I'm in a bit of a quandary lately, and I've been putting a lot of thought into exactly what the quandary's about, but I think I will do something I haven't done before - ask you for help. Perhaps you can steer me in the right direction and tell me what you think would be the best route of action. Let me explain.
You've heard me talk on here about the friend I have lunch with, and at one of those lunches I was telling him about this problem. When I gave an example of what I meant, he proved my point immediately by having knowledge about the subject I was referring to without me even finishing. I mentioned something about an item found in a Holmes case called 'bathing-cots' or 'bathing-machines'. He looked at me qith a quizzed look. I continued that in Victorian times swimmers sometimes had these covered wagons...and he stopped me with "Oh, the carts they rolled out in the water." He knew exactly what I was talking about (and he hadn't even seen the blog post). I fear some folks might feel the same way with my posts on here and Facebook.
What I'm getting at is that all of the different sites and pages seem to just recycle the same hundred or so cool Victorian topics. I am guilty of that, as well, though I do believe I put a new slant on things from time to time. I do read some very cool things on these posts, but often they take away whatever new twist I was going to use. Well, I don't want to recycle anymore. I want to be totally fresh and unique.
But, how to do that? There's only so much that is mentioned in The Canon, and only so many years Holmes and/or Watson were active in the detective trade, and only so many things I can tie into what it is I do here. I have always been a fan of archaeology and the little corners of history just waiting to be found, and would love to be able to employ that love for digging up the past, but I just don't know if I know where to look. Or what to look for! I get lucky sometimes when I simply stumble upon something, but that's just on occasion.
So, here's my question for all of you: what would you like to see covered or investigated on here? Do you have any ideas for material? Source locations? Resources to examine? I know that what I've been doing up until now has been somewhat successful, but I feel like I'm just chasing other people's tails sometimes with the same kind of stuff you can find anywhere. (Then again, maybe I'm just being paranoid and ridiculous.)
This is the world's only blog dedicated entirely to Sherlockian chronology, and it already has an angle no other site has. But I fear the inevitable loss of interest if I can't come up with fascinating tidbits that tie Holmes, Watson, and the Victorian era together in the way I like. So...thoughts? I will still report on strict chronology as long as I can. That isn't going away, and there's still so much to impart. I just need a few nudges for more finds. Hopefully you can help me.
Now, if you're one of those folks who'd rather observe than participate, I have no problem with that. I am amongst you on most things. But, if you DO have an idea, you could just contact me by email or Messenger so that no one will know. (I won't say a word. Promise.)
See the pickle I'm in? I already know what the next couple of blog posts are going to be about, and in fact I put one of them aside to talk about this. I love bringing you what I do, but there are times when it's a bit of a struggle. Good problem to have, I know. Don't get me wrong - I still have plenty of ideas for here and Facebook, and luckily over two dozen chronologists gave me lots of material to mine from, but I do fear running dry on these posts in time. The Victorian time period is a vast resource, and I want to tap into it as much as I can, I would just like to know what you think about where to go and what to seek.
I really love doing this for all of you, and the discoveries I make are just as much fun for me, so it's my desire to keep it going as long as I can. I've said before that I'd do this even my own mother was the only person reading it, but luckily that isn't the case. My little empire grows constantly, and the appreciation shown is beyond anything I could've imagined when I started all of this almost a decade ago. Anyway, I'm really anxious to hear what you have to say. Thank you for getting to the last sentence here, and as always...thanks for reading.
Hi Vincent,
ReplyDeleteI do read your Blog far away in Germany and you know that I appreciate your work. It is not easy writing posts for many years and not seeing the silent readers around the world, not even knowing who they are or what they think about it.
Let's say it that way:
"There is nothing new under the sun. It has all been done before."
But it is the way YOU do it. I for myself like to follow you walking through areas and times. It is your writing that makes me think about streets or persons, it is your humour that makes me smile. Sometimes I believe I can see you wink while writing the articles. I even seem to know your lunch friend.
Whatever you decide to write about, it is not the subject on which you focus, it is your specific way to look at it, it is the way you write about it, that makes me reading your posts. I am sure I am not alone.
Just write about the stuff that YOU find interesting.
We will follow you. ♥
Petra
That is one of the nicest comments I've ever gotten. I can't thank you enough for it.
DeleteHeck, I may even hang a portion of it on my office wall.
I echo KrimiKiosk. I am reminded of the saying that "You can't cross a river twice in the same place." If you address a topic that that's not new to me, because you bring yourself to it, expressly. It is not only a report, but an insight from a unique individual. You tend to share yourself, as well as the topic. In fact, you've been doing this long enough to bring new insight to when you go back to an old topic. Thank you!
DeleteI'm quite sad that for the second time the Red Circle and the Bootmakers of Toronto have scheduled their virtual meeting at the exact same time. It makes no sense.
ReplyDeleteI don't think your work here is "the same kind of stuff you can find anywhere" at all. Everything you do has your unique flavor and perspective, and most often it has a fresh viewpoint or twist that makes the devoted Sherlockian -- who invariably is a master of sifting the sands for the tiniest bit of gold dust -- glad to read what you have written. So keep doing what you have been doing. I will be glad to keep reading it and enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteEven the stuff you are absolutely wrong about.