tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648Thu, 23 Apr 2015 07:55:08 +0000book salesavastknowledge is half the battledoomstraight talk expressround-uplaurayou tell meebooksa little knowledge is a dangerous thinga day in the lifeguest postseriously you guysworld of tomorrowthis is madnesshooray youthis is spartayay readinggo nutswhat you can doand that's the way it wasanti-doomthat time of yearI may or may not know thingsconspiracy theorieslisten: I know it's "knowing is half the battle" but I've had this tag for too longmore doomthe perils of the Internetholy crapamericawhat was I thinkingself-publishingterms to knowhilarity ensueso joybetter late than nevero rapturesharing is caringthis just in12-step programbook chainspollscience factbordersFTWgenre fictionhooray meapplebarnes and noblebookscanfantasyoh snapthou shaltsachievement unlockedamazondon't panici write goodlydon't quit your day jobyou're going to need a bigger boatco-opcompsit's scienceprofit and lossromancescience fictionthe long arm of the lawcall to armscoversglossarymailbagmysterythe numbers gamethe other half is lasersadvancenot book-relatedcontestcontractsepocalypseexcuses excusesit's onliterary fictionokay I guess it isreturnswe're here to helpPODbooks equals giftschildren's bookshelp me help youmuchas graciasnanowrimonot an apologyshout-outswalmartcopyrightgooglehave a nice triplet me get a little serious on youmy two centsoh no I made myself sadpiracystar warstitlesyay writingamish vampireschick litcombreviationsconferencedan brownfree bookshistorical fictionmarket sharemovie dayroyaltiesthanks y'allthrillerwomen's fictionend of an eramfamyth bustedremaindersee you next fallsuper coolthank you kurtbestsellersbut seriously: quit being latedad jokesdeutschlandgrammar policeif you say soindiesinterviewlibrariesmtioprahpsarerunretreatthank you nathanthanks abethanks georgethe middle waytruthinessPimp My NovelThe Art of Selling Without Selling Outhttp://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Eric)Blogger483125PimpMyNovelhttps://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-8529427728769718809Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-09-02T15:07:39.772-04:00and that's the way it wasdon't panicend of an erahooray youlet me get a little serious on youmuchas graciasoh no I made myself sadthanks y'allHiatusAs you may have noticed, lords and ladies, I haven't quite been bringing my "A" game the past couple of months. Between increased responsibilities at work and a host of other demands on my time, I'm afraid I'm going to have to put <i>Pimp My Novel</i> on indefinite hiatus. <br /> <br />Not to worry—nothing terrible has happened/is happening. It's just that there are only so many hours in the day, and I know I'm not going to be able to do a consistent or good job with this blog once the Publishing Giant reawakens in September. <br /> <br />It pains me to write this, folks, since so many of you have been here since day one. You've encouraged me to write about the industry, shared with me (and your fellow writers) your tips, advice, stories, works in progress, successes, and setbacks, and I want to thank all of you for your time and generosity over the past two years. Seriously, y'all are the best. <br /> <br />So: thank you. Hopefully I'll be seeing (read: posting for) you again soon. <br /> <br /><img src="http://www.culturesnob.net/images/entries/truman.jpg"/>http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/hiatus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-2928309463642217984Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-29T14:06:34.495-04:00excuses excusesHurricane DayNo damage as a result of the hurricane, <i>mes auteurs</i>, but slow intracity transit and allaying the fears of many publishing folk is taking more time than I expected. We'll be back on Wednesday with more book-based bacchanalia!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/hurricane-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-6659559486556699496Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-27T11:29:18.508-04:00a day in the lifeamericaand that's the way it wasdon't panicexcuses excusesholy crapyou're going to need a bigger boatStormageddonNo round-up today, <i>mes auteurs</i>—we New Yorkers are all preparing for Hurricane Irene. We'll (hopefully) be back on Monday, and for those of you in Irene's path, stay safe and stay dry!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/stormageddon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-8527672003767084646Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-25T17:01:01.424-04:00achievement unlockedbook salesebooksit's scienceworld of tomorrowBook to the FutureY'all might remember the grand entrance of the <a href="http://vook.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vook</a> in 2009. If not, in short: it's a form of enhanced e-book with movies and other media built into it. Video + book = Vook. Simple, cool, innovative, no? <br /> <br />Unfortunately, many readers found the videos and additional media distracting, particularly for works of fiction. (I could have told you that countless nonconsecutive video clips do not help a reader immerse him/herself in a fictional world.) Vook has since moved toward more nonfiction titles, however, and received a better response. <br /> <br />How a Vook differs from the Internet, I have no idea. <br /> <br />However! If you thought the Vook was the pinnacle of book/media mash-ups, you thought wrong. Enter <a href="http://booktrack.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Booktrack</a>, a company that makes <a href="http://paidcontent.org/article/419-what-you-havent-been-waiting-for-soundtracks-for-e-books/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">soundtracks for books</a>. <br /> <br />Yes, soundtracks for books. Now while you're reading about a forest, you can hear THE SOUNDS OF A FOREST. Like, I don't know, birds and whatnot. When Bro McLadiesMan begins playing a mega sweet power ballad for his lady fair, you can listen along. When you get to a super intense part, you get to listen to super intense movie trailer-style music. &c, &c. (There are previews on the Booktrack website if you're interested.) <br /> <br />The Booktrack speed can be adjusted to your reading speed, as well, so the synchronization between sound effects and text should be reasonably good. <br /> <br />Be that as it may, I think I'll find Booktrack books similar to Vooks: over-hyped and distracting. I'm all for innovation in the field and I think it's necessary to the future success of print media, but I'm not sure rocking the audio equivalent of a movie trailer in the background is the best way to achieve this. <br /> <br />However! I'm curious, as always, to hear what you think. So, <i>mes auteurs</i>: yea or nay on the Booktrack experience?http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/book-to-future.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-5557667565841597817Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-26T11:14:17.903-04:00ebooksterms to knowthe perils of the Internetworld of tomorrowMore Terms to Know (Rerun)<i>Meetings abound,</i> mes auteurs<i>, so here's a quick rerun re: publishing terms to know! — E</i> <br /> <br /><b>Episode:</b> "More Terms to Know" <br /><b>Originally aired</b>: Monday, February 28th, 2011 <br /> <br />In the world of publishing, <i>mes auteurs</i>, there are a lot of <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/search/label/terms%20to%20know" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">terms to know</a>. As our digital overlords begin to claim more and more of this territory for themselves, I think an e-update of sorts is in order. <br /> <br />Therefore! I've put together a list of indispensable e-book/Internet-related terms I think you should know. If you think of any more (and I'm sure you will), please don't hesitate to post them in the comments. <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)</span>. A system for separating a web page's or e-book's style/formatting from its content. For example: rather than putting a tag around every block of text that specifies the font as Garamond, you can just have CSS declare that all text should be in Garamond from the outset. <br /> <br />Think of it as like giving directions from the passenger seat of the car: you can just tell the driver, "go straight until I say otherwise" from the outset, rather than saying, "keep going straight" at each intersection. <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">E-book (also ebook, eBook)</span>. An electronic book available in a wide variety of formats (<i>e.g.</i> AZW, EPUB, MOBI, PDF) on a variety of devices (<i>e.g.</i> Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook). <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">EPUB (also ePub, ePUB, EPub, epub)</span>. The industry standard e-book format. It's basically <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/02/anatomy-of-e-book.