Why Don't You Blog About It: the best blog-to-books



With people these days spending half of their lives online, it’s no wonder that ‘normal’ has changed the world over. Even in book publishing, technology has been slowly reaching its’ tentacles in. While the concept has been building in popularity for a few years now, recently there has been an explosion of blog-to-book concepts.

From mega-famous YouTuber’s getting in on the act, including Pewdiepie, Miranda Sings, Shane Dawson, and Zoella’s bestselling effort (which outsold Harry Potter and Fifty Shades of Grey in its' first week), it seems that one of the best ways to get a book deal nowadays is to have a strong online following (*cough, cough* hello?). With a ready community to sell to, it seems an obvious way to re-start the currently struggling publishing industry.

The trend, however, started with the original digital over-sharers, the bloggers. Here are some of the best blog-to-book adaptions I have read.

Slaughterhouse 90210 is a book I stumbled on while checking in items, and I was struck by the unusual title. If you’re the type of person who loves keeping up with philosophy, but you also can’t turn down a good trashy TV show, you. will. love. this. It mixes the high with the low-brow, printing literary quotes alongside pop culture icons, and the results will surprise and intrigue you. It is a philosophy nerd’s dream.

The insanely popular twitter account Sh*t my dad says is one of the original examples of how online popularity has translated into other mediums. This bought the eponymous dad’s son a TV sitcom deal, which starred William Shatner (it was cancelled after one season), and several book deals. The first book on the shelves was ‘Sh*t my Dad says’ (funnily enough). The author, Justin Halpern has also recently published a book about his lack of talent with the opposite sex. The namesake book, however, is true to the original content, full of his Dad’s’ blunt and hilarious sayings, and personal anecdotes from their life. If you’re looking for a light read about a man who doesn’t know the meaning of ‘passive-aggressive’, this will be your cup of tea.

If you have been on Facebook recently, (and let’s face it, who hasn’t) you might have stumbled upon a striking photograph of a person, followed by a caption telling an intriguing story of that person’s life. This is the social media-famous ‘Humans of New York’ blog, which has gone on to spawn many imitations. Renowned for their share-ability, the posts provide a remarkable insight into the similarities and differences in humans across the world. This is obvious in the books they have spawned, the beautiful tomes a permanent record of the influence of the blog. As well as two separate volumes of the posts, there is also a picture book for the smaller humans on our planet, titled ‘Little Humans'.

Lastly, there’s Stuff White People Like. Yes, that’s the name of the book. Based on the blog of the same name, it is captioned ‘A guide to the unique taste of millions’. Taking aim at liberal, left-leaning white North Americans, it satirises their ‘unique’ tastes. The book includes the full list that first appeared on the website, including notable entries such as ‘#87 Outdoor Performance Clothes’, ‘#5 Farmer’s Markets’ and ‘#62 Knowing what’s best for poor people’, with pretty hilarious explanations. As a self-identifying Liberal White Person, it is scary how accurate it is. Read on if you would like to find out how to befriend your local “cute girls with bangs and cool guys with beards”.

Have any more recommendations of great books by bloggers? Comment below!



Books and Blogs

The internet is a magical thing. It's easier now than ever before to write to someone on the other side of the world, or even a whole audience, about something that you're passionate about. Or just want to rant about, or want to share with the world. Or share that photo that you think is super cool, and want it to reach more than just your facebook friends.
Welcome to blogging, where you can make a living out of writing about your life, or sharing recipes, or making rugs out of newspaper (to just name a few). It's impressive just how many blogs are out there, and how many one-person blogs have become businesses that support a team of staff. I only recently fell into the 'blogosphere' (mostly craft blogs, myself) and let me tell you - there is definitely something for everyone.

And they're now extending their reach into your local library, with books about what they do and who they are - so with this, I present to you my favourite (so far) bloggers and their books.

Take for instance, Elisabeth Dunker at Fine Little Day. A designer, creator and now with a book to add to her repertoire, Dunker loves collecting things, making knicknacks out of other, smaller, knicknacks (in her book, she made a curtain out of doilies, which I'm particularly fond of) and crafting small beauties with her family... and then posting about it on her popular blog!
Now, even without the internet handy, you can check out her stuff - by checking out her book (also called Fine Little Day) from the library.

Jenny Lawson, aka The Bloggess, is a popular author with a book published a while ago (Let's Pretend This Never Happened) and another one more recently. I found Furiously Happy while finding my holds on the holdshelf - it was waiting for someone else to pick it up, but I couldn't resist the creepily ecstatic taxidermied raccoon on the front cover (her first book features a mouse in a cape with a fancy hat) and picked it up to have a gander at the first few pages before hastily shoving it back under that lucky persons name on the shelf.
This woman is hilarious. I haven't read those books yet (I have her first, ready for me to read it - and I'm still on the waiting list for the second) but that's why her blog (about her travels and book events, and her, mostly) comes in handy. Chuck Furiously Happy on hold, read her first book and then sit at your desk in love with her blog until that request finally comes for you.

Ebony Bizys is the mind behind Hello Sandwich, a personal, as well as craft and lifestyle (and photography) blog based in Tokyo, Japan. Her new book, Hello Tokyo, is now in the libraries and is packed with an adorable pastel mix of topics, as well as notes about Japan and the culture there (which I am obsessed with).
With a smattering of crafts and how-to's, Bizys creates a guide on the various things she does on and off her blog - examples of favourite zines, how she started her blog, or how she makes an obento (Japanese lunchbox). To top it off, the book is very well designed (most bloggers books are, but this one is a particular favourite of mine) - and reads just like her lovely, modern (but simple) blog.

If you've ever looked eagerly at a craft recipe (tutorial? Hmm.) and then sobbed because the first step is 'Pour your prepared concrete into your previously made mould' or something equally as unrealistic (I love tutorials that assume you're already a pro) and you have no idea how to prepare your concrete or when you supposed to make the darn mould, then Materially Crafted is for you.
Victora Hudgins of A Subtle Revelry starts at the beginning, with the understanding that every crafter has to start somewhere. She explains the right way to spray spraypaint, the difference between cement and concrete, and how to take your first baby steps in a craft where everyone already assumes you know 'the basics'. Her blog is just as clear - super simple steps and easy to follow recipes so that you can get your craft on.

More and more bloggers are publishing books, so if craft or lifestyle (or humor) isn't your thing, no fear - the library will no doubt continue adding to its collection with variations of blogger books. Interested in blogs online but not so much print? It's even easier - finding an awesome blog for you is only a Google away.

Do you guys have a favourite blogger/vlogger?