Sunday, February 18, 2007

Book formats on the web

It has long been an annoyance of mine that the "blog" format forces the reader to read 'backwards'; to respond and react to the "daily" post, without really having much idea of what came before. Yes, the 'regular' readers will have that knowledge, but trawling back into the archives is probably not for the casual reader.

This, of course, has wider "political" implications, as it is easier to control the emotions and impressions, and manipulate those "instant" emotions toward an electoral outcome.

That, however, belongs to a longish essay and am not going to visit it at this point.

Have recently signed in and created a new "bl*g", using the facilities of the "new" blo**er.

There is the facility to create a "bl*g" in book format. An example of which can be found here.

Am still experimenting, of course, and have no real idea of the technical details, but thought to let ya know.

And for those who really want to do the hard yards and publish a printed book, try Lulu.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Davo, I don't see much improvement in the "book format" over what you have here, but then again I am used to blog format by now. Just my opinion.
If you are interested in showing more posts on each of your blog "pages", there is an option in the blogger setup that will let you choose to have many as many as 999 days or 999 posts on the main page. (Of course 999 may be a bit too many; think how long that would take to load each time.) To change it, go to Settings tab, then Formatting. It's the first item.

Davoh said...

Nah, am old bloke, am used to reading black print on white pages - from title, preface, first word, page 1.

Can read it by sunlight, by candlelight, if necessary.

Silly, really, in this Accountancy driven, instant gratification society. I actually like the "intrigue" of never really knowing how a work will end. Which is also a silly comment. A book is also finite.

Davoh said...

and Hey, Anon, apparently you have many royalties due .. heh.

Davoh said...

While Wombat's Waffles has "switched" to be able to "sign on" to the "new" blogger, "upgrading" to a new template is far more than my sidebar and time is worth.

Anonymous said...

Actually, by making the Settings/Formatting change I mentioned above, you won't be changing your template at all. That's a different tab. This minor change of which I write is accomplished merely by changing the number in the little box to something other than the default number, and the result will be an increase in the number of posts that stay up on the page of "current" posts. I find it makes the page longer and easier for a newcomer to read more of, without forcing the reader to click into the archives. It, in effect, makes a larger quantity of your most recent posts visible. I, personally, hate it when after reading only two or three posts I am forced to click onto an Archives listing to read more.

Yes, I, Ms. Anonymous, am very prolific. I should get lots of royalties, but no-one ever knows where to send the check. I'm not even sure myself.

Davoh said...

Ah, 'Ms. Anon', am aware that one can change the settings to allow as many posts on the "front page" as one likes. The operative word was "intrigue". A paradox, perhaps.

Davoh said...

P.S. a "check" is an assessment. A "cheque" is a document transferring money.

GreenSmile said...

Great Scott! How have I gone unaware of this option? I dispise blahgrrr for making my best work float away into oblivion. I am too lazy to cul the keepers into a best-of. Now I gotta go read the help

Davoh said...

GS; Scott, as far as am aware .. perished in the real life Antarctic .. heh.

Anonymous said...

Ah, yes, Davo, that's what I mean. When I jet around the world as I do, various countries' banques on which the cheques are drawn cannot even keep traque of my whereabouts let alone know what sort of currency to send me. And they always spell my name inquorrectly which makes cashing them kwite diffiquelt.
Yours truly,
Jacquie

Anne Johnson said...

Thanx for the link, I may post my novel, but who wants to sit that long in front of a computer?

Davoh said...

Anne, perhaps you mean "linque"?

Jaquie, yup, it seems I stuque my neque out somewhat. So will have to give you full marques, and retire to thinque a bit.

Fleming said...

Davo, thanks for those links . . . and for your witty comments.