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I would like to officially announce that I am writing a book that builds on my work here. I plan to combine the themes of both /s/HistoryAnecdotes and /s/TheGrittyPast. Ask me anything about it!

posted by LockeProposal on HistoryAnecdotes

I didn't want to post this on April 1st because people might think it's a prank. It's not a prank! I'm writing a book!

A few quick highlights about the project:

The working idea is a one-volume work separated into two parts: part one will be a collection of short, funny and interesting anecdotes from history. Part two will be in the same format, but will instead focus on the tragic, violent and dramatic parts of history. On first glance this may sound like a difficult approach to pull off, but hopefully you can trust me when I say that I believe I've found a way spin it into something definitely workable.
I won't just be copy/pasting quotes and citations from my work in my subs. The book will be largely of my own writing, presented in a universal tone and writing style, except for some passages from contemporary accounts (like memoirs and other first-hand accounts). This will lend it a consistent and structured feel, and will avoid lots of nasty copyright issues. It also allows me to create passages about one event from multiple sources.
I've been secretly working very hard on this project, but the hardest part is getting as much new material as possible. This basically means I'm spending all of my free time reading, annotating and transcribing, in the middle of also having a full-time job, as well as a wife and the prospect of going back to school this fall to get my next degree. But the more work I do in that regard, the better the variety and density of material the final product will enjoy (so it's worth the effort).
I don't yet have enough written to approach publishers (hopefully later this year), but I have done some very promising networking so far, and it looks like I'll have some help getting my foot in the door when the time comes.
I won't only be using existing material from the subs. In fact, I've already started earmarking some of my best material and keeping it in reserve for the book. I'm hoping that at least a third of the material in the book will be things I can say were never posted online (otherwise, why buy the book if it's all online for free?). That being said, I'm confident I can keep the daily content posted her at the same level of quality it's always been at. And that also leads me to this: I intend to keep posting content here, every day, like I always have. I'm sharing my time with the book, and not abandoning the subs in any way :)

I'm sure I've forgotten to mention lots about it, so please ask me anything! I'll answer what I can as long as it isn't too early to say :D

I didn't want to post this on April 1st because people might think it's a prank. It's not a prank! I'm writing a book! A few quick highlights about the project: - The working idea is a one-volume work separated into two parts: part one will be a collection of short, funny and interesting anecdotes from history. Part two will be in the same format, but will instead focus on the tragic, violent and dramatic parts of history. On first glance this may sound like a difficult approach to pull off, but hopefully you can trust me when I say that I believe I've found a way spin it into something definitely workable. - I won't just be copy/pasting quotes and citations from my work in my subs. The book will be largely of my own writing, presented in a universal tone and writing style, except for some passages from contemporary accounts (like memoirs and other first-hand accounts). This will lend it a consistent and structured feel, and will avoid lots of nasty copyright issues. It also allows me to create passages about one event from multiple sources. - I've been secretly working very hard on this project, but the hardest part is getting as much new material as possible. This basically means I'm spending all of my free time reading, annotating and transcribing, in the middle of also having a full-time job, as well as a wife and the prospect of going back to school this fall to get my next degree. But the more work I do in that regard, the better the variety and density of material the final product will enjoy (so it's worth the effort). - I don't yet have enough written to approach publishers (hopefully later this year), but I have done some very promising networking so far, and it looks like I'll have some help getting my foot in the door when the time comes. - I won't only be using existing material from the subs. In fact, I've already started earmarking some of my best material and keeping it in reserve for the book. I'm hoping that at least a third of the material in the book will be things I can say were never posted online (otherwise, why buy the book if it's all online for free?). That being said, I'm confident I can keep the daily content posted her at the same level of quality it's always been at. And that also leads me to this: I intend to keep posting content here, every day, like I always have. I'm sharing my time with the book, and not abandoning the subs in any way :) I'm sure I've forgotten to mention lots about it, so please ask me anything! I'll answer what I can as long as it isn't too early to say :D

17 comments

[–] InnocentBystander 1 points (+1|-0)

I've wondered for a while if you were going to pull this all together into a book or other format.
I glad you are, it's a good idea.

I will want one when they are available.
I enjoy the collection of anecdotes format. One of the European history books I read (Europe by Norman Davies, I think) had anecdote like isolated stories randomly dispersed through the book. And they were some of the most enjoyable parts.

[–] LockeProposal [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

I'll certainly let you know when it's finished!

And the working idea for the book's format will be very similar. I'm planning to group subjects into themed chapters, which will all start with a moderately-long chapter lead in - a sort of introduction to the theme in my own writing, with very short anecdotal selections sprinkled in to get people involved in it. After that, the rest of the chapter will be a long string of single anecdotes with descriptive titles, which will look similar to the individual submissions in my subs. However, just including copy/pasted selections from history books like I do here won't fly in a book, IMO, and I'll be writing everything in my own words. This will give the book a more uniform and structured feel and will allow me to use details from multiple sources for many of the selections I've found.

I only hope it will live up to expectations, but I feel honestly fucking great about it :)