Wednesday

My Book (in the Making)

I've been an aspiring writer most of my life.

My family has been forced to endure countless stories. They are a captive audience since I'm the cook in the house.

Listen or starve.

Surprisingly, they are big fans. Because they are a hungry lot.

I've mentioned before that I could wallpaper my bathroom with rejection letters from publishers.

But that would be weird.

Blogging has quenched my thirst to be published. For now.

I will have a book one day. Count on it.

Thanks to one of my readers, Amanda, for introducing me to Blurb. I've had so much fun reading about this amazing service that actually takes your blog posts, pictures, even comments and creates beautiful hardcover books.

Now, you won't see me pedaling my books at a lemon aid stand near you, although I did think about making my kids do it. I could make great posters and set up my card table in front of Border's Books. Oh, I kill myself.

But I do plan on having my favorite posts and
pictures bound annually to pass on to my children. I will conveniently leave out this post and that post. Oh, and I would never put this in a book.



I also thought Grandparents might appreciate a book too. Of course, one of my favorite Blurb features is choosing what would go in each book. I wouldn't exactly want my father-in-law to know I thought he looked like a 'trucker' in the 70's. I'm smart, that way.

Click here to read more about creating a blog book.

Here are some great features of creating a blog book with Blurb.
  • Works with many blogging platforms – Supports Blogger, LiveJournal.com, TypePad, and WordPress.com blogs.
  • Edit in real time – Allows you to customize and edit your book as little or as much as you like.
  • High quality – Our Hardcover, Dust Jacket,Hardcover, ImageWrap and Softcover books all feature professional bindings and coated, semi-matte paper. Up to 440 pages accommodate thousands of blog posts.
  • Fast turnaround – Orders arrive on your doorstep in approximately 7 to 10 business
  • days.
  • Automatic slurp action (watch the video) – Imports and maps blog text, images, comments, and links into professionally designed page layouts.
  • AffordablePrices start at only $12.95 for a 40-page softcover, $22.95 for Hardcover, Dust Jacket and $24.95 for Hardcover, ImageWrap. The bookmaking software is free.




































For more great tips that work for other people, check out Works for Me Wednesday.

37 comments:

Unknown said...

That is really cool! I'll have to do that after I actually make it through a year of blogging! I've always wanted to be a writer, also - wonder just how many bloggers are the same.

And, excuse me, but aren't we "published authors" since we're bloggers??!!

Daiquiri said...

Hey- great tip! And so timely...I just did a post this past week asking for people's input on how to preserve blogs. Thanks :)

Crayl said...

Amazing, and clever, and wonderful! I am so sharing this with anyone that blogs, and will listen!

Angie @ Many Little Blessings said...

Great tip! Here is a link to my review of my blog book from Blurb that I posted in February: http://randomangie.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-review-book-of-my-blog-entries-from.html Feel free to delete the link if you want, of course, though.

I was REALLY pleased with it, and it is such a treasure to have!

Kate said...

What a great tip. Thanks so much for sharing. It is very timely right now as I was just going to start looking into something like this. I would just love to do this with my 8 year old's blog!

Anonymous said...

Blurb is awesome! I used their services this past Christmas by taking my families favorite holiday memories, pictures, and favorite recipes and compiled it all together into a book. It made for one heck of a Christmas gift!

Anonymous said...

Blurb is awesome! I used their services this past Christmas by taking my families favorite holiday memories, pictures, and favorite recipes and compiled it all together into a book. It made for one heck of a Christmas gift!

Anonymous said...

How cool is that! I will have to order one!

Tonya Staab said...

ooh oooh oooh, I'm so freaking excited. I HAVE to do this

Amanda said...

**whispering** my name is Amanda not Annie hehe

Isn't this the COOLEST thing EVER?

The Proverbs Wife said...

Thanks for sharing the information.

Mrs. Gray's Class said...

Love our idea of making one for the kids and grandparents. It would be great since none of my children have a baby book!

