Book Roadmap

Follow the book from working notebook to finished pages.

APRIL 2027 RELEASE TARGET · Draft in January · Revise in February · Proof in March.

Published roadmap: October 31, 2026. Dates and unapproved chapter titles are working suggestions, not confirmed commitments. All imported statuses remain Unconfirmed until Chris reviews them.

28 tasks across six sections. Open a section to read task status, target dates, and notes.

Start here

Task	Status	Target	Notes / next action
Excavate existing material	Unconfirmed	2026-11-08	Gather drafts, photographs, field notes and book conversations. Sort IN / MAYBE / NOT THIS BOOK.
Choose the working chapter map	Unconfirmed	2026-11-08	Review existing chapter ideas before adopting suggested titles. Keep stories, guidance and one field prompt in each chapter.
Decide the book’s scope	Unconfirmed	2026-11-08	Working ideas: ten short chapters, 140–150 pages, square format. Reconcile layout and word count; 25,000–30,000 words was a proposal, not a locked specification.
Choose the next writing assignment	Unconfirmed	2026-11-08	Pick one existing encounter or chapter fragment and define the smallest useful next action.

Manuscript · offline

Task	Status	Target	Notes / next action
Introduction + two chapters	Unconfirmed	2026-11-30	Working milestone: approximately 6,000 usable words. Existing material shaped into chapters counts.
Develop the middle chapters	Unconfirmed	2026-12-31	Working milestone: 15,000–18,000 words; most chapters underway. Adjust after checking actual writing pace.
Complete the rough draft	Unconfirmed	2027-01-31	A beginning-to-end manuscript. Use explicit placeholders for missing images or research.
Review chapter title candidates	Unconfirmed	Not set	Keep “Let’s Take This Outside,” “Get Out” and “Get Lost” in the discussion. Other suggested themes: Look Down, Look Up, Follow the Clues, Take the Long Way, Bring a Camera, Make a Record, Keep Going. These are candidates.
Weekly writing rhythm	Unconfirmed	Not set	Proposed rhythm: two 30–45 minute sessions, one 90 minute session, and a 20 minute review. Try 1,500 developed words weekly; reassess capacity after two weeks.

Research & fieldwork

Task	Status	Target	Notes / next action
Inventory stories and encounters	Unconfirmed	2026-11-08	For each: what happened, what made you stop, what the reader can try. Identify gaps in the selected chapters.
Markers, wayfinding and clues	Unconfirmed	Not set	Review survey markers, geocaching, symbols, utility marks and routes. Research only what supports a chosen chapter.
Explore beyond the visual	Unconfirmed	Not set	Evaluate soundwalking, lost places, neighborhood traces and overlooked infrastructure. Choose useful examples rather than expanding every possibility.
Photographs and permissions	Unconfirmed	2027-02-28	Select image candidates, identify source/date/location, record captions and any permissions or credits needed.

Website & readers

Task	Status	Target	Notes / next action
Publish a book introduction	Unconfirmed	2026-11-08	Website exists; content completion is unconfirmed. Describe the book, intended reader and April target.
Create the work-in-progress page	Unconfirmed	2026-11-08	Show a dated update and selected excerpts clearly labeled as drafts. Manuscript stays offline.
Choose newsletter platform	Unconfirmed	2026-11-15	Decision pending: Substack or Micro.blog. Strategy proposed Substack; confirm preference and current terms before setup.
Check secure signup	Unconfirmed	2026-11-15	Verify HTTPS before collecting email on the site, or link to a secure newsletter signup page.
Send the first field dispatch	Unconfirmed	2026-11-30	One encounter or photo, one short reflection, one field prompt. Keep newsletter free through launch if that plan is accepted.
Build a small following	Unconfirmed	Not set	Aim for five interested readers. Suggested cadence: two dispatches a month, drawn from work already underway. Record what actually works.

Revision & production

Task	Status	Target	Notes / next action
Invite early readers	Unconfirmed	2027-01-31	Choose a few readers and ask specific questions about clarity, usefulness and voice.
Revise and resolve the format	Unconfirmed	2027-02-28	Use feedback, choose images, confirm trim, publishing route and production requirements. Keep February protected from scope growth.
Complete layout and order proof	Unconfirmed	2027-03-15	Confirm production and shipping lead times before relying on this date.
Review proof and final files	Unconfirmed	2027-03-31	Check typography, image quality, captions, page order and corrections. Approve after the proof is satisfactory.
Release Explore More	Unconfirmed	2027-04-01	April is the target month; April 1 is a placeholder. Choose the actual date after proof and production timelines are known.

Decisions & parking lot

Task	Status	Target	Notes / next action
Reconcile word count with page design	Unconfirmed	Not set	The strategy proposed 25,000–30,000 words; earlier format planning discussed a much lighter visual book. Set a realistic target with a sample spread before drafting toward a number.
Pocket companion · conditional	Unconfirmed	Not set	Outline ideas only. Produce before April only if the main book stays on schedule.
Park new concepts	Unconfirmed	Not set	Keep appealing extras here rather than automatically adding chapters or website features.
Weekly review & follow-ups	Unconfirmed	Not set	Update chapter status, usable word count, blockers and one next action. Export a progress backup after the review.

Status key: Unconfirmed · To do · In progress · Blocked · Done. Release is targeted for April; April 1 is a planning placeholder.