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Original poster

Where to get the Book of Boff published?

164 replies

BoffinMum · 14/02/2011 14:55

As some of you may know from other threads, or from being sent bits of my housekeeping book to help you out, I have written a domestic manual for those short of time and money that I'd like to get published. I did a lot of research into pitches, wrote what I think is a good one, and susequently approached Darley Anderson, a literary agency, and also Dorling Kindersley, the publisher, and have got absolutely nowhere (not that I expected to, tbh). Not even a standard 'thank you for your email' response. I would welcome any advice people care to give me on how to move this on, as I think it would be a real shame if it never saw the light of day.

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sethstarkaddersmackerel · 18/02/2011 15:06

ah now I am someone that loves the bossy tone and would not be interested in tools lifted from business, though I am prepared to be convinced.

it's interesting looking at what else Amazon suggests when you click on Bonsoir's link. I hate the pastel-ness of some of them, and that 'Time management for manic mums' title just makes me think of that thread the other day about dreadful words women use/that are used about women.

Original poster
BoffinMum · 18/02/2011 15:06

Basically I analysed it like this. If mum works 40 hours a week outside the home, and dad works 20 hours a week, and there are 9 hours of domestic chores that need doing, then dad should undertake 6 hours and mum 3 hours. What they do and how they decide which tasks to take on is a subject for negotiation.

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Bonsoir · 18/02/2011 14:58

BoffinMum - surely the division of labour in the home is dependent on more criteria than the hours each partner spends earning (ie time available)? How about skills? Preferences? Financial ability to outsource? Compatibility with other tasks?

Original poster
BoffinMum · 18/02/2011 14:57

I haven't, Bonsoir, but the cover would have put me off tbh. I should probably read it for research, although what I mainly do is read historic housekeeping books and pick out the bits that are timeless.

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 18/02/2011 14:55

It is technically unisex but I was aware mostly women would be reading it. In the book there's a whole section on how to divide the running of the home according to the proportion of hours spent earning each parent does.

Austerity Housekeeping

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Bonsoir · 18/02/2011 14:54

Personally I find the blog a difficult medium for something I wish were a reference book. Blogs are essentially diaries; I don't really think the content and format match.

Have you read Rachel Simhon?

FoiledAgain · 18/02/2011 14:52

Is it aimed at women? Why? Aren't we already floundering under a barrage of advice?

Any mileage in trying to make it aimed at any adult in the home?

Would make a change for something to appeal to men as well that wasn't larky and ho ho Top Gear style...

DirtyMartini · 18/02/2011 14:51

Only skimmed, is there a link to blog? Or could I have a PM, please? (typing whilst pumping milk)

Original poster
BoffinMum · 18/02/2011 14:47

I would certainly be happy to leaflet the exhibition, I had already had ideas about doing the underground like they did for the Millennium trilogy, but that might be less useful.

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 18/02/2011 14:46

Bonsoir could you have a quick look at the blog and tell me if that counts as too big sister for your demographic?

And other people, can you tell me if you actually like the big sister voice? (Some of the reviewers responded to this very well and saw it as a USP, as some people have on this therad).

It's actually hard as buggery to talk about housekeeping and not sound didactic, by the way, as everyone has their own system and you are essentially promoting your own.

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plupervert · 18/02/2011 14:40

Also, have you thought about guerilla-leafleting the Ideal Home exhibiton with links to your blog?

This would cost, of course, but if you want to invest, this might be one outlet. I am speaking of investment with the aim of getting a following and going back to publishers with that.

Bonsoir · 18/02/2011 14:39

I don't think anyone wants to be patronised, so the "big sister" voice is quite difficult to pull off.

I clearly prefer analytical tools. And if they are lifted from business wisdom, all well and good.

Negotiation analysis and getting to win-win scenarii with family members would be good...

plupervert · 18/02/2011 14:36

"managing difficult colleagues"

I don't think of DS as a colleague, but as a troublesome client!

What about Rational Domestic Science, or the The Analytical Home/ The Home Analysed....

That's just brainstorming, btw; please don't take those as final suggestions, as there is sure to be something to annoy, still there.

FoiledAgain · 18/02/2011 14:34

Well for this punter anythng that managed not to remotely sound hectoring and smug would be good...
So analytical might appeal more.

But I think the stuff about dusting the books and wiping the elctrical sockets etc wouldn't sit well with that. That just feels patronising at the moment.