Valarie Lea said...

I'm planning on doing this also. I think you should leave those post in the book though. The kids will love to read about that stuff when they get older.

Maddie said...

Great tip! I would so read your book!! I don't know what those publishers problems are. I literally LOL everytime I read your blog!

Kimberly said...

Wow - what great idea. I am downloading the software now! :)

Smellyann said...

Awesome, I was just telling my husband there was such a thing out there. I really want to do this. thanks!

Memarie Lane said...

Blogging has quenched my thirst for publication too. It has also helped me realize that I'm more creative than I thought, and that there are LOADS of great writers out there. Sometimes understanding that you're not has talented as you thought can be a good thing.

But I also think that blogging is the new literature. I love books, but I get the feeling they're being replaced. What we're doing is the new literature. Scary, isn't it?

ShannonW said...

Now that, is just too cool! Thank you for sharing.

Tara said...

I love the idea.. Now for the editing LOL :) Thanks!!!

marigold said...

Kristen that is a super awesome idea! Your books will be so precious to your whole family!

Anonymous said...

That is so great! Now those pics and stories WILL actually be preserved for prosperity.

Mama Smurf said...

OH WOW! I am SO stoked about this! Seriously, this is like the best news I've heard all....I don't know....YEAR! Thank you SO much for sharing!

Dawn said...

Kristen, this so, so cool! I've been looking for a way to do this without having to print everything and pay to self publish.

Thanks for sharing! Dawn

Megan said...

What a great idea! Thanks so much for sharing. Can't wait to pick up one of your books someday. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oh wow! That looks so incredible. Thank you for sharing.

Unknown said...

Kristen I love your style of writing. What is wrong with all those publishers? They are really missing out on a good thing!

reprehriestless warillever said...

This would be great for someone like me who is too lazy to scrapbook.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how I love this idea! I'd been thinking for awhile that I should cut and paste into Word some of my favorites for my kids as a keepsake, but that's so much work and the end product isn't nearly as cool. I bookmarked it and I will definitely be doing this!

Rebecca said...

What a great idea, maybe one day when I have enough interesting stuff on my (currently new) blog it would be something for me to look into too!

Unknown said...

These sound like they could be great gifts! Thanks for the heads up

Tanya said...

This is great! Thanks for the tip. My mom has been begging me to put my blog posts into a book for her and future generations in need of posterity. :) This is fantastic.

So, what is your book about? (I'm still new to your blog so I haven't gotten that far yet.)

The Park Wife said...

What a great idea, thanks for the heads up. I do my blog for my kids, so I really need to make a book of it for them to have one day. They will roll their eyes at all the pictures I take of them, but oh well, they will be happy to have it to show their kids one day.

The Park Wife

Anonymous said...

We did this for the first year of our blog and then did a special edition for our son's first birthday and had the attendees to his party write a thought or blessing in it (his first yearbook. I don't think anyone wrote, "Stay cool. Never change!"). My husband actually did all the work. They are very cool books and VERY professional. I have thought a lot about writing a children's book with my son as a character for a keepsake. Maybe you could put one of your stories to use that way...

World's Greatest Mommy said...

What an awesome idea!

Wallpaper would be better for rejection letters than what I do with them. (Which is read them over and over again trying to find something constructive, and only ending up depressed.)

Lilypad Mom said...

I learned about Blurb about 6 months ago. I'm going to have the special posts turned into a book for my daughter after her birthday in September. I can't wait to find out what someone who has received one thinks.

And I would definitely read your book if you wrote one!

Lilypad Mom said...

I learned about Blurb about 6 months ago. I'm going to have the special posts turned into a book for my daughter after her birthday in September. I can't wait to find out what someone who has received one thinks.

And I would definitely read your book if you wrote one!

Uncle Mick said...

At least a few of your husband's family reads your blog, dear... I'll try to remember the '70's trucker story next month...