The Smaller Questions

Wow! Thank you! Response to my Big Question has been overwhelmingly positive, so I’m working on getting the ball rolling for the ultimate version of ABC! I still have a few questions that I would like to ask you, dear readers, so bear with me.

Some things are more certain than others. Of note:

• • The final ABC product will have far more than what’s actually on the site. I’ve conspicuously left out a lot of big names (dragons, unicorns…) as well as lots more unknown creatures, so there’s no shortage of creatures to flesh out ABC.
  • Not only that, but the final version of ABC will have more artwork/sketches to supplement the ones that are already on the site. And, of course, all-new art for the new entries. I want even long-time readers to feel justified in making this purchase.
  • But based on the above two points, it will take a while to finish up the writing and illustration. The timespan depends on how much of my time I can afford to devote to the project.
  • As of now, my plans are for a physical copy. I do not have any current plans to make an ebook, but that might change with time.
  • As of now, I have been unable to secure a response from a literary agent (barring one painful experience) so it looks like crowdfunding is the way to go.

Other things are less certain, and here’s where I need your help. You don’t have to respond, I certain won’t think less of you if you don’t, but answering one or more of these questions will help me gauge how I should be attacking this problem.

1. What size book would you want ABC to be, if it was physical? Options range from coffee-table to field guide and everything in between. Any book you can mention that approximates the desired volume?
2. What kind of format would you prefer ABC to take? This ties in to the previous question – maybe you want a pocket-sized brick with entries in neat boxes. Or something, I’m not judging.
3. Do you want a complete final ABC book, or a selectively incomplete book to expedite its creation and/or reduce its mass?
   1. What if I left stuff out (e.g. humanoids)?
   2. What if I made it in multiple volumes?
   3. What if I left out the illustrations? … nah, just kidding, but would a text-only Dictionary of Creatures be appealing to some readers?
4. Would you want me to hire real illustrators and/or designers and/or technowizards to speed up the process?
5. Do you have strong opinions on crowdsourcing? Any websites in particular you’d recommend (or recommend I avoid)?
   1. Reminder that I do not live in or belong to any of the Kickstarter-approved countries, so that’s definitely out.
6. If crowdsourcing happens, anything you’d like to see as reward tiers besides increasing amounts of ABC copies?

As before, respond in whatever format seems fit to you, or not at all, and not all of the questions have to be answered either. All opinions are welcomed. ABC reserves the right to tactfully ignore select opinions.

Are you excited? I sure am!