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a zipped-up website</a>. <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">HTML (HyperText Markup Language)</span>. The language used to write websites and e-books. It's currently on version five (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">HTML5</a>). <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">PDF (also .pdf)</span>. Standing for "Portable Document Format," a .pdf is a file format readable by many (but not all) e-reading devices. Its primary selling point is that it represents documents independent of the machine it runs on, so a .pdf e-book looks the same no matter what devices is used to read it. For this reason, however, .pdf files are not reflowable (see below). <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">Reflowable content</span>. Content (words, diagrams, illustrations, &c) that can change or "reflow" depending on the device designed to read it. Text "reflows" when you change the font size on your Kindle or when you switch back and forth between devices with different display sizes. <br /> <br />This is one reason e-versions of the same title look different on different devices; another is that different e-tailers do different things to the source files they receive from publishers before making the book available to the consumer. <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">SEO (Search Engine Optimization)</span>. Basically, this is the idea of improving your visibility via search engines on the Internet. For example: if you Google "[your name] author," you want your personal website to be one of the first few hits. Taking into account how search engines work and what search terms people use, it's possible to move up the list of results (often dramatically). <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">XHTML (eXtensible HyperText Markup Language)</span>. A family of XML languages (see below) that serves as an alternative to HTML (above). <br /> <br /><span style="color:#cc0000;">XML (eXtensible Markup Language)</span>. Wikipedia says it best: "A set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form." If you're using Microsoft Office 2007 or later, you're already familiar with one of XML's many uses (it's the "x" in ".docx," ".xlsx," &c).http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-terms-to-know-rerun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-3027963152089718293Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-18T10:50:10.087-04:0012-step programa day in the lifeexcuses excusesseriously you guysyay writingKeeping Your Butt in the ChairThis is, <i>à mon avis</i>, the most difficult part about writing, folks. I've been having some trouble with it lately myself, so I thought I'd dedicate a post to the subject. <br /> <br />• <b>Make a list of your usual distractions.</b> It's helpful to recognize your weaknesses <i>before</i> they become an issue. Do you obsessively check e-mail? Go out for a coffee? Play Farmville? Whatever it is, write it down. Being aware of it will help you stop doing it (see below). <br /> <br />• <b>Block out time to write.</b> Scheduling is half the battle, <i>mes auteurs</i>. Pick a time that works well for you and do your best to stick to it. If you're a morning person, 6:00 <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">am</span> is great; if not, maybe not so much. Be as regular in your commitment to writing as you can, even (especially) if you're not writing every day. <br /> <br />• <b>Get any distractions out of your system before you sit down to write.</b> Trying to quit all your distractions cold turkey will probably result in your caving and going back to them to blow off steam, potentially during time you'd otherwise spend writing. Play your games, check your e-mail, tweet, update Facebook. Then <i>write</i>. And write when you're supposed to, not just in between rounds of StarCraft. <br /> <br />• <b>Take steps to prevent distractions while writing.</b> If you can't stop checking Twitter, <a href="http://macfreedom.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">turn off your Internet connection</a>. If you keep getting up to see whether the guy next door is still trimming his hedges into the shapes of Jersey Shore cast members, close your blinds. &c, &c. <br /> <br />• <b>Schedule regular breaks.</b> You're not a machine; it's just as important to know when to stop writing as it is to set a time to start. I usually take ten minutes off for every hour I set aside. If you try to write through your break and you're not seriously on a roll, you'll probably end up more prone to your usual distractions anyway. <br /> <br />• <b>Reward yourself for sticking to your schedule.</b> After you finish your hour of writing, go get that coffee. After a week of sticking to your schedule, buy yourself a new book. The more you reward yourself for a job well done, the more you'll start looking forward to that scheduled writing time you've set aside. Pavlov! He was perhaps on to something. <br /> <br />That's all I've got for you today, <i>meine Autoren</i>. How do you keep your butts in your chairs each day?http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/keeping-your-butt-in-chair.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-3068249218695570369Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-16T09:25:52.739-04:00a day in the lifeyay writingyou tell mePrithee, Inform Me: What Are You Writing?It occurs to me, lords and ladies, that I have not <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2010/07/prithee-inform-me-your-wip.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">asked you about what you're writing</a> in over a year. A year! So, without further ado: <br /> <br />What are you writing? If you responded the last time I asked, have you finished that project? Have you secured representation, self-published, given up on that MS, started a new one? What genre, what's it about, what's going well, what are you struggling with? How many projects are you juggling at once? <br /> <br />To the comments!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/prithee-inform-me-what-are-you-writing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)101tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-3743636260406514582Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-14T13:23:13.198-04:00lauraround-upRainy Day Round Up<i>Friday round up with <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/search/label/laura" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Laura</a>, totally late</i>: <br /> <br />Happy weekend, friends and foes! I hope you're all sharing this post <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/google-adds-book-sharing-feature_b14479" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">and books on Google+</a>, and reading on your <a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/08/12/amazons-cloud-reader-designed-to-avoid-paying-apple-a-30-cut.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Amazon cloud reader</a>, the cloudiest of readers. If not, eh, it's okay. The <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2301312/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">great books aren't so great</a>, and this, honey, is not as great as that. I wasn't even distraction-free when I wrote it, because I can't choose <a href="http://www.themillions.com/2011/08/distraction-free-writing-platforms.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">which distraction-free writer to use</a>. <br /> <br />Spoiler alert: <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/08/kardashian-novel.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the Kardashians are writing a novel</a>. And don't sass me about spoilers, because I've read that <a href="http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/08/spoilers-dont-spoil-anything/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">people like spoilers</a>, especially since we keep reading <a href="http://flavorwire.com/201230/10-classic-books-we-read-despite-knowing-how-they-end" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">spoilered classics</a> anyway. That said, I still won't be reading the <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/08/cooking-ice-and-fire-a-blog-on-the-dishes-of.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><i>Song of Ice and Fire</i> food blog</a> until I'm done with <i>A Dance With Dragons</i>. No, I'm still not done. Don't judge me. <br /> <br />I will judge our <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/08/philip-levine-named-new-american-poet-laureate.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">new Poet Laureate</a>, who is awesome. This fact is not recognized by the <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/i-hate-reading-facebook-page-earns-437800-likes_b36149" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">"I hate reading" Facebook page</a>. I don't know what those people are going to do when they find out <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/02/why-did-facebook-buy-an-e-book-publisher/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Facebook bought an ebook publisher</a>. These must be the <a href="http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/PWxyz/?p=6176" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">literary geniuses</a> I hear so much about. They must be the same people who banned <i>Slaughterhouse Five</i> in high schools. Luckily, the <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/kurt-vonnegut-memorial-library-offers-free-slaughterhouse-five-copies-to-students-at-high-school-that-banned-the-book_b35827" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Vonnegut Library is giving free copies to students</a>. Huzzah, sanity. <br /> <br />That's it from me folks—keep your <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2301040/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">malicious book thoughts out of reviews</a>, stay out of <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/class-action-suit-filed-against-apple-five-publishers-over-agency-pricing_b14373" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">price fixing class action lawsuits</a>, and <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/vook-explains-why-3-4-or-even-9-99-isnt-always-the-best-price-for-an-ebook_b14198" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">price your Vook carefully</a>. Until next week!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/rainy-day-round-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-6789651187680322003Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-11T13:44:54.207-04:00book salesI may or may not know thingsknowledge is half the battlelisten: I know it's "knowing is half the battle" but I've had this tag for too longthe other half is lasersTaking Stock of the MarketWhat with all the financial turmoil dominating the news these days, <i>mes auteurs</i>, I thought an extended financial analogy might be timely. So! The popularity of various genres, authors, and books: sort of like the stock market. <br /> <br /><b>The performance of certain types of books, much like certain types of financial instruments, is cyclical.