Introducing the SA Blook. An online book written by SA bloggers.

*An experiment in online writing*

Yes, blog + book = blook.

But unlike a traditional blook [not that I've seen many myself, really], where chapters are written by one blogger and published one by one on the blog, how about a blook written by a group of bloggers and published across a spectrum of different blogs?

[Image courtesy of Flickr]

And I'm not referring to fiction either. I mean a blook about a subject that is relevant to all of us, something that a variety of writers could each contribute to - using their own specific skills, knowledge and experience.

This is an experiment in online writing. With the rapid development of blogging and social media , globally and in South Africa, it makes sense to try something new every now and then. This is something like that, trying to bring together great writers/bloggers by allowing a group to write about a variety of themes relating to one topic, just like chapters in a book.

Here is a rough explanation of the process I have in mind:

• Several bloggers have been identified [I'm still looking for a few more - so don't be shy to let me know if you're interested in participating] and will be asked to write one chapter around a specific theme - they will have full freedom to choose the title and content as long as it matches the theme and is positive/constructive.
  
• Posts should be suitable in length and easily readable [ie the book should be easily digestable by readers used to reading blogs, rather than being a several day or week undertaking].
• Everyone will be asked to publish on their own individual blogs [there is no point redirecting content from individual blogs as this will dilute the impact and audience reach], with a link to the contents page at the bottom with a brief explanation of how it works.
• Everyone will be asked to publish on the same day at around the same time.
• The main blook post will be published here on OutThink once all are live. I will post the introduction and contents here, with links to all the relevant "chapters" posted by the participating bloggers.

As I said, its an experiment, and I have no idea whether it will work or not. But hopefully it will be part of the online collaborative learning curve and people will be able to take good parts of this idea and develop it further... who knows what could come of it.

As for the subject of the blook and the themes, for now that's a secret and each blogger will be the only one informed of the theme that they are writing about...

... I'm hoping that this will make the final blook all the more interesting - it's part of the experiment, to see whether this can work. Another approach would be to disclose everything upfront and allow everyone to collaborate and work together, but I've decided on this approach for the first one.

There's still a bit of a way to go, but I will post updates here as it progresses.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions, please leave a comment or contact me here. I would love to hear it.