Could Ebooks Save My Unschool Blog?

The other day, I logged into my blog hosting account to find out when my next payment is due and how much it will be. When I saw the bill due later this year, I gulped and said to my husband, “Do we want to spend so much money on a site that’s often slow or offline because of a problem? Do we have that much money? Perhaps it’s time to delete my blog.”

Andy reminded me that my blog represents years of my work. How would I feel if all my stories disappeared with the press of a button?

“Perhaps there’s a way to save my posts,” I said. “I’ll save my stories and then delete the blog.”

So, I started researching WordPress export plugins. But before I got far, I stumbled across a word that distracted me: microblogging.

Did you know Instagram and X are microblogging sites? They were designed for short posts. I guess that’s obvious. I just hadn’t heard them described in that way before.

I enjoyed writing micro-stories and sharing snippets of unschooling on Instagram. I just didn’t like the social media side of the experience. All that following, liking and trying to work out the algorithm made me run away.

I wondered if there was a way to microblog without social media, and eventually arrived at the micro.blog site. For a few dollars a month, I could have an account on a platform that’s free of ads and likes. I could post a photo with a caption, a link, a micro-story, a video, and even a longer blog post-length article. I got excited. Could I swap my expensive blog for a microblog? I signed up for a free trial account.

It’s really hard to write a first post when you join something new, isn’t it? All that white space. After a dozen false starts, I posted a photo I’d taken recently and added a micro-story memory of my kids from a long time ago. I looked at the post, standing alone and conspicuous in my freshly created account. What would people think of it? Then I realised that it didn’t matter what the post looked like because no one would read it. I didn’t have any microblog followers. No one knew my account existed.

I searched the platform for people to follow, but couldn’t find anyone who shared my interests. Perhaps microblogging wasn’t such a good idea after all, because what’s the point of writing stuff in a public arena that no one will read and engage with? My microblogging adventure came to an end when I deleted my account.

I returned to my blog, the proper, expensive one that causes me endless problems. I scrolled through page after page of my stories and knew that my blog is my place, and despite the huge hosting fee and the many critical errors I’ve had to fix recently, I don’t want to delete it.

After some more thought, I remembered a big idea I’d had recently that might save my blog. What if I turned my blog content into a series of ebooks? What if I shared them in a Buy Me a Coffee shop? Would anyone want to exchange a coffee donation for an unschooling ebook? Is it possible to raise some money to pay my blogging expenses?

Not so long ago, a kind and generous friend sent a large donation for my blog directly to me. Other brilliant readers have bought me virtual coffees. Perhaps I could add to these funds by selling some ebooks (epub and PDF).

The other day, I began work on a sample ebook. Its working title is Christian Unschool Love, which I like, but does it sound too much like Radical Unschool Love? As you’ve probably guessed, it will be a Christian unschooling ebook. Dipping into my archive, I was surprised to find many stories to add to this book.

Of course, there’s nothing stopping readers from also diving into my archive and reading most of these stories for free. Some of them are already in my unschooling books. But is there still value in gathering them together in a document of their own? I suppose if my blog ever gets deleted, ebooks are one way to save its content. But is the content worth saving for anyone but me?

Christian unschooling may not be your thing, but how about younger unschoolers? Or teens? Or starting unschooling? I could publish my whole blog, year by year, as a series of ebooks. What about stepping a bit away from unschooling? I could create an ebook on grief, ageing, or womanhood. There are lots of possibilities.

Image

This is the photo I posted on my short-lived microblogging account. And here’s my microstory:

On Sunday, Andy and I walked around the shrines at a local monastery. We hadn’t done that for a while. As I said to my husband, “The shrines and chapels have multiplied since we were last here!”

One shrine that I remember from a long time ago is the one honouring St Stephen. We attended a Mass at the monastery when it was first built. Our names are on some kind of document associated with the shrine. Or maybe our names were added to the shrine itself. I don’t remember the details.

I do remember how Duncan and Callum served at the St Stephen’s Mass, wearing red albs. There were a lot of altar boys, all clothed in albs made by my friend, Esther. Esther is one of those wonderfully creative people who can make anything out of a bit of inexpensive fabric, no pattern needed.

I saw Esther yesterday. I ran to catch up with her as she was approaching the church with her husband for Mass, my feet sliding out of my slides. I called her name, and she turned in my direction. When she saw me, my slides in my hand, my feet bare, she smiled widely. “Sue!” We hugged.

Years after that St Stephen Mass with the many red-clad altar boys, I’m glad Esther and I are still good friends and we’re still meeting up at the monastery. How would we get through life without the love and support of our friends?

So, what do you think? Are you interested in ebooks? Would you consider buying one to support my work? What ebook topic appeals most to you?

Why not stop by? We could chat about blogging, microblogging and ebooks.

I wonder, will ebooks save my blog? I guess that depends whether anyone thinks it’s worth saving.