</b> Vampires were cool in the middle of the last decade (and are still cool to some extent). Is this the first time this has happened? Absolutely not. (I mean, who <i>doesn't</i> remember the vampire riots of the 1720s/1730s?) Is this the last time this has happened? Also absolutely not. <br /> <br />We're probably at the tail end of all this vampire business. This means you can either 1.) focus on writing something else, or 2.) write your vampire novel(s) anyway and hope those angsty blood-chuggers become cool again sometime soon. <br /> <br />Note: a lot of nonfiction titles are dependent on the news cycle. As stories break, people want to learn more about the issues being discussed. Where do they go for that? Well, the Internet. But also books. <br /> <br /><b>Inexperienced participants often make the mistake of buying high and selling low.</b> I've said this before, but if you notice, say, paranormal Amish bromance* is suddenly huge and you want in on the action, you're probably already too late to the party. By the time you get your book written, sold, and published—roughly a year to eighteen months later at the very, <i>very</i> best—there's no guarantee that the genre will still be popular. <br /> <br />On the other hand, some people won't write in a particular genre or category because said genre or category hasn't sold in forever. That's fine, but you should always be aware that today's Huge Trend™ was under everyone's radar yesterday. (Not that I expect poetry sales to magically take off <a href="http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/11/sales-soar-for-newly-minted-poet-laureate/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">OH WAIT THAT IS SORT OF HAPPENING</a>**.) Which leads me to my next point: <br /> <br /><b>To succeed, you have to do your homework.</b> This entails knowing the fundamentals as well as actively searching out information you don't think is widely disseminated or carefully scrutinized. To have a shot, you've got to have a good handle on the basics of this industry. To have a shot at outperforming everyone else, you've got to constantly keep an eye out and an ear to the ground. Find out what's selling, how the market is changing, what's historically worked (and what hasn't), &c, &c. <br /> <br />Remember, when it comes to book sales, you're competing for eyeballs and dollars. Why should someone pick up and purchase your book as opposed to someone else's? What knowledge or specialization do you have that might grant you an advantage? You can tell me you're authors and not businesspeople 'til, as my father says, the cows come home. That doesn't change the fact that by trying to make careers as writers you are, effectively, taking a shot at running a business. Do your research and do it well. <br /> <br /><b>Both the stock market and the publishing industry react to <i>new</i> information.</b> Neither system cares about old news. When doing your research, ensure that you're minimizing assumptions about what information hasn't yet been incorporated into the market. Chances are, you're not as ahead of the game as you might at first think. If you <i>are</i> ahead, however, you've got to be prepared to run with it. <br /> <br /><b>Every event is an opportunity for someone.</b> The stock of Company A is down? It's an opportunity for someone to buy at a discount. The stock of Company B is reaching new heights? It's an opportunity for someone to sell, make some cash, and reinvest it in another asset they find promising. <br /> <br />The same goes for publishing: the changes that have been rocking the industry for years are constantly producing opportunities. Borders went out of business; some independent stores are seeing growth as a result. The industry is transitioning over to a digital format for a substantial subset of its titles; some authors have found new audiences in the e-book format. And so on and so forth. <br /> <br />The point of all this is: as dissimilar as the worlds of the stock market and the publishing industry may at first seem, there are a lot of parallels. Publishing is a business. Research and a working understanding of the market are essential for success. Yes, your writing has to be good enough. Yes, you have to have a great story. But you also have to convince people to spend their hard-earned cash on that story. <br /> <br />Writing is half the battle; the other half is selling.*** <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />*This isn't a real genre, but I really want it to be. <br /> <br />**This is more an example of the news cycle-related publishing hit, as mentioned in the previous example. But I just couldn't help myself. <br /> <br />***I lied about the other half being lasers. I'm sorry.http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/taking-stock-of-market.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-8115971414894157744Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-08T13:04:15.944-04:0012-step programa day in the lifeand that's the way it washelp me help youit's onit's scienceAn Open Letter to the IndustryDear everyone: please, <i>please</i> stop asking me to fax things. <br /> <br />The publishing industry gets made fun of enough for its technological prowess—or, really, lack thereof—as it is. Please let me scan documents and e-mail them to you rather than force me to rely on a fax machine that is, in all likelihood, older than I am. <br /> <br />While we're on the topic, please let me use e-mail, cloud-based services, and flash memory devices to move information from one place to another. There is no need for me to write a PowerPoint presentation to a DVD. There is no need for me to print something out so I can fax it to you (this is happening less frequently, but really, it shouldn't be happening at all). There is no need for me to print something out so I can <i>mail</i> it to you when I could scan and e-mail it instead. <br /> <br />I understand that you're used to paper. There are many purposes for which I prefer paper, too. But the transfer of time-sensitive information is not one of them. <br /> <br />Speaking of! What are we doing chasing news stories with physical books, folks? By the time we set up, print, and distribute the book in question (assuming it's already been written, which is a <i>big</i> assumption), the public interest—and therefore the opportunity to make a sale—has passed. E-books, I say, or nothing. <br /> <br />Not that I'm an unapologetic advocate for the e-book, but I think this particular realm of publishing is an area in which the Internet will almost always do better. Many topical books need to be electronic in order to get them out in a timely fashion. <br /> <br />All of this to say, then, that time is money, and the less we do things because it's the way we've always done them and the more we look toward more efficient ways to get our stories out there, the better off we'll all be. <br /> <br /> <br />P.S. It's been over two years since anyone asked me for anything on a floppy disk. Keep up the good work.http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/open-letter-to-industry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-5651979060408919646Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-03T21:56:38.195-04:00that time of yearyay readingPrithee, Inform Me: What Are You Reading?We've only got a month left of summer, <i>mes auteurs</i>, so prithee, inform me: what are you reading?<br /><br /><b>Books I'm currently reading:</b><br /><br /><i>A Visit from the Goon Squad</i> by Jennifer Egan<br /><br /><i>Fall Higher</i> by Dean Young<br /><br /><i>Why Evolution is True</i> by Jerry Coyne<br /><br /><b>Books I've recently finished reading:</b><br /><br /><i>The Iliad</i> by Homer<br /><br /><i>Sum</i> by David Eagleman<br /><br /><i>No One Belongs Here More Than You</i> by Miranda July<br /><br /><i>The Girl in the Flammable Skirt</i> by Aimee Bender<br /><br /><i>The Lifting Dress</i> by Lauren Berry<br /><br /><br />Reviews of these books potentially to come in future posts!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/prithee-inform-me-what-are-you-reading.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-2383962576618189775Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-08-02T19:37:04.079-04:00don't panicebooksit's scienceoh snapworld of tomorrowyou tell meMore on the World of TomorrowWith Borders no longer with us and digital sales comprising more and more of the market, I thought now would be a good time to revisit how these trends have evolved over time and where they might lead over the next few years.<br /><br />First, while I don't think there's much of a physical future for magazines and newspapers, I do think there will always be a market for physical books. (I think magazines will go entirely digital over the next decade, with existing name brands already finding some success—<a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/business/2011/08/new-yorker-made-million-bucks-their-ipad-app/40637/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the <i>New Yorker</i> has made a cool $1 million with their iPad app</a>.)<br /><br />The market for physical and used books five and ten years from now will certainly be smaller than it is today, and my expectation is that most physical media will eventually be found only in libraries. Independent and used book stores will, I believe, remain in business, but I think by the end of this decade almost all new books—almost certainly all new fiction—will be produced and consumed electronically.<br /><br />Categories such as coffee table/art books and children's books will probably take longer to make this transition.<br /><br />Second, I expect a continuation of <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2010/11/world-of-tomorrow-week-part-4-of-4.