I'd consider it. I've put together similar projects for local health promotion initiatives so I reckon I could pull it off but only if the support for it was there. I wouldn't waste my time if I thought no-one would actually read it.

Like I said, the advertising is a necessary evil as you can't expect anyone to contribute articles for free, well not one worth reading anyway.

you’d be surprised
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig76 (Post 186420) Like I said, the advertising is a necessary evil as you can't expect anyone to contribute articles for free, well not one worth reading anyway.

I think you’d be surprised who would do stuff for free; I don’t want paying for everything I do, only sometimes. Speaking personally about my RTW that I’m planning, I’m going to document it very well and make a proper nice site when it’s all finished, just because I can.

So, if I’m putting hours of work into the site for my own pleasure/exposure, what’s the problem in giving 1000 words away for free? For example, I think of it like this. I’d like to do a book and put it on the site listed above, not for any big bucks, just something to pick-up in my older years and think back, and, for my kids, plus maybe sell a few. But I’m not that bothered if I don’t; it’s not my day job!

Thing is, to stand even a small chance of getting just a FEW quid you need exposure. So like I’ve said, speaking personally, I’d think of it as payment in the form of a free advert that might get my site some hits. If it doesn’t, what the hell, I don’t care I still did the ride and made a nice diary.

That's the spirit! Write because you can. If you finish your project, you'll experience a lasting satisfaction... but you have to persevere. It's easy to quit writing once you've begun. (I'm giving this advice to myself! I'm just about to begin work on my second book about a motorcycle trip through the Middle East.)

And, as for the money... it's a tough slog. I spent over $10,000 on my first book (self-published through Trafford Publishing, and including the purchase of my first 500 books) and I expected to regain only 50% of that. To my surprise and delight, I recovered all my costs and I am making money now. Sounds good, right? Well, if you'd tally the income against the production time, I'd be earning far, far less than minimum wage.

Still, it's satisfying.

As for why more people don't write books... because it's hard. It's lonely. It's easy to get discouraged and it's tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. My only saving grace is that I have a short-term memory for such suffering! Here we go again!

(And now for the shameless plug... check out my website by following the link below!)

Hi ukiceman,

Nice thread and a subject I've also wondered about in the past, which made me "put my money where my mouth is". Can I put you on my list of potential purchasers of my new book that will be launched at the Horizons Unlimited Germany Meeting this weekend?

Cheers!

Dave

sure can
 

Hi Ghost Rider

Yes, you can put me on that list :) I’m always up for reading a good book. The winters are always long and boring so, a good book is a plus point.

Do you have a website with any previews ?

Shaun

wow, that's a lot
 

I don’t think I could spend that much cash on a ‘maybe’ so I guess that answers one part of my own question, it’s expensive. It does make me have more respect for people that make it happen. I can’t ever see myself doing a ‘real’ book, but I’d still give the publishing site a go...not as much risk...and, you still get a book.

Still – respect for the people that do make it

Shaun

First of all, thanks! Whether it's a good book is maybe questionable :cool4:

I'm currently writing the text to go on the website, which will be tacked on to the Bühl-Kalarasch cycle project website:

Bühl - Kalarasch, Jeder Kilometer zählt...

It's a case of watch this space. I plan to finish the text in both English and German today - all being well, it'll be up and running this weekend. I still need to sort out things like postage costs and buy some packaging etc., but hope to be in a position to start selling in about a week's time (assuming I have any left after all the generous people at the Horizons Unlimited Meeting this weekend have put their hands in their pockets :innocent:)

Best regards

Dave

cool
 

Ghost Rider, is your book about the cycle project ?

Shaun

Hi Shaun,

No, my book is not about the cycle project. The link is that I combined a trip from here to the Black Sea with a visit to the orphanage, and at the same time, I rode to Moldova with a GPS Datalogger to determine the route for the cyclists. This is the text that I'm planning for the website, which shows the connection:

Dave Barrett rode his motorcycle from Bühl to Calarasi in 2007 to determine the route for the cyclists. He was also asked by Bühl town council to provide an independent report on the current state of the orphanage.
He was so moved by his experience in the orphanage that he decided he wanted to make a personal contribution, which he has now done by writing a book about motorcycling in Eastern Europe, naturally including the ride from Bühl to Calarasi and back. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go directly to the orphanage to improve the life of the children there.

• 126 pages, printed on high quality art paper
• 82 colour photographs
• 11 maps
• English language
• Every single cent of the €15,00 cover price goes to the orphanage in Calarasi
• For more details or to order your copy, E-mail the author here

Basically, I'm not selling a book, I'm also trying to raise money for an extremely poor orphanage, where all the kids are either mentally-handicapped or have learning difficulties, and am giving a free book to anyone who provides a €15,00 donation.

Ghost Rider - do we have a celebrity in our midst? If so shifting the book shouldn't be too hard, I know enough people with one of your DVDs!

If it helps with shifting books, then yes, I am that very same Ghost Rider :innocent: Seriously though, I think I'd be found out, since the book is not an account of my 140 mph trip through Eastern Europe, although there are some descriptions of my erhem, "altercations" with members of both the Bosnian and Ukrainian police forces for being somewhat liberate with my throttle hand.....

yep, been done by the Bosnians myself. At least they are up for negotiating/bartering.

Well, I should mention that the cash was in Canadian Dollars (at a time when the CDN was still lower than the US greenback!) Also, that money includes a graphic designer who did the cover and maps, and two editors to help me polish the manuscript.

The best advice anyone ever gave me when I was writing my book was... hire a good EDITOR! You won't ever be sorry!

As for "GhostRider," it sounds like you have a good project on the go! It's admirable. I volunteered at a refugee camp in Croatia near the end of the Balkan War, and they had an orphanage as well. The war is over, but the people are still in need.

Thanks for that - I've posted more info here: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-moldova-35550

Interesting thread that passed me by.

... "The Linger Longer" by the Raven brothers and I have to say it was a) poorly written, and b) showed no signs of ever having been proofread by anyone who spoke English ("windowscreen" - anyone?)...

I requested that the other week as a [free] review copy. I nearly finished it but it was so bad I sent a cheque back to the publisher cover the cost. They've since written several more...

Whoever suggested it, I like the idea of travel book reviews on HU by HU users. It would be another great resource.

Ch