Hello Tom. I appreciate your comments.

As I think of all the things I’ve done since the beginning of Scooter in the Sticks, the consideration of making money, monetizing or commodifying, that mental conversation has been the most difficult for me for many of the reasons you’ve outlined. I spent many years as a contract photographer for ad agencies and corporations so at that level I’m familiar with trading expertise for cash, my creative soul for the commerce of everything from tobacco and beer to banks and investment firms. While creative tools were in play I never confused it with my personal needs to create.

Scooter in the Sticks is a labor of love to employ a tired old cliche. The survey revealed the same concerns you’ve raised in your comments and echo my own. And the results also showed pretty broad support for a lot of “products” with perhaps a strong stipulation that it does not become a crass example of money grubbing. For some, the mere presence of sales would push things over the top.

I am riding and writing for myself. I don’t want to put a price tag on that. But there are things I would like to share that would cost money.

Your last sentence about responsibilities — I absolutely don’t want to become enslaved to any part of the blog (or products) that would just become another form of the work I’m retiring from.

Time to explore a new approach to things…

…and take this with a grain of salt because everyone is different, but…

I’ve found every attempt to commodify my creative pursuits highly frustrating and soul-killing; the switch from “here, I have something beautiful that I’ve crafted and want to share — please take it” to “would you support me, please?” is swift and brutal, and, for me, personally, makes me feel smarmy, like I’ve jumped from artist to Amway salesman in one small leap.

Granted, I was raised by preachers and Marxists and so don’t rub up well against commercialism at all, and I know that’s a unique and not always healthy perspective; I have many friends (authors, artists, musicians) who are perfectly happy promoting themselves, and power to them. Still, they *are promoting themselves, constantly, and that’s a very different headspace than basking in the calm of creativity.

In the internet era, when we’re all used to getting things for free, I think it’s especially hard to feel our creative output is valued once we try to put a monetary or professional value on it.

So, again, take my perspective with a grain of salt! But remember, you are riding and writing *for yourself*, and, as you’ve written more than once, that’s a rare and valuable portion of a life in which you already are tasked with many responsibilities — be careful not to turn this free space (in both senses of the term) into just another of those responsibilities.

Dog prints. Hadn’t thought of that.

The book is a high priority. While it may take ideas from the blog I really see it as a unique work. Motivated by the blog but different. We’ll see.

Louisiana. That’s a long way off.

No problems rambling. Or being old!

Changes and improvements. Tricky territory. I suppose the best guide, if revenue isn’t a driving force, would be to keep it interesting personally. That way at least you’ll have the energy to keep working.

I like what Fuzzy was doing with the Ask Me Anything pieces. They remind me of the sort of confessional videos I did in art school. Pre-iPhones and selfies, the videos were unusual. I learned that it wasn’t that hard to open up and talk. Whenever I think of video though I get lost now — not sure why anyone would want to watch me. I can see producing video representations of rides, but then still photos may be just as good.

In terms of photography, I’ve long thought photographers want too much for their images. At least in the print selling realm. I’ve sold a handful of prints at high prices. Like music, I’m thinking it better to sell more prints at lower prices. I have boxes of prints that no one will ever see. Wouldn’t it be better for them to have a life in the world?

If I sell prints — they won’t be expensive. My goal will be, in part, to have pictures of that riding life out in the world.

Anyways, that’s what makes sense to me at the moment. Thanks for sharing your comments.

Makes sense.

I think I’ll move from the workplace to the recliner. Watch TV. Eat pretzels and surf the web. Makes sense right?

Whatever I do with prints I’ll want to keep it simple and affordable. Using a service like SMUG MUG or Zen Folio allows for some easy access and sales at reasonable prices. If I start printing myself the price jumps. I’ve been fascinated by some photographers selling folios of prints in limited editions. I could see selling, or trying to sell, small folios of gelatin silver prints.

No big prints though. The largest I’ve dealt with was 18 feet wide by 9 feet high. Obviously farmed that out. Shot with a Nikon D200 and upsample by One Photo or something to get a huge TIFF file for printing. Looked pretty good considering…

I’ve considered adding a motorcycle to my riding to expand interest but haven’t thought of adding another author. Mostly because Scooter in the Sticks feels personal. Not sure how I would integrate another voice.

I suspect there are a lot of riders who will dismiss out of hand the writings of a scooter rider. If I had a Harley, or a BMW, appearing from time to time, that might establish another level of credibility.

Lot’s to explore.

I want a tee shirt too! I just have to sort through my ideas.

Retirement opens a world of possibilities.

After reviewing the survey results, prints seem like a reasonable path. Lots of options and I would like to share them. Funny thing about moto prints — I often see them pinned up in garages and workshops as part of the moto decor.

Stay tuned to see what happens at some point. Probably in the summer.