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">a phenomenon which I predicted</a> last November: the <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/blog/2011/07/how-are-independent-book-sellers-faring-and-adapting.html#more" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">resurgence of the independent book store</a>. Will indies control as much of the market as they did before the chains took up residence in the 1980s? I don't think so. But I do think there is a demand for physical books and that there are dollars to be had, and many areas that have lost Borders locations may well turn to independents to supply their books.<br /><br />Also, as I've mentioned before, the independent book store is the go-to location for author readings, book signings, community events, open mic nights, and in-person browsing. Try as they might, online vendors can't replicate these advantages.<br /><br />Finally, while I'm not sure how Amazon and Barnes & Noble are going to develop as competitors, I think that each will have to offer a spate of unique—perhaps proprietary—perks and technological advantages in order for them to coexist. Right now Barnes & Noble's primary advantage is its physical retail space, but I don't know how long that will continue to be the case. The further we trek into digital territory, the more important the Nook and e-book sales will be to B&N, and the less appealing it will be for the company to maintain its warehouse, shipping, and storefront infrastructures.<br /><br />What do you think, <i>mes auteurs</i>?http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-on-world-of-tomorrow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-8269801779000413370Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-29T16:06:16.042-04:00lauraround-upJuly, July! (Round Up)<i>Friday round up with <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/search/label/laura" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Laura</a></i>:<br /><br />Well, it's been a while. Mea culpa, readers—I've been reading <i>A Dance with Dragons</i> and neglecting important things like the round up, and showering. But other things are going on in the world too, I guess, that are just as important. ...Close to just as important. <a href="http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/20/bradley-cooper-going-down-under-way-down-under-for-paradise-lost-film/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bradley Cooper will play Lucifer in <i>Paradise Lost</i></a>, which should be hot as hell (ba dum chh). Devilishly good? Other puns? That plus this <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/new-imprint-dedicated-to-zombies-print-is-dead_b35058" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">imprint dedicated to zombies</a> are going to keep me busy for a while. Plus I can watch <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/8644944/Elton-John-praises-Lily-Allen-for-taking-on-Bridget-Jones.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">musical Bridget Jones</a>, scored by Lily Allen. Elton John approves! All of these things are sweet like <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/food-in-books/what-are-your-favorite-sweets-from-childrens-books-151728" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">candy from kids' books</a>, which you should not take from babies.<br /><br />In other news, you can <a href="http://htmlgiant.com/behind-the-scenes/22-things-i-learned-from-submitting-writing/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">learn from submitting writing</a>, lessons other than "rejection is saddening." And if you learn enough lessons you could get on the <a href="http://www.themillions.com/2011/07/the-bookers-dozen-the-2011-booker-longlist.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Booker longlist with these ladies and gents</a>, or be the next <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2011/08/maurice-sendak-201108" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Maurice Sendak</a>. If you're extra lucky you might be a <a href="http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/07/29/rainn-wilson-geeks-out-my-10-favorite-sci-fi-and-fantasy-covers/#/0" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">top ten Rainn Wilson pick</a> or make the cash money for your partial manuscript <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2011/07/jane-austens-16-million-manuscript.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">just like Jane Austen</a>.<br /><br />Well, I'm off to finish <i>A Dance with Dragons</i>. Have an excellent summer weekend, folks... <i>because winter is coming</i>.http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/july-july-round-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-1077019678843417893Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-27T20:53:47.202-04:00a day in the lifeavastmfastraight talk expressyay writingLicense to ThrillFirst! PMN turns two years old this month, <i>mes auteurs</i>, so please leave any and all presents in the comments. Be warned: I already own every Transformers action figure and Kurt Vonnegut novel ever produced.<br /><br />(I kid. At least with regard to Transformers action figures.)<br /><br />Now then, ladies and gentlebros, I'd like to revisit a topic of yore: <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2010/01/word-on-mafia.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">mfa</span></a>. As I've mentioned before, there's no such thing as a license to write: while the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">mfa</span> is useful as a qualification to teach creative writing at the postsecondary level, there is no academic prerequisite for writing commercially successful novels. None whatsoever.<br /><br />However! If you're writing literary fiction, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">mfa</span> might not be a bad idea. First, it provides you with a community of writers who can support and provide invaluable feedback for your work; it allows you access to a network of writers, editors, and educators to which you would never have otherwise been privy; and it makes you comfortable with revising and reading your work aloud on a regular basis. I don't think the degree is necessary in any sense, and I think getting it out of boredom or as a result of the misguided belief that it will make you more attractive to agents or editors are tremendously poor choices. It does have its uses, though.<br /><br />So! If you're thinking of pursuing an <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">mfa</span> at some point, take the following into consideration (in more or less the following order):<br /><br />• <b>Location, location, location.</b> There's no sense in spending one to three years in an area you dislike—or potentially even hate. As great as the programs in Iowa and Michigan may be, seriously ask yourself whether you'd want to spend that much time there.<br /><br />• <b>Funding.</b> I firmly believe that there is no reason whatsoever to go into debt for an art degree. So, if you're choosing between the slightly more prestigious school with the $100,000 price tag and the less well-known school that'll pay your way, go with the latter.<br /><br />• <b>Time commitment.</b> Do you want to attend a less intensive studio program? An academic program that requires 40+ hours per week of preparation? A full-time program, a half-time program, a low-residency program? Keep in mind that you'll have to balance your personal and perhaps professional life with your academic existence as you earn your degree.<br /><br />• <b>Reputation.</b> How successful are the alumni of the programs you're considering? As crass as it sounds, do the names of your schools serve as social currency in literary circles? The better known your school, the more likely you are to participate in social circles that will benefit your writing career.<br /><br />• <b>Faculty.</b> This sounds like it would be a top priority, but in reality, faculty move from program to program on a fairly regular basis. The danger of selecting a program based on its faculty is that the poet or writer you most want to work with may be on sabbatical or may have left the institution entirely by the time you begin your studies. If a single individual is your primary criterion for attending a program, you may want to rethink your decision to enroll in said program.<br /><br />So! Those are my current thoughts on the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">mfa</span>. Responses, thoughts, corrections, questions, and tangents welcome in the comments!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/license-to-thrill.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-4244170826187093553Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-25T20:46:27.706-04:00a day in the lifeavastI may or may not know thingsi write goodlyyay writingyou tell meNotes from the Writing LifeSummer has always been a time for me to get a lot of writing done, so I suppose that's why it's also when I tend to learn the most about the writing process.<br /><br />So! Here are some things I've (re)discovered about writing over the past few weeks:<br /><br />1. <b>There's a time and a place for everything, including writing.</b> I like tables that are supposed to be for eating—cafeteria tables, my dining room table, diner booth tables—either early in the morning or early in the evening.<br /><br />2. <b>Editing can oppose as well as complement writing.</b> I know a lot of people who can edit as they go along, but I can't. It kills my momentum.<br /><br />3. <b>Writing is mostly practice.</b> Practice, patience, perseverance. You make mistakes. You learn from them. You write some more. It's more about discipline and introspection than talent, though talent certainly helps.<br /><br />4. <b>Being good at one type of writing doesn't automatically make you good at the others, but it means you can <i>learn</i> to be.