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New Publication Idea

By RR | March 3, 2006

This NY Times piece got me thinking about the importance of publishing student writers. In most middle and high school writing classrooms, publishing gets translated as stapling up student work on the walls, or at the most encouraging students to find local outlets (e.g. school or community newspaper) for their stuff. This article introduces an intriguing possibility–not only can students publish electronically through their blogs, they can also create a print copy for not that much money. Or maybe a writing class could keep a collective blog and publish a copy for whoever is interesting. Something to think about at least.

Here’s the entire article (also worth reading at the Times site, for the graphics):

From Blogger to Published Author, for $30 and Up
By SEÁN CAPTAIN
March 2, 2006

Though not all blogs may aspire to literary permanence, they can achieve it through the new Book-Smart software from Blurb, a publish-your-own-book service. The software, which is expected to be available free later this month at www.blurb.com, features a “Slurper” tool that automatically downloads and reformats the contents of a Web log into a book that bloggers and their admirers can purchase online.

Slurping is not all BookSmart has to offer. It simplifies the layout process by providing design templates for various kinds of books, including cookbooks, photo books, portfolios and volumes dedicated to pets and babies. The software guides users through design decisions like choosing text styles and how many photos will appear on each page.

Pricing for printed versions of your book from Blurb starts at $30 for an 8-by-10-inch full-color hardcover volume with dust jacket and up to 40 pages. A book of up to 80 pages is $3 more. (Blurb plans to eventually offer paperback editions selling for about 30 percent less than hardcover.) Authors will also be able to set up online bookstores through Blurb’s Web site.

Although an early version of the software occasionally stuttered or froze, Blurb expects to have the kinks ironed out in time for its public release.

Anyone interested in Secondary Worlds, the book?

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