Woodcarving Books - The Future?

[Lynn O. Doughty]

A number of carvers are always asking me when am I going to do a book. Well, probably never. Here's why....I just finished a Bottle Stopper project on my Blog that included the making of the mount and then 8 seperate posts explaining the process. Along with those posts were a total of 285 photos most containing their own individual comments. As an added benefit carvers can contact me directly via Blog comments on points they want clarified or assistance with. I just do not think this could be done in book form. Sure, you could do a book with limited photos and include a CD or DVD but why? That's already available on the net. Some carvers are already publishing on the net and for a one time charge carvers can gain access to their efforts. While I have nothing against those methods the only difference between them and my Blog is that I decided to just give away what limited knowlege I might have rather than charge for it....at least for the moment. The day will come, at least I hope so, when my Blog will become so extensive with posts and photos that I will have to do some archiving and for carvers to gain access to those removed posts they will probably have to purchase them in magnetic form. But don't worry, I'll give you a heads up so you can copy it before I remove it.

As most of you are aware a number of large newspapers and magazines, even book publishers have already cut their printing back to concentrate on web-based editions. And the best thing about this is that you can read them for free as web advertising has replaced subscription fees. Even I get a little check from Google once in a great while for allowing them to do limited advertising on my site. While I'm sure there will always be printed media around the electronic winds of change will cut into it more and more as time goes by. Will woodcarving books follow this path? I have no doubt about it!

So, to the editors of Woodcarving Illustrated.....what are your plans for the future?

[BobD]

Big thing, Lynn...Big things.

We've got a lot of things in the works, and you'll be seeing them soon!

Bob

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Well....I sincerely appreciate the time and effort you put into your site Lynn.....I have a lot of fun looking at your procedures and may never get around to trying all of them, but they have had an influence on my carving. Keep it up....I love to see your carvings AND the site. PS I have hard copied the majority of what is on there ha ha....albeit they are tiny little pictures

[MackTheKnife]

Good points all, Lynn. I personally would love to see WCI put out an electronic edition, and make their back issues available electronically. That way I could have an extensive collection without having the wife complain about all the old magazines cluttering up the floor.

I've always been an advocate of publishing on the web. The only caveat has been that you won't make any money off of it. That, however, is changing. Advertisers are becoming more savvy about web ads. They are beginning to see how valuable targeted web ads are. By increasing the promotion of your website and getting more traffic, I'll bet you could attract advertisers like Pfeil, Flexcut, Fox Chapel and maybe even WCI. And you might even have enough to do that now.

I used to do a blog of reviews of mystery short stories. I learned that the secret to attracting traffic was to let people know you were out there any way you could, update the blog frequently, and provide the reader with useful information. You're already doing two out of three of those extremely well.

As I said, excellent points, and please don't stop what you're doing.

Bob

[Irish]

Lynn, I really hope that you reconcider going with a hardcopy publisher one day! I believe that you have a great deal of talent and skill to share.

There are two simple reasons to publish in hardcopy.

1. It really is pretty hard to haul your computer down to your carving studio or shop. Even lugging it down the basement stairs can be a chore for some.

Yes, the images on the monitor are fantastic but not portable! So if I am carving from someone's blog instructions I either have to hope I memorized the next few steps correctly or I have to spend boo-coo bucks in printer ink so that I can make my own hard copy.

I just went through this process. I have to print off paper copies of my designs for titling and captions when I send in a manuscript. I was happily printing away over several weeks when I got a call from my Staples representative. She had a special deal on a new printer that is said to very economic on ink supplies.

Why did she happen to call just then ... I had purchased so many ink refills in those few weeks that my account got flagged.

2. I know you are hardwired to the web. So are Mike and I! But having full access to the net is not nearly as high a percentage as you would expect. It's like here in the US where you just 'expect' a house to have a refrigerator ... that is not the norm in many other countries!

Many people surf at their local Senior Center, Library or at their kid's home. None of these are places where they can take their time and make paper copies to take home.

Now I will add a third reason here ... heaven forbid ... I have the custom of making notes in the margins of my hardcopy books! I have been known to use a yellow highlighter. And even worst (don't tell BobD) I'm a dog earer ... Gasp! Can't do that to a blog ...

Hope you reconsider. My Greeman Tutorial was 265 photos for the step-by-step and dozens of pages behind that on basic techniques! If they can do that with my 'let's show every step' they could do that for your blog instructions.

Susan

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Susan. Each time I go to our little Tuesday carvings sessions I mention that I've added some new posts to my Blog along with mentioning all the new and interesting info that I've come across concerning carving since the previous Tuesday. The old fellas just look at me oddly some saying that "Well, I'll never use one of those things and you'll never even catch me with a cell phone!" I seriously doubt if any of them have ever acted on my suggestions. A fella from California called me last week from Arkansas saying he'd like to stop by for a visit on his way home. I ask him if he had a GPS as the roads between where he was and my place are kind of curvy. "No, I'd never have one of them things in my car!" Well, he called later, saying he was lost and not for the first time. A lot may not like it but these changes are going to happen so you'd better get used to it...the sooner the better.

As for portability, that's changing too as computers get cheaper, thinner and more advanced. We are in no way rich but as we've upgraded over the years we now have 5 computers around the place all wired to the web and my wife's PDA keeps us in touch when we go to Walmart. Some carvers say that they can't take full advantage of my Blog as they don't have the speed or bandwidth to allow the site to load without having to wait forever. My response to that is to "upgrade" to a higher capacity. It doesn't cost that much and the benefits are enormous.

Like you said you just can't beat a good book sometimes and I will admit that next to my wife the last thing I look at before I close my eyes and pull the light switch is the printed page. But even someday, probably soon, that will change too with my tapping the hibernate button on my electronic book just prior to yanking the light switch.

As for the old folks center, I've already given instructions that should I ever end up in one of those places just give me my laptop and full access to the web, wheel me over to a quiet corner, and I'll happily spend the rest of my days probably drooling on my self as I happily surf the internet. Even an old feeble arthritic hand can push that mouse around.

[CarverFromNoWhere]

ROFL I had typed up a lengthy reply and just when I clicked submit the power went out. I have forgotten what I had typed and now, well I don't see ebooks replacing regular books ever. They will try but books are to set in place to be replaced.

I love your site Lynn very user friendly and I just flip over the keyboard, or take it out of the way all together. The pc chair and desk are great to carve at, at the moment I am sharping some tools while I type this up.
Carl

[JIM QUILICI]

Lynn,

I just want to thank you......for all the time you put in on your web site ..blog.... just to show us how to improve our carving abilities,...I cannot think of any..... carver.....teacher.... that has improved my carvings more than you. you make us think out of the box........ it boggles my mind .....why ....why hasn't wci featured you in their magazine.......If I was the editor ...which I'm not.....Your phone would be ringing off the hook trying to get you to have a article ... even a monthly one..........I think that would sale more magazines.........any way thank you again for all you effort...... and yes someday I will pay my debt...a Mexican dinner...when...?????? lol

Jim

[Baldy]

Lynn:
I for one would be happy to just have a printout of your blogs. Nothing fancy but some good (size) pictures and the bit of instruction that you have there now. They can be just a pamphlet but some thing to lay on the bench.

Dick

[Lynn O. Doughty]

You folks are great and your comments are payment enough for me.

Dick: You can do that already! Just go to the Blog Gallery section, select an album, click on the photo you want and then print it. You'll get both the photo and the description. When I do an instructional post I am now leaving the photos larger than before so they are easier to see.