</b> I'm a decent poet. I used to be a lousy fiction writer. I think now I'm a mediocre fiction writer. The form you practice more, the one you read more, is the one you'll get better at.<br /><br />5. <b>Trying to publish keeps you honest.</b> It keeps you writing, it keeps you rereading your work to understand why it wasn't accepted, it keeps you humble, it keeps you hungry. I think writers who don't attempt to publish their work can very easily become complacent and many cease to improve.<br /><br />6. <b>You can always be better.</b> I'm skeptical that individual pieces of writing can never be improved, but flat out deny that individual writers can never improve.<br /><br />7. <b>Creative writing can be taught.</b> This doesn't mean all students will be equally capable. Nuclear physics can be taught; are all students of nuclear physics equally capable?<br /><br />8. <b>Writing is a habit.</b> Writing every day, even if the product is sometimes—even often—terrible, is useful. I think it produces stronger long-term results than waiting for the proverbial Muse to move you.<br /><br />9. <b>Writing well is a real skill.</b> Although I believe that many, if not most, people <i>could</i> write reasonably well, very few actually <i>do</i>. Further, I believe that most people think they're good writers because they write every day—grocery lists, e-mails, birthday cards, &c. Literacy is not equal to writing ability. Good writers are rare and should be paid well for their work.<br /><br />10. <b>Writing is work.</b> Writing is difficult, writing takes time, writing is not always fun. If it's what you want to do above all else, you'll find a way to do it. If you don't have the patience for revision or desire to succeed or the stomach for rejection, this line of work isn't for you.<br /><br />What have you recently learned about writing, <i>mes auteurs</i>? And/or what are the best, worst, most and least helpful pieces of advice you've ever received with regard to writing?http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/notes-from-writing-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-4429861290251809024Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-20T16:02:44.949-04:00knowledge is half the battlelisten: I know it's "knowing is half the battle" but I've had this tag for too longthe other half is lasersWhat I Learned on My Summer Vacation· I should not have broken my vow to never again fly United Airlines. You know <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">they break guitars</a>, right?<br /><br />· <i>The Iliad</i> is phenomenal, though not nearly as good as <i>The Odyssey</i>. Michael Chabon's <i>The Yiddish Policemen's Union</i>, which I've been meaning to read for a long time, is fantastic so far. I'm reading Jennifer Egan's <i>A Visit from the Goon Squad</i> next.<br /><br />· New York City is smellier and hotter than I remember.<br /><br />· Rayne Summers has figured out <a href="http://www.leasticoulddo.com/comic/20110720" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">how to save the book industry</a>!<br /><br />· I don't really "tan." I mostly just turn red and then white again. I may have known this already.<br /><br />· It is possible to play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plants_vs._Zombies" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Plants vs. Zombies</a> for an entire six-hour flight. If you haven't yet played it and are looking for a distraction, you can play a free online demo <a href="http://www.popcap.com/games/free/pvz" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">here</a>. Make sure you finish your writing first!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-i-learned-on-my-summer-vacation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-92835664637169041Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-19T22:51:15.494-04:00bordersdoomend of an eraepocalypseholy craplet me get a little serious on youThe Last ChapterI've returned from parts unknown, <i>mes auteurs</i>, and I trust y'all enjoyed last week's guest posts while I was gone. Many thanks to our five guest posters!<br /><br />All is not sunshine and lollipops in Ye Olde Publishinge Lande, however. If you haven't yet heard the sad news, <a href="http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/borders-group-seeks-approval-for-liquidation-bid_b34584" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Borders is converting from Chapter 11 bankruptcy to Chapter 7</a>, meaning they are liquidating their assets and going entirely out of business.<br /><br />First, my sincere condolences and heartfelt thanks to all the Borders employees who have helped me so much over the years and to whom I wish the best in their pursuits and endeavors after Borders. BGP's liquidation will entail roughly 11,000 layoffs—not including potential job losses at ancillary corporations, such as publishing, shipping, and food services companies that may have departments dealing exclusively with Borders—and my best wishes are with those who will be seeking work in this economy in the next several months.<br /><br />Second, this will impact the industry in many significant ways, not all of which will become immediately apparent.<br /><br /><b>• There is now only one major bricks-and-mortar physical book retailer in the country: Barnes & Noble.</b> B&N no longer needs to contend with any other major player in terms of physical co-op, in-store couponing, &c &c. I expect they'll continue to compete heavily with Amazon, however—especially in the increasingly popular e-book arena—so I don't foresee any immediate or comprehensive shifts in the price of physical books.<br /><br /><b>• There is now a significant surplus of physical books in the market.</b> I'm not completely clear on the returns policy for distressed retailers, but I believe they're entitled to return most—if not all—of their unsold stock to the appropriate publishers. While I imagine many publishers moved to minimize their exposure back when Borders filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, I think a lot of them are going to get hit with big returns as Borders dissolves.<br /><br /><b>• Print runs are going to become smaller.</b> When making final decisions in terms of binding books, publishers have taken two major chains into account; now they'll only account for one. While it's true that Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and (to a lesser extent) big-box retailers like Wal*Mart and small, independent book shops will absorb some of that business, a portion of it will be permanently lost.<br /><br /><b>• I think this will hasten physical/electronic equilibrium in the market.</b> With fewer physical books being printed and more consumers going to Amazon and Barnes & Noble—many purchasing books electronically via the Kindle or Nook, respectively—I think the American market will be fully half e-books by the last quarter of 2013 or the first quarter of 2014. Over time, areas traditionally resistant to electronic media (such as art books, children's books, and international editions) will increasingly move in that direction, as well.<br /><br />Again: is the physical book dead? Absolutely not. But the loss of Borders will, I think, hasten its transition to a secondary format.<br /><br />The times, they are a-changin', ladies and gents, and I don't pretend to know what's going to happen over the next several months. I can tell you, however, that I'm not surprised by this turn of events—in fact, Borders managed to hang on much longer than I expected—and I was by no means alone in the industry in that expectation. Though the methods by which customers purchase books will undoubtedly continue to change, people will still need great stories. Books, whatever their form, are here to stay, and it's my sincere hope that Borders' demise will engender more opportunities than it dissolves.http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/last-chapter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-5475175788964366861Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-15T10:00:06.730-04:00a day in the lifeguest postyay readingGuest Post: Rotten Rejections<a href="http://dlorton.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/istock_000014777130xsmall1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-437" title="iStock_000014777130XSmall" src="http://dlorton.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/istock_000014777130xsmall1.jpg?w=282" alt="" width="282" height="300" /></a>I stumbled upon the following gems while attempting to gather statistics (via the Internet) on what percentage of books get picked up by agents, but are never sold to publishers. I have a <a href="http://www.dlorton.com/JustWrite/Crossing_In_Time.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">novel</a> currently on submission (via my agent <a href="http://www.weronikajanczuk.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Weronika Janczuk</a>), and I was (somewhat morbidly) curious about just how bad my odds of finding a publisher might be.<a name='more'></a> (The <a href="http://www.ritaemmett.com/articles/what-are-the-odds.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">only source</a> I could find mentioned that good agents typically sell three out of five projects: 60%. Ouch.)<br /><br />Unfortunately, the publishing world is notoriously tight with their figures, and I don't mean dress size. Most <em>published</em> authors can't get actual numbers on how many books they've sold. (The publishers only share estimates, and even that data is not public.) The New York Times doesn't say exactly how they determine the books on their best seller lists, but they will tell you that they don't collect data on internet sales (no Amazon! Which explains why Amanda Hocking isn't on it.)