Original poster
BoffinMum · 18/02/2011 14:29

Foiled, I am with you on that but I have tried to write about efficiency rather than perfection as I think women have been sold a crock.

Muddleduck, I wrote the book on holiday in August (it was sitting there in my head in complete form, so not all that challenging), refined it after getting comments from a couple of dozen MN people at the end of last year, and then started up the corresponding blog this week whilst on sick leave and a bit immobile, following a suggestion on this very thread.

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Original poster
BoffinMum · 18/02/2011 14:26

This is absolutely brilliant, honest feedback. It's like having the best focus group in the world. Halleluia! Grin

I am now playing with the idea of Analytical Housekeeping (if a little daunted at the notion of moving the entire blog across as it's taken a massive amount of work already).

What do we all think of 'The Rational Housekeeper' as a title? And base it more on business models for analysing tasks and performance? Nicking formats from MBA books where appropriate? Case studies and suchlike?

Does the style of what I have done already lend itself to that as a concept, i.e. if I plonked that on the blog instead of Austerity Housekeeping, would all the existing text and philosophy look out of place (especially the editorial bit on Wilena Hitching).

Does the slightly big-sisterish style of the posts fit with that concept as well, or would people like Bonsoir be wanting to read something more collaborative rather than instructive/didactic?

Extra chapters are the easiest part once I have got the voice right, so it seems there are already two missed opportunities spotted, one about delegation and one about managing difficult colleagues (aka one's children).

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muddleduck · 18/02/2011 14:21

Boff

when on earth did you have time to do all this?

FoiledAgain · 18/02/2011 14:08

To be honest I have had it up to here with people wanting to tell me, via assorted media, how to organise myself domestically. I'm really hoping the whole domestic perfection thing, whatever form it takes, will soon have run its course.

midnightexpress · 18/02/2011 13:41

Ha pluperv, DP and I had a blazing row about just that this morning, which is perhaps why I had tidying up on my mind Grin

plupervert · 18/02/2011 13:34

"How to get your DC to clean up their own f-ing mess"

I would dearly love one of these for DH. DS seems to be getting it with regard to tidying up (especially when it puts off Bedtime).

midnightexpress · 18/02/2011 13:26

Is it a Mrs Beeton for the 21st century sort of thing? Household Management (which also sounds v dour). Instead of 'How to hire and fire servants' you might have 'How to get your DC to clean up their own f-ing mess'. I like the idea above of the How to Eat/River Cottage approach that is part take-to-bed read and part well-thumbed how-to reference guide.

Bonsoir, you sound super-organised!

Bonsoir · 18/02/2011 10:25

Something I learned quite early on from living in a "blended" family was that it was absolutely vital to have an annual review of our household organisation - it is so easy to go on and on doing the same thing month in, month out when circumstances have in fact changed and you need to re-engineer the way your household functions. So I would have a chapter all about that - how to identify and evaluate all the constraints upon your household, and how you fit housekeeping into that so that it all runs smoothly.

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 18/02/2011 10:20

to build on what Bonsoir said about wanting a reference book, I think what I want is both a reference book and a philosophy.

some analogies:
River Cottage Meat Book
How To Eat
and the first two Trinny and Susannah What Not To Wear books.

the above have both sections of longer texts that set out the philosophy (and this is where Boff's ability to write well comes into its own) and bits that you keep going back to.
The philosophy section has to induce feelings of 'ah yes, of course, I never saw it quite like that before but it makes sense now you come to think of it!'
And the reference bits have to be what you refer to when something happens (a pipe bursts, your child starts school) and you think 'Help, what do I need to do now?'/'What do I need to put in place to manage this situation as brilliantly as I manage everything else?'

MarshaBrady · 18/02/2011 10:18

This is interesting. There are women who are aware of feminist theory etc but feel very central and not political within society. (oh hang on that's me...)

Who are intelligent and like to be efficient. (My top tip is get two cleaners in at 8am for speed and efficiency). But are doing more at home due to ease etc

There are so may images with blondes in flowers cooking cupcakes. Perfect life yada. There is a gap for something for something less ridiculous.

But agree don't make it dour, about austerity or anything negative.

Bonsoir · 18/02/2011 10:13

"Austerity" worked for "Austerity Mum" (ie totally tongue in cheek) but I agree with Sethstarkadder - it's no good if it is even a little bit serious.