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The Previously Alluded To Project
By mel | April 24, 2007
So I may have mentioned (like a million times) that The Boy is working on a pretty cool project. Not just any project…oh,no….a project so big (and cool) that it involves you. Yes, you. Here’s the deal…
Any of you who also read The Boy’s blog, know that he has been doing some interviews. Some gracious and interesting people like Matthew Baldwin of defective yeti, Sarah Brown of Que Sera Sera (and the lovely mind behind Cringe), have been brave enough to be among the first to be interviewed. As well, as non-blogger, Cat, who runs a pub in the U.K., and several others with interviews in the works. Know what an electro chemist does? Neither did I…you will after you read The Boy’s upcoming interview with Josh.
So yeah, and why all of the interviews again?
Well, in keeping with the “Please God, Let The Boy Learn to Tolerate Writing, Reading, and Learning” thing I have going….The Boy is taking on a project of enormous proportions (especially to a nine year old). He is going to make a book. No, not like a construction paper, finger paint type book - a real live, hard cover book. His goal is to interview 100 people (holy crap!) about where they live, things they do, things they love, things they are afraid of, etc….and put it all together in a self-published book with some of his photography. Cool, right? Right. Know what is even more cool? He is going to sell copies of the book (fingers crossed) and give all proceeds to the ASPCA.
Why in the heck would he want to do that?
Because it is helping with his social skills - causing him to come up with questions relevant to the person being interviewed as well as those who may read it, and not just asking about topics that he is interested in. Because he is learning so much about different places and people. (Have you ever interviewed an astronaut or a woman who is working at the North Pole tagging polar bears? The Boy will be doing just that.) Because completing a project of this magnitude will give him a sense of accomplishment. Because The Boy is completely discouraged about his academic abilities, and having a real book, full of his work, with his name on it will be such a boost for him. Because it is fun!
So how does this involve me, exactly?
Well, 100 is a lot of interviews. A whole lot. The boy needs volunteers. People willing to answer some interesting questions, and of course, be in a book. He has several people who have already agreed to be interviewed that he is working through (it takes him awhile, so if you are waiting to be interviewed, you were not forgotten! The questions will come.) but he needs more! You don’t need to be a navy pilot or polar bear tagging scientist to be interviewed. Come one, it’ll be fun. If you are super cool, you could put one of these buttons on your somewhere to help The Boy get the word out.
Topics: Crossovers From My Other Blog, homeschool, blogging, The Boy |
April 25th, 2007 at 7:22 am
That is a really good idea. I hope this helps him academically and emotionally. Everyone needs to be proud of something. I know i’d be really proud if I wrote a book! Good for him!
April 25th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
You’ve got one hell of a kid there!
I know I’m gonna see him on Oprah one of these days! Do you know yet how you’re gonna get it self-published? I used Lulu.com and it is pretty cool… First of all, its free to get it all set up (some places charge $100 just to start the process), you can edit it as many times as you need to after the book is up, you can design your own cover art and back cover art, and you can even include black-and-white illustrations or photos in your manuscript!
I can’t wait to read the finished product!
April 25th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
What a fantastic idea. If he’s still taking volunteers, I’d love to be a part of it.
April 25th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
I’m in! I am a big fan of the Boy and I am off to his blog to tell him that even though I am completely uninteresting, he can interview me anytime.
And.
Can I just say that you are the best mom ever?
I want to be like you when I grow up.
Seriously.
April 28th, 2007 at 3:41 am
You guys are awesome.
Really.
Awesome.
April 30th, 2007 at 4:54 am
I left a comment on Matthew’s blog indicating he could interview me. I’m a writer, too, as well as a mom, cat-lover, knitter, soccer coach, political loud-mouth, etc. If he’s not tired of talking to writers, have him give me a holler.
This is a great project, on so many levels! And you are one rockin’ mom to have come up with it!
sue
April 30th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
If he’s interested in an interview with a medical student, I’m game! He should probably put me farther down on his list, though. Clinical rotations don’t start until July, and that’s probably when I’ll start accumulating some interesting stories.
I’m sure I’ll at least have some good answers to the “embarrassed” question.
April 30th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I wrote a comment on your son’s blog, but I’ll say it here too… if you’re interested in interviewing me, I will be happy to do it! Just send an e-mail.
May 4th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
I’d love to help =)
May 19th, 2007 at 8:46 am
I tried to put a button on my myspace page. It doesn’t work. Any suggestions? Thanks!
September 28th, 2007 at 7:48 am
I just stumbled on your blog from Mighty Girl- I think it’s a great idea! If you’re still looking for people to interview, I’d love to give it a try! I’m a cardiac ICU nurse working nights. I’ve lived in houses, on boats on the Pacific and the Caribbean, in an Alaskan bush cabin, and in some extreme states. I fly planes and paraglide, backpack and hike, scuba and fenced for years. Seven knee surgeries, one heart surgery, and all sorts of klutzy injuries later, here I am…
September 30th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Love this project… I am not cool nor am I interesting, but I have boys (9 and 10 years old) who are… the 9 year old plays golf, tennis and is in the chess club… the 10 year old surf, skateboards and is about to test for his green-belt-with-brown stripe in karate (opposite much?). They both suffer their little sister.
If your son needs a filler interview along the way, give us a shout!
K.
September 30th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
This is such a great project! If he needs any more interviews, I’m totally up for it. I’m 29, a knitblogger, and I live in Athens, GA. Again, not a polar bear tagger, but I’m willing.
Good luck to you and your son with this!
January 15th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Hi!
I’m a handbell ringer/teacher/director. Does he need to interview one of those? I’m game!
Ladybug Crossing
Northern VA
March 29th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I have just recently come across both of your blogs and I’ve been really enjoying getting caught up. The Boy asks really good interview questions and if he’d ever like to interview a nuclear astrophysicist in training (ie. PhD student) I would be happy to. (Mostly the fancy title means that I am an experimental scientist working in physics and that we are studying things about atoms to try and understand how stars work).
Some pictures of what I do: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jennemmer/sets/72157604301009413/