryl Hagedorn
July 23, 2007
You’ve been quoted and rightly so …Blookworthiness
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