How we identify ...... our lives & stories
Posted: Sun May 02, 2004 7:45 am
Earlier today (approx. 7am UK time), I was chatting on the Eunuch Archive Chat forum when, through something that Surf_Toad said, I indirectly & accidently stumbled upon the idea of writing a book that would be based upon people on this forum.
Having thought about it, it remains a good idea so I set out my proposal below:
End Result:
The end result of what I propose would be an A5 sized book with circa 120 pages. The book would be professionally published & bound, containing no advertising and totally paid for out of my own pocket.
I would envisage a publication of circa 2,000 copies ..... supplies of the book would be provided to all contributors and I would also distribute copies via the support & community networks that I am a member of (additional distribution channels would be considered).
Content:
An overview / biopic of circa 10 - 12 people from this forum, with a foreward from an external person of note and a conclusion written by myself. The intention of the publication would be to assist in the breaking of taboos through drawing out the humanity of many of the people who have an attachment to this community for whatever reason.
Thus, each biopic included would be sympathetic to the subject and the written biopic would not be published without the subject's prior consent. If I interview someone whom I feel that I cannot portray in a sympathetic light, his / her story will not be included.
What is required:
10 - 12 volunteers from this forum who are willing to be participants in this project. If volunteers PM me with their email address, I would then propose to email them questions. Following answers to initial questions, I would then conduct a follow up interview. The interview could be conducted via telephone or, to minimise costs, over a forum such as MSN messenger.
In addition, I would ask each volunteer to submit a photograph that means something to himself / herself. This would ideally be a full facial photo ..... but, understanding individual fears re privacy, could just as easily be a place that is dear to them or an item that they cherish.
I will ask searching questions re. the individual's identity so reticient people need not apply ......... however, I would stress, that I will not look for, nor publicise, information that could be used to publicly identify the participant. The most obvious example of this is that I would use online names instead of legal names, but there are many other ways to protect the individual's identity.
Ideally, I would look for a cross-section of participants ....... therefore, ideally, I would like some MtF TS woman and genetic women to be interviewed. In addition, I would like eunuchs, whether they are in that state through choice or for health reasons. I would also like to invite those who feel that they have a unique perspective to add. To serve my goal of breaking certain taboos, I intend to include only a very small number (i.e. 1 or 2) of people who fantacise about being castrated.
Time-scales:
Unfortunately time-scales are tight. I am on a 2 week trip abroad as from Friday 28th May. Therefore, I would look to obtain all neccessary profile information before then with a view to writing / editing during those two weeks abroad.
This would be with a target of having a published book ready for circulation by end June.
Do I have anything else to add re above ?:
I completed a similar project for a TG community 2 / 3 years ago and it proved very successful, even though the circulation was lower than that which I am proposing for this venture
I can understand the scepticism that some may have re. this venture ......... but, if you are a sceptic, please give me a chance to prove you wrong
Ulysses
Having thought about it, it remains a good idea so I set out my proposal below:
End Result:
The end result of what I propose would be an A5 sized book with circa 120 pages. The book would be professionally published & bound, containing no advertising and totally paid for out of my own pocket.
I would envisage a publication of circa 2,000 copies ..... supplies of the book would be provided to all contributors and I would also distribute copies via the support & community networks that I am a member of (additional distribution channels would be considered).
Content:
An overview / biopic of circa 10 - 12 people from this forum, with a foreward from an external person of note and a conclusion written by myself. The intention of the publication would be to assist in the breaking of taboos through drawing out the humanity of many of the people who have an attachment to this community for whatever reason.
Thus, each biopic included would be sympathetic to the subject and the written biopic would not be published without the subject's prior consent. If I interview someone whom I feel that I cannot portray in a sympathetic light, his / her story will not be included.
What is required:
10 - 12 volunteers from this forum who are willing to be participants in this project. If volunteers PM me with their email address, I would then propose to email them questions. Following answers to initial questions, I would then conduct a follow up interview. The interview could be conducted via telephone or, to minimise costs, over a forum such as MSN messenger.
In addition, I would ask each volunteer to submit a photograph that means something to himself / herself. This would ideally be a full facial photo ..... but, understanding individual fears re privacy, could just as easily be a place that is dear to them or an item that they cherish.
I will ask searching questions re. the individual's identity so reticient people need not apply ......... however, I would stress, that I will not look for, nor publicise, information that could be used to publicly identify the participant. The most obvious example of this is that I would use online names instead of legal names, but there are many other ways to protect the individual's identity.
Ideally, I would look for a cross-section of participants ....... therefore, ideally, I would like some MtF TS woman and genetic women to be interviewed. In addition, I would like eunuchs, whether they are in that state through choice or for health reasons. I would also like to invite those who feel that they have a unique perspective to add. To serve my goal of breaking certain taboos, I intend to include only a very small number (i.e. 1 or 2) of people who fantacise about being castrated.
Time-scales:
Unfortunately time-scales are tight. I am on a 2 week trip abroad as from Friday 28th May. Therefore, I would look to obtain all neccessary profile information before then with a view to writing / editing during those two weeks abroad.
This would be with a target of having a published book ready for circulation by end June.
Do I have anything else to add re above ?:
I completed a similar project for a TG community 2 / 3 years ago and it proved very successful, even though the circulation was lower than that which I am proposing for this venture
I can understand the scepticism that some may have re. this venture ......... but, if you are a sceptic, please give me a chance to prove you wrong
Ulysses