<br /><br />Getting information on the reservoir-side of the dam is a bit easier. Most agents will tell you how many queries they get a week, and you can check out author sites such as <a href="http://www.querytracker.net/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">QueryTracker</a> to get statistics on how many manuscripts agents select to read out of the hundreds of queries they receive each week. My agent was kind enough to share some of her numbers (and give me permission to tell you about them):<br /><br />Ms. Janczuk's queries per day: ~25 or nearly 200 a week.<br /><br />Of these queries, she requests, on average, two partials (8%).<br /><br />She typically requests one full for every ten partials (0.8 %), and considers offering representation on one out of 15 full manuscripts (.053 %). I have to add that she is a voracious reader, and passes that benefit along to the authors that query her: her request rate is higher than average, and her response time is lower!<br /><br />If you query Ms. Janczuk, your chances of getting an offer are about 1 in 2000 (all things being equal, which of course, they are not.)<br /><br />If your chances of finding a publisher (once you have an agent) are 60%, then a finished manuscript has a 1 in 3200 chance of being published (and, although I'm already better than one in two thousand, my chances of finding a publisher are still only so-so—probably worse than so-so because my book is cross-genre).<br /><br />If you take into account that there are only around <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/18/books/the-last-word-how-many-books-are-too-many.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">10,000 new novels published each year</a> (and better than 80% of those are by known authors) the chances for a debut novel to see the light in any given year are: 1 in 15,625. Given that number, it should come as no surprise that gems fall through the cracks (and explain why people are going over in droves to e-publishing).<br /><br />In any case, as every author who wishes to get published knows (or will very soon learn), rejections go with the territory. But, it might be nice to learn that you're in good company:<br /><br /><strong>Stephen King</strong> received 30 rejections for his novel <em>Carrie</em> before throwing it in the trash. His wife retrieved it, and convinced him to keep trying. The editor from Doubleday who finally bought the book had to send King a telegram because his phone had been disconnected.<br /><br /><strong>George Orwell</strong> was told that "it is impossible to sell animal stories in the USA" when he submitted <em>Animal Farm</em>.<br /><br /><strong>Madeleine L'Engle</strong>'s <em>A Wrinkle in Time</em> was rejected by 26 publishers. (I love that book.)<br /><br /><strong>Audrey Niffenegger</strong> couldn't find an agent for her cross-genre book <em>The Time Traveler's Wife</em>. She gave up on finding an agent and began submitting the manuscript to small publishers. The book has sold more than 2.5 million copies and was made into a movie.<br /><br /><strong>Rudyard Kipling</strong> was given this helpful feedback: "I'm sorry Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language."<br /><br /><strong>Margaret Mitchell</strong> had <em>Gone with the Wind</em> returned to her 38 times. Now that's perseverance.<br /><br /><strong>J.K Rowling</strong>, who may have single-handedly inspired a whole generation of kids to love books, had her first <em>Harry Potter</em> book rejected by a dozen publishers (including Penguin and HarperCollins). It was finally picked up by a small London publisher whose 8-year-old daughter begged him to print it. (Our debt to that little girl is great.)<br /><br />Here's to Rotten Rejections!<br /><br /><i>(Check out the book <a href="http://www.writersservices.com/mag/m_rejection.htm" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Rotten Rejections</a> for an extended list, e.g. On Sylvia Plath: "There certainly isn't enough genuine talent for us to take notice.")<br /><br />D.L. Orton writes mainstream fiction, creative nonfiction, and the occasional off-color limerick.<br /><br />Please visit the writer's blog on getting published, <a href="http://querysharkbait.dlorton.com.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> Query Shark Bait </a>, or her blog on love and relationships: <a href="http://betweentwoevils.dlorton.com" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> Between Two Evils </a>.<br /><br />The author has a novel on submission and can be contacted via her website: <a href="http://www.dlorton.com/JustWrite/Welcome.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Just Write</a>.</i>http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/guest-post-rotten-rejections.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)73tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-351242213573801654Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-14T10:00:03.022-04:00guest postyay readingGuest Post: Writing Without a Net(Work)<i>by <a href="http://www.lornagraham.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Lorna Graham</a>, author of </i>The Ghost of Greenwich Village<i> (Ballantine/Random House, 6/28/11)</i><br /> <br />My debut novel is about to come out and, and, like so many writers before me, I’m uneasy. Okay, anxious. In just a few weeks, my work, for better or for worse, will be out there in the world to be enjoyed (hopefully) and judged (certainly).<br /> <br />The ironic thing is, I should be used to it.<br /> <br />I’ve been writing professionally for years and my work has always been for public consumption. You might even be familiar with some of it. Maybe you enjoyed an interview with Stephen King or Ellen Degeneres. Maybe you followed a “film noir” true crime story about cheating husbands and lethal wives through every delicious twist and turn. Or maybe you learned the dirty truth about the health code violations of a restaurant near you, or how a new kind of designer drug stays one step ahead of the law.<br /> <br />I've been a writer for both a morning news program and a primetime news magazine and have written for at least a dozen household name anchors.<br /> <br />But you’d never know it. Because in this kind of writing, the writer is for all intents and purposes, invisible. My name is well below the radar and I betray almost zero of my self, my sensibility, or my psyche in my work.<br /> <br />Why? Mainly because I make very few choices in the stories I help tell. And the ones I do make, which are creative ones that relate to style and rarely substance, are subject to extraordinary constraints.<br /> <br />In news, first of all, we start with the story. Facts. You do not get to mess with these; we play them as they lay. (Contrary to the low opinion some people have today of journalists, there is an extraordinary effort to discover the truth and tell it.)<br /> <br />All we can do is decide the way we’re going to tell it. As a writer, it’s my job to make you want to watch what we’re about to show you. I try to think about what makes each story unique, and how best to highlight that to intrigue you. But between my typing fingers and your ears is a long, bumpy road.<br /> <br />Before you hear anything I’ve written for a correspondent or anchor to say, I must obtain written approval of every syllable from at least five people: our executive producer, a lawyer with our legal department, a representative from standards & practices, the producer of the story, and the show’s anchor.<br /> <br />This chain of command is vitally important. It’s how we ensure what gets on the air is of the highest quality and accuracy. Each of these people is a seasoned professional who wants the best for the show, but they don’t always agree on how to get there. For my words to run the gauntlet from my computer to your television screen unscathed is pretty much unheard of.<br /> <br />I always start with my best shot, something I believe that’s going to grab the viewer while also being scrupulously fair. I spend the rest of the day accommodating the wishes of everyone else, hoping to preserve what I like best about my original version. Very often, because of time constraints – if my intro to a piece is supposed to run twenty seconds, that’s all I can write – the thing I like best, the little flourish that made it fresh and, well, mine, is what goes.<br /> <br />The best thing about writing for television is that it’s collaborative. You work with so many smart, caring, funny people. I adore my colleagues.<br /> <br />The worst thing about writing for television?<br /> <br />Same answer: it’s collaborative.<br /> <br />When I first started writing fiction, I felt like I was throwing off heavy chains. There were no facts to adhere to, no legal department fretting that anything I wrote was libelous. Within my novel, I could create my own world, my own rules, from the inside out.<br /> <br />I felt like writing about a ghost? I did. (Try that in TV news.) I wanted to write an extra chapter to fill out a character’s back story? Fine, we’re not cutting to commercial break. I wanted a rude character to say something off-color? Totally cool, there’s no F.C.C. to worry about.<br /> <br />Another thing about TV news? Credits rarely run; there usually just isn’t time. Executives, producers and editors may see their names on screen but writers, almost never.<br /> <br />Now my name is on the front of a book. It looks odd to me, and loud: like a trumpet’s blare, demanding everyone look in my direction.<br /> <br />This time, there’s no one to hide behind. Though I’ve had a dream team of fabulous people help me with this book, including my agent, editor and fiction workshop, the choices in my novel are all mine. For the first time in my professional life, I stand alone.<br /> <br />Thrilling.<br /> <br />Scary.<br /><br /><br /><i>Lorna Graham was born in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from Barnard College. She has written for Good Morning America and currently writes for Dateline NBC. She also wrote a short film, “A Timeless Call,” honoring America’s military veterans, that was directed by Steven Spielberg. She lives in Greenwich Village. </i>The Ghost of Greenwich Village<i> is her first novel.</i>http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/guest-post-writing-without-network.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-2939419965107888384Wed, 13 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-13T10:00:08.314-04:00a day in the lifeguest postGuest Post: The Glamour Life on a Book Tour<i>by <a href="http://www.gigcity.ca/2011/05/12/the-glamour-life-on-a-book-tour/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Wayne Arthurson</a></i><br /><br />I’m riding the bus through downtown Los Angeles. It’s packed, it’s hot, I’m wearing a suit and I’ve been standing since I got on 30 minutes ago. I will stand for the entire 90 minute trip.<br /><br />Why am I riding LA Transit on a book tour for my big American novel release? Because I’m paying for everything, flights, hotels, food, beer, cabs, all of it is on me. I may be one of the few Edmonton/Alberta writers with a major US book deal, but in the US, I’m unknown and untested. My publisher is paying for nothing.<br /><br />Well, not really. They are paying for my LA hotel. And it’s nice. Located in posh area of Westwood, the Palomar is a funky boutique hotel with free wine in the lobby everyday from 5-7 pm.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the Palomar is 20 miles from the University of Southern California, the site for the LA Times Festival of Books. To get there I took a cab. $45 dollars before tip. Which explains the bus ride back.<br /><br />The festival was great. It’s more of a book fair really, with hundreds of booths selling anything related to publishing. There are some great panels featuring great writers, poets and celebrities, all of it free. But I have no time for that. I must get a book signed by Mo Willems for my daughter. It’s hot, sunny and I’m wearing a dark suit. After 75 minutes in line, I get Mo’s signature on <i>Knuffle Bunny</i>, Too. My pits are sticky; my pale Canadian skin is sizzling.<br /><br />Fortunately, my event is in a shaded tent. It’s an hour-long signing at the Mysterious Galaxy, a San Diego Bookstore. I’m signing with Michael Koryta, 28, with seven published books already. Nice guy, but I want to kill him because of his youth and talent. I sell about 10 books, which is good, and I later meet up with LA writer/filmmaker Stephen Jay Schwartz. We met at a mystery convention in March and bonded because our main characters have addictions. He’s an actual book festival panelist and sneaks me into the green room where there is free food and soda. Nice, but a Canadian book festival would at least have free beer. Since Stephen’s from LA, I ask him about taking the bus back to my hotel.<br /><br />“No one who’s anyone in LA takes the bus,” he says. “But if you have to, don’t make eye contact and watch your back because you’ll be going through some sketchy neighbourhoods.”<br /><br />But the LA bus in LA is no different than an Edmonton bus, except that it’s only $1.50. Nothing weird happens.<br /><br />The weird stuff comes later. After showering, eating and phoning the family, I head to the hotel bar for a beer. I missed the free wine.<br /><br />News breaks on the TV. Osama bin Laden is dead. No one leaves, we wait for Obama to speak. When he does, the patrons get up from their seats and gather around the TV. The bartender turns off the Muzak. A few take cell phone photos of the TV. It’s like the first moonwalk or some other awe-inspiring historical event. No one speaks, no one cheers. There’s just a hushed silence. The bartender does not turn the music back on. I finish my beer and go back to my room, setting the alarm an hour earlier than planned because I know airport security is going to be tight tomorrow. I’m heading to Vancouver.<br /><br /><br /><i>Wayne Arthurson’s latest detective novel, </i>Fall From Grace<i>, is available on Amazon and various other online locations—plus, at good old fashioned book stores. His recent book tour in Canada and the U.S. is recounted in an exclusive four-part series for GigCity. Part 1 starts in in Los Angeles. (Read: <a href="http://www.gigcity.ca/2011/05/13/the-glamour-life-on-a-book-tour-part-ii-van-city-letdown/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part II</a>, <a href="http://www.gigcity.ca/2011/05/14/the-glamour-life-on-a-book-tour-part-iii-great-big-family/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part III</a>, <a href="http://www.gigcity.ca/2011/05/15/the-glamour-life-on-a-book-tour-part-iv-the-end-is-near/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Part IV</a>)</i>http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/guest-post-glamour-life-on-book-tour.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-5389821682547603977Tue, 12 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-12T10:00:07.280-04:00guest postknowledge is half the battlethe other half is lasersGuest Post: Four Elements of a Great Book Signing<i>by <a href="http://www.reformedromance.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Corrie Garrett</a></i><br /><br />A couple Saturdays ago I spent the afternoon in downtown Los Angeles at a book signing for John Scalzi. He’s a NYT best-selling author for <i>Old Man’s War</i> and several other fantastic scifi novels, including his latest one, <i>Fuzzy Nation</i>. Basically, he’s an experienced guy who ran an excellent book signing. I’ve been to a few other book signing/reading events—and they are, sadly, not always a blazing success.<br /><br />So, let’s say you’ve done your promotion and your marketing and you’ve managed to gather a respectable crowd at your local Barnes and Noble. What do you do with them?<br /><br /><b>1. Audience participation</b><br /><br />Get involved. Scalzi was chatting with all the early arrivals when I got there, funny stories about his travel or whatever. When he started the "real" bit, he asked us a lot of questions. Did we hear about this from his blog? Did we want to hear him read from his new novel, or his next, unpublished one? He let the audience vote on it, and he then he had us all swear secrecy for the excerpt from his new book.<br /><br />Take away: Talk to the audience before you start; this is the best way to assuage nerves if you’re uncomfortable. Ask questions. Maybe do a poll on favorite genre, how they know you, favorite character (particularly if you have an Edward/Jacob setting), or maybe how far they drove to come. The people coming to a book signing want to feel known even if it’s only a small way.<br /><br /><b>2. Elite status</b><br /><br />Make the audience feel privileged. Signing books is only part of it. By coming to your book signing, they’ve formed a tenuous relationship with you, and inside information is a great way to cement the feeling of that relationship. Scalzi read from his novel that will be released in 2012.<br /><br />You might not have another book contract, but you can still give inside information. If you might (possibly) be doing a sequel, give some clues about it. If you have nothing in the future (hopefully not!), give some insight into how this story came about. If the main character is based on your dog, or started as a ghost and turned into a vampire—talk about that.<br /><br /><b>3. Question control</b><br /><br />A Q&A session is great for audience involvement, but you have to be on top of it. Scalzi told us up front that some questions he couldn’t answer (for legal reasons), and he didn’t hesitate to say, “Nope, that’s all I have to say about that,” on a couple questions that were off topic.<br /><br />Some questions will be off the wall—only glancingly related to you or your book, or even inappropriate. A short answer is good, but don’t let them hijack the session with questions of no interest to anyone else. The rest of your audience will appreciate it.<br /><br /><b>4. Humor</b><br /><br />Do funny. Okay, so a lot of us don’t have great comedic timing or fantastic impersonations or anything like that. But you don’t have to. Scalzi read the first few sentences from a prologue he spoofed on April Fool’s Day; the writing was hysterically awful and over the top.<br /><br />Maybe you’re not into spoofs, but most of us authors have some pretty hysterical rough drafts and drawer manuscripts. Dig one out (an old one that doesn’t grieve you anymore), and find a section to give your audience. If you read from your current book, don’t be afraid to spice it up. Dramatic pauses, voices, gasps—whatever fits. They’re ready to be entertained, so be brave. Collect some anecdotes from your travel or tour and have them ready. Self-deprecating humor is always a safe bet, too.<br /><br />Getting people to your book signing is fantastic, making them tell all their friends about it is even better. Have fun!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/guest-post-four-elements-of-great-book.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-7792560590899336684Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-11T12:40:35.915-04:00guest postself-publishingGuest Post: To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish?<i>Apologies for not getting a round-up to you last week,</i> mes auteurs<i>. However! You've now got a full week of guest posts to look forward to, starting with this one by Chevonese Fender. Sit back, relax, and enjoy! — E</i><br /><br />"Self-publishing used to have a real stigma attached to it. To be self-published meant your work was SO BAD that not one publisher would take you seriously. But that’s just not true anymore. Readers just want a great book to read." — Kaia Van Zandt, from Alan Rinzler’s post, <a href="#one" style="text-decoration: none;">"Advice for Amanda Hocking from authors and agents"</a><br /><br />It is true that I, too, fell victim to this stigma. When I spent some time in New York, I would always see street vendors alongside 34th Street hustling to sell books that I would never take one second to peruse, let alone purchase. The approach is a turn off and the quality of the books, <i>i.e.</i> the print and cover quality, are a no-no in my standards.<br /><br />Two years ago I was on the 2 train to the Bronx and noticed a Caucasian girl reading an urban novel, which I decided must have been self-published based on the distasteful cover and book quality. I was not surprised when I got a glimpse of the content and how less than classy it was. That was my impression of self-publishing. So when my friends and family have the gall to suggest the idea, I literally cringe and regard them with utmost disdain. <i>Me, self-publish? Oh heck no!</i> The goal is to be seen and known as a respected author, not the other way around.<br /><br />I always agreed with Van Zandt's description of how self-publishing used to be <a href="#one" style="text-decoration: none;">[1]</a>: that to self-publish meant my work was not good enough for a literary agent or publisher to give it the time of day. So, for a while I continued with my upturned nose, bent on having representation. It was not until I realized how the self-publishing industry had transformed and how beneficial it had proven to be for countless struggling and aggravated authors that I began seeing self-publishing for what it was.<br /><br />Granted, there are those self-published authors who, out of anticipation, eagerly publish their work without serious editing and consulting. These authors partly contribute to the negative connotation that self-publishing carries. But it seems as if the tables have been drastically turning. Now, self-publishing appears to be the second best approach, if not the first, for getting your unpublished work out there.<br /><br />So with two stories completed—one short story and one full length novel with its sequel on the way—would self-publishing be my best bet? Well, I would no longer have to hopelessly wait, after submitting my query letters for representation, for months to know if I’ve been given a "yes" or "no." I would no longer be limited to sharing my stories with my ten friends and family members and accept their praises as mission accomplished. And most importantly, no longer would I have to WAIT!<br /><br />So many tools, websites, and literary agent blogs offer advice and tips, weighing the pros and cons of publishing on your own or taking the traditional route. It doesn’t hurt becoming your own agent, marketing and representing your own product, and reaping total benefits from book sales, as opposed to splitting it three ways if you were represented by an agent who found you a publisher. Most importantly, you are in full control of your content! Sounds like hard work and it most certainly is.<br /><br />Is there respect for self-published authors today? Absolutely! Exhibit A: Amanda Hocking, after being told "no" numerous times, went on an ambitious whim and published on her own, only to find that her audience did exist and that her work is now worth a two million dollar contract with St. Martin’s Press. The publishers simply got on the bandwagon because they saw that there was money to be made; a foundation that was already set had been set through self-publishing. Even traditionally published authors like thriller and suspense writers Stephen King and Barry Eisler have self-published. Eisler <a href="#two" style="text-decoration: none;">[2]</a> consciously opted out of a major contract simply because he wanted full control of his work and his money. Certainly these authors have an upper hand, as they have years of experience with the market—but the fact is, self-publishing is becoming more appealing than it was five or six years ago. Now, many services offer print-on-demand, which cuts out unnecessary printing costs.<br /><br />We Jamaicans have a saying: "Puss and dog don’t have the same luck," which simply means that one man’s success story may not be the same for another. There are a lot of factors to consider if you desire the same success story as Hocking. The genre, writing style, content, target audience, cover images, and marketing and promotional strategies are all vital things to consider. But who’s to say how successful you will be unless you actually try it? In my book, not trying is failing.<br /><br />Based on the numerous dialogues that I’ve come across, I’ve deduced one main thing: go off your gut instincts and your pocket. So should you venture beyond the traditional and daringly choose self-publishing? I’m certainly not against taking the bull by the horns, and there are many reputable authors, agents and editors who aren’t either. However, at the end of the day a decision has to be made.<br /><br />Here’s what I advise: create your checklists of short term and long term goals for your books and your literary career; weigh your options, do your research, understand the benefits and pitfalls of choosing either publishing option; and be patient.<br /><br />So, you tell me. Where do you stand?<br /><br /><br /><i>Chevonese Fender is from Jamaica. She modeled for five years, the latter part spent working in New York. She was represented last by Boss Models in New York, and a little over a year and half ago she made a life-changing decision to actually put her God-given skill to use and write. She writes edgy, inspirational romance and has not yet been published, but her first novel is recently completed and she finds herself at the crossroads, so to speak: publishing traditionally or just say, the heck with it—publish the darn thing yourself!</i><br /><br /><br /><div id="one">[1]</div> <a href="http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2011/04/04/advice-for-amanda-hocking-from-authors-and-agents/" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/2011/04/04/advice-for-amanda-hocking-from-authors-and-agents/</a><br /><br /><div id="two">[2]</div> <a href="http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/03/ebooks-and-self-publishing-dialog.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/03/ebooks-and-self-publishing-dialog.html</a>http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/guest-post-to-self-publish-or-not-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-7925363874596284018Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-06T12:24:55.911-04:00anti-doomavastguest posthooray youit's onsharing is caringthat time of yearGuest Posts: ReduxWhen I <a href="http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/05/call-for-guest-posts.html" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">last asked for guest posts</a> back in May, I received so many quality submissions that I couldn't take just five. So! I accepted an additional five guest posts for next week, as I shall be out of town on Ye Olde Holidaye Times.<br /><br />Where will I be? Well, somewhere significantly less stressful (and smelly) than New York City. I suppose that's not much of a hint, though, since that's pretty much <i>everywhere else on the planet</i>. At least you know I won't be in Beijing or L.A.<br /><br />Without futher ado!<br /><br />Monday, July 11th: "To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish? That is a Darn Good Question!" by Chevonese Fender<br /><br />Tuesday, July 12th: "Four Elements of a Great Book Signing" by Corrie Garrett<br /><br />Wednesday, July 13th: "The Glamour Life on a Book Tour" by Wayne Arthurson<br /><br />Thursday, July 14th: "Writing Without a Net(Work)" by Lorna Graham<br /><br />Friday, July 15th: "Rotten Rejections" by D.L. Orton<br /><br />I'll return on Monday, July 18th with more gems, pearls of wisdom, and other assorted literary treasures for you. Until then, enjoy Friday's round-up and next week's guest posts!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/guest-posts-redux.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-1379058752644327123Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-07-02T17:33:07.966-04:00americaFTWgo nutshooray mehooray youit's ono joyo rapturethat time of yearHappy Fourth of July!Due to the Fourth of July weekend, <i>mes auteurs</i>, there'll be no round-up from Laura today and no new post on Monday, July 4th. Check back on Wednesday, and have fun blowing things up in the meantime!http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-fourth-of-july.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7733835506387656648.post-7774880565019553230Wed, 29 Jun 2011 14:00:00 +00002011-06-30T15:04:56.680-04:00a day in the lifea little knowledge is a dangerous thingand that's the way it wasbetter late than neverdon't panicexcuses excusessharing is caringThe Summer SlowdownYour queries have been met with silence. Your agent has inexplicably vanished. Your editor has departed for parts unknown. What gives?<br /><br />The answer: it's summer.<br /><br />The publishing industry doesn't exactly go into hibernation during the summer months, but it's fair to say that business slows down substantially between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Aside from physical production, everything winds down a bit: offers from agents, acquisitions from editors, &c, &c. It's sort of the calm before the storm of the holiday season (October through December).<br /><br />If you're currently submitting a manuscript, don't be surprised if it takes longer than usual to hear back. Not only is there an industry-wide downtrend in acquiring new work, but the majority of publishing professionals take vacation during the summer months, meaning that at any given time a large percentage of available staff are out of the office. Even if your agent is around, if (s)he depends on his/her assistant to filter submissions and that assistant is in Cancún for the week, you probably won't be hearing back about your novel for at least that long.<br /><br />My advice? Spend the summer writing. As I've mentioned before, I <s>waste</s> spend my non-publishing, non-blogging time as a poet, and since most literary journals and magazines are affiliated with universities, they either close submissions or are much slower in responding during June, July, and August. I take this time to recharge my batteries, burn a little well-deserved vacation, and write/rewrite in preparation for the autumn submission period.<br /><br />What about you, <i>mes auteurs</i>? