This is so helpful! Just this morning I was thinking "Could I hire a book coach to read my blog and help me with a structure for a book?" You did just that!!! Thank you.
I've been looking forward to your post on this since you announced it was coming on notes. Some very helpful advice in here. It helped me realise that what I'm writing on my own publication is basically serialised narrative non-fiction that will eventually lead to the book I'm writing on my subject (an unsolved Edwardian murder).
This was absolutely brilliant Russell. I’m in the process right now - as a visual artist too I’m working on creating drawings as the transitions between essays to bound the journey. Eventually the goal will be to make them into pocket print where the drawings can serve purposes of coloring for the creative mind who also enjoys to doodle, sketch and draw as they get ideas from different readings….
I really like that you say “it takes as long as it takes. That puts the emphasis on the engagement with the writing, which is such an essential piece. Thanks!
Thank you. A few years ago, I closed my then-twelve-year-old horse blog after downloading the evergreen and information-loaded posts into Word. I always had a notion of turning the posts into a book. Thank you for the pointers on how to organize the "herd."
Love this. I used to work as a documentary editor and I find the book making process so similar to the documentary production work flow. Assembly, rough cut, fine cut, test audience, Final Cut.
This is spot on! I have been thinking about this for a while now. I want to figure out a way to turn some posts into an ebook. In the meantime, I train at turning some of my illustrations and products into books.
What a smart and generous post this is. The process you describe is essentially the same as what I used some years ago when writing my book A COURSE IN DEMONIC CREATIVITY: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO THE INNER GENIUS, which I developed from a blog that I had created to explore the topic of creativity as a felt interaction with a separate, independent intelligence in the psyche (the muse etc.). What you say about the crucial step of dwelling with your blog posts, and taking however long is necessary for the interconnections to show themselves, so that the book's thematic core and structural outline become clear, resonates strongly with my own experience. Your practical advice about steps and activities for actually putting the book together are really solid, too, but as you note, the supervening point of the whole process is the clarity that you personally gain and then pass along to your readers as you realize more fully the meaning of what you were writing about all along.
Yay! Glad it resonated with you. I didn't even know I had a process for this until I started on Substack and people started to talk about doing it for their blog. Then I was like "Oh, I actually know how to do that thing because it's been the same every time I have done so."
So very timely! I recently submit a proposal to hay house of a whole heap of blogs, socials posts and poems that had such deep and powerful impact, plus the capability of so much more when in one place, it feels crazy to let them go into the abyss. This has been so incredibly helpful to read, thank you. I didn’t even know this was a thing. My friend suggested it, I had such a full collection, I got to work on it straight away. It’s really helpful to know that an editor helps pull out all the gaps - I just won my first writing competition (a short story will be published into ebook format) and I have no idea of what comes next, only that surely that will be a thing (re the gaps). Thank you so much 🙏
Thank you for this detailed post! The question "why would anyone buy it if they can read it on my blog" is one I've thought about as well, but especially in the case of serialising fiction or a short story collection online. Or for example, launching on Kickstarter, which I know you're the expert at, would you serialise on Substack first, then launch a special edition, or the other way around??
This is so helpful! Just this morning I was thinking "Could I hire a book coach to read my blog and help me with a structure for a book?" You did just that!!! Thank you.
Yay!
I've been looking forward to your post on this since you announced it was coming on notes. Some very helpful advice in here. It helped me realise that what I'm writing on my own publication is basically serialised narrative non-fiction that will eventually lead to the book I'm writing on my subject (an unsolved Edwardian murder).
That's awesome! I love it :)
Excellent advice. People have suggested I turn my essays into a book. Thx!
You’re welcome!
Thanks!! That's actually what I am currently working on.
Yay!
Me too! I’m enjoying the process as much as poss, hope you are too☺️
Thanks! I’m in the process of doing this at the moment, so this is very timely.
Awesome! I thought it might be useful to people like that/.
Same! Good luck 🍀
My NF book SPORTZZ FRUM HOME was largely compiled from my blog posts but I did add a few details and stories along the way. It arrives on May 5.
awesome!
This was absolutely brilliant Russell. I’m in the process right now - as a visual artist too I’m working on creating drawings as the transitions between essays to bound the journey. Eventually the goal will be to make them into pocket print where the drawings can serve purposes of coloring for the creative mind who also enjoys to doodle, sketch and draw as they get ideas from different readings….
Yay!! Glad it resonated :)
I really like that you say “it takes as long as it takes. That puts the emphasis on the engagement with the writing, which is such an essential piece. Thanks!
Yay! Glad it resonated :)
Thank you. A few years ago, I closed my then-twelve-year-old horse blog after downloading the evergreen and information-loaded posts into Word. I always had a notion of turning the posts into a book. Thank you for the pointers on how to organize the "herd."
Yay!! Glad it helps
Love this. I used to work as a documentary editor and I find the book making process so similar to the documentary production work flow. Assembly, rough cut, fine cut, test audience, Final Cut.
I used to edit films and such and so right. Maybe that's why it looks similar :)
This is spot on! I have been thinking about this for a while now. I want to figure out a way to turn some posts into an ebook. In the meantime, I train at turning some of my illustrations and products into books.
Thank you for this!
You’re welcome!
Interesting
What a smart and generous post this is. The process you describe is essentially the same as what I used some years ago when writing my book A COURSE IN DEMONIC CREATIVITY: A WRITER'S GUIDE TO THE INNER GENIUS, which I developed from a blog that I had created to explore the topic of creativity as a felt interaction with a separate, independent intelligence in the psyche (the muse etc.). What you say about the crucial step of dwelling with your blog posts, and taking however long is necessary for the interconnections to show themselves, so that the book's thematic core and structural outline become clear, resonates strongly with my own experience. Your practical advice about steps and activities for actually putting the book together are really solid, too, but as you note, the supervening point of the whole process is the clarity that you personally gain and then pass along to your readers as you realize more fully the meaning of what you were writing about all along.
Yay! Glad it resonated with you. I didn't even know I had a process for this until I started on Substack and people started to talk about doing it for their blog. Then I was like "Oh, I actually know how to do that thing because it's been the same every time I have done so."
Isn't it neat how our interactions with fellow writers here at Substack so often court those "light bulb" moments?
So very timely! I recently submit a proposal to hay house of a whole heap of blogs, socials posts and poems that had such deep and powerful impact, plus the capability of so much more when in one place, it feels crazy to let them go into the abyss. This has been so incredibly helpful to read, thank you. I didn’t even know this was a thing. My friend suggested it, I had such a full collection, I got to work on it straight away. It’s really helpful to know that an editor helps pull out all the gaps - I just won my first writing competition (a short story will be published into ebook format) and I have no idea of what comes next, only that surely that will be a thing (re the gaps). Thank you so much 🙏
Amazing!
Thank you for this detailed post! The question "why would anyone buy it if they can read it on my blog" is one I've thought about as well, but especially in the case of serialising fiction or a short story collection online. Or for example, launching on Kickstarter, which I know you're the expert at, would you serialise on Substack first, then launch a special edition, or the other way around??
I've done both ways. I don't think there is a right answer to this. Generally once it's a book I move those posts behind a paywall though.
Good point, thanks!