MetaChat - Metachat - The Novel!

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22 July 2005

Metachat - The Novel! After seeing that it's relatively easy and cheap to create your own books, and knowing that folk around here love a creative challenge I find the the idea of a metachat paperback book kind of irresistable. So I thought I would poll people for their opinions on this.
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My idea is this. Everyone on the site will be asked to submit whatever they can - articles, stories, poems, receipes, artwork, lists, howtos - basically anything printable in black and white in a standard size paperback. These could be submitted over a two month period approx and they would not be posted publically (because the contents are supposed to be a surprise!). I'd collect it all together, make it look nice, with a TOC, maybe an index, author bios (if they wish to submit them), etc. And I'd like to aim for about 200 pages altogether (sounds ambitious but it should be do-able).

By the end we should have a nicely presented compendium of entirely random stuff to read on those rainy days.

So here are the questions:
1. If such a book existed would you pay approx $10 for it?
2. Would you want to submit an article for such a book (bearing in mind it could be almost anything)?

post by: dodgygeezer at: 07:59 | 43 comments

1) Uh-huh
2) Sure!

Trick question - could it be pictures provided they too are b/w?

posted by dabitch 22 July | 08:01

sure and thought about distribution? because i say we look all special and only see copies offline at certain specialty bookstores and shops.
*calls in favors*

posted by ethylene 22 July | 08:02

That sounds like a fine idea: that’s a yes fro me on both counts.

posted by misteraitch 22 July | 08:03

could it be pictures provided they too are b/w?

My approach to artwork would be that anything with strong black lines and no greyscale would be absolutely fine (think Garfield books), anything else could be risky but I'll look into it if necessary.

posted by dodgygeezer 22 July | 08:06

Yes and yes - fabulous idea.

posted by iconomy 22 July | 08:14

Sounds absolutely ambitious, but I'd be in to contribute. And I'd buy one even if I didn't contribute just to help support the cause.

posted by Slack-a-gogo 22 July | 08:21

irk me people- i have a meeting in three hours
it will be all spitballing for weeks you know

posted by ethylene 22 July | 08:29

Yes, it's a very fun idea!

posted by taz 22 July | 08:29

My approach to artwork would be that anything with strong black lines and no greyscale would be absolutely fine

Superb! I'm much better at that than writing. :P

posted by dabitch 22 July | 08:45

Yes and yes.

posted by dg 22 July | 08:46

we must grab the font freaks

posted by ethylene 22 July | 08:47

yes, yes.

Would it have to be something original? Or maybe something written and maybe even published elsewhere?

posted by omiewise 22 July | 08:53

i can help with layout/design/production if you want--great idea!

it can be original or not, i think--we're not doing it for profit.

posted by amberglow 22 July | 09:10

Would it have to be something original?

No, you can contribute an article you've written for some other purpose. It might be a good idea to ensure you have copyright though (yeah I know, it's unlikely we'd get sued but you never know).

posted by dodgygeezer 22 July | 09:19

oh, and thank you MC Amber G

posted by dodgygeezer 22 July | 09:31

OK. Somebody e-mail me when this takes off? I can't surf MeChat as much at work lately.

posted by shane 22 July | 09:41

you Better put my name on the roster, dodgy boyo

posted by ethylene 22 July | 09:47

You got it, shane.

posted by taz 22 July | 09:50

Sure, I'll play and pay.

Anyone up for a little no-commercial-reuse Creative Commons licensing?

posted by Capn 22 July | 10:20

1) Soitenly (or is that "coitenly" . . . darn this unspellable and not-for-the-kids-as-a-result outer-borough mentalese) . . . Um, certainly, and 2) I'd like to try.

posted by Absit Invidia 22 July | 10:24

Good idea. Count me in.
I knew that if I hung round the site long enough you'd have to read some of my shitty poetry.

/me laughs maniacally.

posted by seanyboy 22 July | 10:46

Capn - we haven't even started and already you're getting all technical on us. CC is probably easier for a single piece of writing by a single person - and it is something I'm rather keen on - but I just don't relish the idea of trying to reach agreement amongst several authors of their preferred form of license so if you don't mind I'd rather pass on this occasion.

posted by dodgygeezer 22 July | 10:50

Fair enough.

posted by Capn 22 July | 10:51

Yes, and Yes. And, I'm a little shane-like w/work stuff right now, too. (But I'll try to keep up). But not today. Woo. It's a birthday party weekend (starting early).

posted by safetyfork 22 July | 10:54

Yes, yes, I'd love to.

Chapter 7

In which Cedric the Entertainer emcees a celebrity orgy....

posted by Hugh Janus 22 July | 10:54

In.

posted by Divine_Wino 22 July | 11:48

Sure, sure. Let me know when you need it.

posted by me3dia 22 July | 12:04

I'd like to contribute, and would probably buy, but please email me! Won't have regular access to a computer for awhile...

posted by muddgirl 22 July | 12:18

Word!

posted by Frisbee Girl 22 July | 12:46

Sounds like a lot of fun. Count me in.

posted by gaspode 22 July | 12:48

Me too, me too!

posted by Specklet 22 July | 13:32

I'd purchase a copy, but I don't think I have anything to contribute.

posted by deborah 22 July | 14:27

Totally.

posted by mudpuppie 22 July | 14:52

That would be awesome. What exactly would a contribution entail? A story?

posted by invitapriore 22 July | 16:32

Yes and maybe. But I'd definitely buy.

posted by LeeJay 22 July | 17:29

I guess I could have read the post more carefully, I just answered my own question.

posted by invitapriore 22 July | 17:46

i'm in. i can help out with the publishing aspect too. i've got two out right now and feel pretty cozy with the process of getting them out there.

posted by moonbird 22 July | 17:57

I am very interested in this.

posted by interrobang 22 July | 18:38

I'm interested too! Would it be a round robin then?

posted by halonine 22 July | 18:44

I'd also like to volunteer to proofread this.

posted by interrobang 22 July | 19:15

count me in! ( maybe i'll finally see a story in print form :)

posted by dhruva 22 July | 21:30

Count me in, too. Wouldn't miss it.

posted by puddinghead 23 July | 05:14

Interesting. I'm in.

posted by the_bone 24 July | 11:25

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