The Spovangelist

Well we’ve been at it again over here at the Spovangelist, rousing the rabble and fanning the flames of a truly cohesive community network. This time we’ve teamed up with fourteen local bloggers to cooperatively produce a 28 page pocketbook guide to the local blogosphere – the Spokane Blog Bible.

Two months, 300 emails, imposing on friends and family plus $400 later there you have it. A tantalizing little book packed with medieval graphics, URLs and distinctive descriptions for 12 of Spokane’s more active blogs. With topics ranging from photography to bicycling there is something for everyone in this user friendly hand-held guide.

Participating Blogs:

Down To Earth
Spokanarama
The Spovangelist
Cycling Spokane
7,000
Shallow Cogitations
Out There Monthly
Spokane Skeptic
Blush Response
The Inland Echo
Get Out North Idaho
Skywalk Sensations

While all the juicy details are still to follow, here are some thoughts and lessons learned along the way in bringing this project to life:

• If you think you know it all, you don’t. I wrongfully assumed I was aware of about half of the blogs being written in the area. After some digging and help from friends I realized I hadn’t encountered even 1/5 of what was out there! This just goes to prove the notion that if you look for it, you’ll find it.
• Peer group adoption is extremely important. I’d say the #1 motivating factor for getting people to buy in to the Blog Bible was letting folks know who else was already on board. The novelty of the idea, the chance to promote their writing in an alternative format, or the community building impact of the project didn’t seem to matter as much as what other people’s stance was on the proposal.
• Small groups make bigger groups less awkward. Participating bloggers didn’t just throw some cash into the pot and call it good, they got their hands dirty getting together to make wire tree display racks (to show that the Blog Bibles make excellent Christmas tree ornaments) and stapling and collating the booklets themselves. When people are focused on producing something the conversation flows naturally, even though few people had ever met each other before. Hopefully this will make the Blog Bible release party feel more like a reunion and less like an “Oh my god where did all these strangers come from?”

Last is faith. There is nothing more rewarding than watching the skepticism of those around you melt away as an idea becomes tangible and then real. People say they like gardening or building houses because they can see what they produce as they go along. Efforts to change an entire culture are the opposite.

In the realm of hearts and minds there is no beginning, no end, and no solid benchmarks along the way to measure your progress. While it might be miniscule in the grand scheme, projects like the Blog Bible show us that little things can quickly add up and become significant. Heres to building the tools for the future we want to see, as opposed to the one that is on its way by default.

Tags:   Community · Local Media · Pretty Things · Spokane Pride3 Comments