Personalized Mini-Novels

I recently read on a forum (I can't remember which one) about the concept of personalizing mini-stories/novels where an individual can plug in their name and basically "star" in a story. Someone online was doing this by writing the stories and selling them personalized. Does anyone remember this site?

I'm toying with the idea of writing short stories based upon my past experience as a Palm Beach bartender. Of course I would "juice up" the stories, which would all be based upon the lust, sex, wealth and glamour of Palm Beach. I would have a main character, say a beautiful airess. Potential customers would substitute their names for this main character and basically have a mini-novel/story where they star. It would basically be a fantasy book where the purchaser could fantisize about the rich and famous lifestyle through my book.

Does this sound totally crazy or does it make you go hummmmm?

Any input?

Mitch

Hi Mitch,

This is a great topic.

This probably isn't what you mean, but in Dec. 2000 I posted a (brief) post about a charity auction.... The item being auctioned was the name of a character in a novel - the character would be named after you! That's in ALL copies of the novel - you would be "immortalized" in the world of fiction!

Unfortunately, the article I linked to has since disappeared, but here was my post.... http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=2407

On the other hand, some schools are using "personalized" books as a tool to help teach kids how to read. Kids love to read books which "star" themselves, their friends, and their teacher. :)

I've linked to the article below....

- Dien Rice

P.S. Did you know we now have over 10,000 posts here on Sowpub? Ayakarumba! :)


Personalized books help teach kids how to read....

I wrote:

> ...in
> Dec. 2000 I posted a (brief) post about a
> charity auction.... The item being auctioned
> was the name of a character in a novel - the
> character would be named after you! That's
> in ALL copies of the novel - you would be
> "immortalized" in the world of
> fiction!

I found an article about this event.... You can read about it here.... (I've also put the article below.)

And the idea is being repeated. Here's a more recent announcement about the same kind of thing....

I realize this wasn't quite what you were asking about, Mitch, but I thought it was interesting anyhow...!

- Dien

Novel roles up for sale

A select band of book fans could find themselves on the pages of their favourite author's next book, thanks to a charity auction taking place on Tuesday.

Louis de Bernieres, Hanif Kureishi, Rose Tremain and Nick Hornby are just a few of the names taking part in the auction.

If the price is right the bidder can buy the right to become a character in a forthcoming novel by these or other writers.

Jim Crace, who won the Whitbread prize with his book Quarantine, is taking part in the project.

He said: "Hopefully, people who feel passionately about literature will see this as a great opportunity to grab 15 paragraphs of fame."

But he added: "Of course, if they bid a great deal of money they are going to want a bigger showing than that."

Money raised from the auction, at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in London, will go to the charity The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.

Prospective bidders should watch out, however.

Last October Scotish crime writer Ian Rankin offered the chance to appear in his latest novel in an auction in aid of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund.

But Rankin would not reveal who exactly the character would be, nor whether it would be a baddie, and nor will the writers in this auction.

Hi Mitch,

These businesses seem to be doing something similar to what you're thinking of doing.... You can check 'em out, to see what they're up to....

Kauai Calling - "Imagine... The Two of You as the Main Characters in a Specially Created
Romantic Adventure Novel set in Paradise -Kauai, Hawaii..."

Homespun Fantasies - "You and your fantasy partner become the lead characters in an original short story found nowhere else but here."

Book By You - Personalized romance novels or children's books....

Evergrace - "Just give us your first name, and you can be the leading character in your own romance novel. Your first name will be printed throughout the novel!"

Here's where you can find more examples to study....

http://directory.google.com/Top/Shopping/Gifts/Personalized/Books/

http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Books/Booksellers/Romance/Personalized/

Hope that helps!

By the way, it seems like an intriguing business.... :)

- Dien


Find more intriguing business ideas in the Great Ideas Letter....

Thanks Dien,

This is exactly what I was searching for. You're the best.

Mitch

> Hi Mitch,

> These businesses seem to be doing something
> similar to what you're thinking of doing....
> You can check 'em out, to see what they're
> up to....

> Kauai Calling - "Imagine... The Two
> of You as the Main Characters in a Specially
> Created
> Romantic Adventure Novel set in Paradise
> -Kauai, Hawaii..." Homespun Fantasies
> - "You and your fantasy partner
> become the lead characters in an original
> short story found nowhere else but
> here." Book By You - Personalized
> romance novels or children's books....

> Evergrace - "Just give us your first
> name, and you can be the leading character
> in your own romance novel. Your first name
> will be printed throughout the novel!"
> Here's where you can find more examples to
> study....

>
> http://directory.google.com/Top/Shopping/Gifts/Personalized/Books/
>
> http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Books/Booksellers/Romance/Personalized/
> Hope that helps!

> By the way, it seems like an intriguing
> business.... :)

> - Dien

This is a great idea. I am in the personalized book business and it can be very rewarding, however I can't seem to get started in this personalized novel business. Any Ideas on how to get started in it?

Thanks a million!
Candi