Business preposal for high skilled bushcrafters

[jon r]

I have a business preposal. If A few of us high skilled bushcrafters got together we could write an indepth bushcraft book. Something like a bushcraft manual for the UK.

If only one of us were to write a book like this im sure it would be reletively good but imagine the ammount of information we would have as a group.

The book would contain indepth information on a massive amount of knowledge! From Pig nuts, to hunting, to making your own forge. Basicly just put everything in the book that we know. We could write Tutorials, Articles etc

If there were ten of us writing a book like this we could split the proffits and each of us could have 10% of the money made. Imagine how many sales we could make with a book this good!

It would be a bushcrafters book writen by bushcrafters!

I brought this preposal to you people here at BCUK because this is where the best bushcrafters gather.

Hope you like the idea and get back to me on this

Jon

 

[leon-b]

i like the idea and i would definitlely buy it, there are a few bushcraft books out already but im not sure about a bushcraft encyclopedia
leon

 

[torjusg]

To make a good book, you would need to define a more narrow focus (bushcraft is too broad, unless you will make book so huge that you will not be able to sell it). My take is that it needs to be tailored to the current UK situation, only on things that are doable in the UK for the majority of the population (which isn't a lot). I think it should contain things that are realistically achievable for the average UK bushcrafter

I could potentially participate, but only if the focus is going towards the primitive side.

Also, it would be better to split the profits in number of pages per author (+that the editor gets extra).

 

[jon r]

I think it would be good to have a focus on making things. Lots of tutorials that are easy to follow

But then we need to have other sections about Plants, Trees, Food etc

 

[torjusg]

I think this has to be defined: What materials, game and fish can a UK person get his hands of without emptying his pockets completely (and without poaching):
- He could get grey squirrels, pigeons and rabbits, so you don't write about hunting red deer or bear.
- He can find antlers, but it is unlikely. Bones are however easy to get your hands on.
- Etc...

Remember, you will never be able to write about everything. The key is to write about the most utilizable things. Some common knowledge, and preferably many unique ideas.

 

[Backyard Bushcraft]

no where near a high skilled bushcrafter more of a keen novice but thats a briliant idea lots of tutorials that you can carry out in the field with you!! really good idea

 

[woodwalker]

Sounds like a good idea!

But how big were you thinking of making it, as the knowledge available could span volumes. Would you want to for instance go over tried and tested things with a fresh angle on them or only concentrate on completely new ideas?

Also stuff like plants and trees are covered in lots of books in some aspects (like ID and seasonal changes etc) but not in other aspects as much (recipes and medicinal stuff)?

Or just a mega 'everything book' just full of everyones ideas on anything?

I'm just trying to guage what you think this book will contain, because I think in principle it could be a good plan

cheers woodwalker

 

[jon r]

I think i would go for the 'massive everything book' but not go into any small boring detail. Just state facts and write in an interesting way. The book would include old and new bushcraft ideas and crafts. There isnt a book out there which talks about all different kinds of Uk bushcraft. There are tree books and fungi books but not one collective manual/ guide to bushcraft.



Jon

 

[torjusg]

the 'massive everything book'

Sorry, as much as I like the idea, this book cannot be made. I still believe it will sell better if it is more limited. There are a ton of books on this subject as you mention. But most of them contain a number of things which can not be done legally in the UK.

I propose this set of skills:
- Firelighting (bowdrill)
- Shelter building
- Fishing primitively (limit it to making and using what little is legal in the UK)
- Hunting/trapping primitively (same rule as above).
- Important plant foods and other gatherables (shellfish etc.)
- Containers
- Knapping (England has lots of flint they say)
- Tanning pelts
- Grass/fibre clothes
- Preparing food

Nothing revolutionary, but the fact that it will be tailored for the UK will be the primary selling point.

 

[Timinwales]

Cracking Idea,
There alot of books out there by some really well known and respected folk, a book by ''normal folk'' for normal folk has to be good!!!
while I am far from being an expert bush crafter (or remotely close to it) I do have half decent hand skills and should like to voulenteer my self as the tutorial dummy, just to give that authentic first timer take on the problems you no longer notice kind of thing (I suspect there will be many more willing voulenteers for this too, though).

Cheers Tim

 

[torjusg]

Not to be grumpy or anything, but I will not be participating if there are more than 5-6 authors. Then I'd rather use the material exclusively for my own upcoming books.

The profit potential for each author will be extremely small if there are too many authors.

 

[jon r]

Not to be grumpy or anything, but I will not be participating if there are more than 5-6 authors. Then I'd rather use the material exclusively for my own upcoming books.

The profit potential for each author will be extremely small if there are too many authors.

I agree, 5 authors with very good knowledge of many aspects.

Also your list sounds good Torjusg. I was intending to just do a UK bushcraft book from the start, Doing a bushcraft book whick covers everything in the world would be impossible!

The book should contain info about general UK bushcraft things plus tutorials on how to craft things from the woods. Having some knife making info might be nice too.

 

[torjusg]

Having some knife making info might be nice too.

If it is backyards forging and some simple (as in possible to do in the field) hafting and sheathing you are talking about, I agree.

I hope one doesn't disqualify as an author even if one have never been in the bushcraft prison over the North Sea.

 

[NatG]

i'd definitely buy it, and the things i'd be looking for would be tutorials- like how to make a bow and arrow, forge , knife, sheath, pouches etc. and as well as legal things one can do in the uk, how you would go about getting permission to do it and the laws and safety surrounding that area.

good idea though :You_Rock_

 

[big_daddy_merc]

can i ask, if there is to much to fill a "normal" size book, why no think about a magazine. That way all aspects of bushcraft can be looked at in a more indepth way with larger colour photo's and more space to get across what you need to, plus with adverts in it could help to pay some of the costs.
maybe get a celeb. writer once in a while.
as i think with the amount of survival & bushcraft books on the market it will be very hard to enter this market, but there isn't a dedicated bushcraft magazine.

 

[Goose]

can i ask, if there is to much to fill a "normal" size book, why no think about a magazine. That way all aspects of bushcraft can be looked at in a more indepth way with larger colour photo's and more space to get across what you need to, plus with adverts in it could help to pay some of the costs.
maybe get a celeb. writer once in a while.
as i think with the amount of survival & bushcraft books on the market it will be very hard to enter this market, but there isn't a dedicated bushcraft magazine.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/content/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=195

One of the possible problems with the book could be actually defining bushcraft!

 

[dommyracer]

there isn't a dedicated bushcraft magazine.

erm... there's 3 in the UK......

 

[jon r]

Ive been thinking about this book and ive had a few thoughts.

There are plenty of books which write about trees, hunting, fishing, water purification, equipment etc. But there is no book that i can think of that has just tutorials on making stuf. The book could be a big manual on making all sorts of bushcrafty bits and bobs (containers, bows, friction fire sets, traps, knives, etc.)

I think this would appeatl to lots of people. Whats your thoughts on this?

 

[oops56]

Yes stop talking do it before i leave this word my time is short

 

[Matt Weir]

Good luck with this Jon. I seriously hope it comes to fruition and personally require a signed copy signed by every member of BCUK!