100, not out
An open letter to readers of Real West Dorset
OVER the last few days I’ve been stopped several times by people keen to tell me that they have discovered Real West Dorset – and they enjoy it. I have also had several emails from people saying they like reading it. I can’t quote from some of those emails because they were marked Personal – Not for Publication, as if visiting here were a guilty pleasure. Which perhaps it is! I don’t mind. We all know that guilty pleasures can be the ones we care most about.
I only mention these communications because I noticed this morning that there are now 100 articles on this site, (this is actually the 101st), so now seems as good a time as any to pause for a few remarks.
Firstly, I would like to thank all readers of this site and everyone who has contributed to it. I have done almost nothing to promote it, but the number of readers per month is now well into four figures, which, for a new local independent site, is very gratifying.
Secondly, some of my correspondents, even though they like it, have been wondering what exactly this site is. It’s a good question. The best answer is still: It’s an experiment. In terms of its content, there is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the country (I can say this with a fair bit of confidence because I have spent a long, long time looking at other local blogs and websites in Britain, Europe and America).
Thirdly, some of my correspondents have obviously been asking themselves whether “this very promising development” will survive. Answer: it will, in some shape, either as an island or bridged to other forms. All sorts of people have come to talk to me about all sorts of possibilities; merging its flow of content into a new newspaper or magazine, trying different sorts of print offshoots, allying with other websites…
But there are no adverts, I know people think. True, at the moment, there are no adverts, and few may appear in the future, but this week, if all goes to plan, the whole structure of the site will change and the first advert scheduled to appear will be for The Bookshop on Marine Parade in Lyme Regis, which is very small but crammed with quality.
I went there to take some pictures. I’ll talk through some of these briefly because it might help to explain a few points about this site. (Equally, it might turn out to be a load of boring / pretentious / self-indulgent tosh but let’s see). This was the first, rather hopeless effort:
It’s a window. So what? Look more closely and it starts to get a bit more interesting:
Once you’ve been poor you don’t forget it. Creativity is born of constraints. So, let’s move round to the other side of the window.
That’s slightly better. The picture is opening up to reflect different positions; I like the mystery man lurking in the hat, posed with the front cover of The Open Society and Its Enemies (by Karl Popper).
And what happens if you get inside the window?
It looks like a dodgy video shop, says my wife. I was rather startled by this remark. I don’t know what you think…
I’d rather describe it – and this has only just occurred to me – as an invitation to curiosity.
I think that, I suspect, because that’s how I still see West Dorset…
And now I wonder: is this site an invitation to curiosity?
Not as much as it could be, perhaps. Which is why it’s good to hear from people privately and publicly.
So, please keep visiting, and if you ever want to get in touch, to comment or to contribute, please do. It makes a big difference and I just know that there are interesting things about West Dorset that you – yes, you – could tell us about. I look forward very much to hearing from you…
Well done J. In a very short space of time you’ve become Bridport’s only decent read.
As Banjo states – within a very short time slot you are indeed the most interesting read on the area. The fact that others often post replies that challenge you makes it even more interesting, and valuable. How else would we have gotten to see those interior shots of The Three Cups? I still think Watershed are supping from the devil’s cup on this one – but that’s my personal opinion, and business is business after all.
With so much of the local press becoming advertising masquerading as editorial and/or run from out of county, a site like this, whatever you choose to call it, is not just enjoyable, it’s necessary. Long may you continue. And soon may you start to make some form of a living from it!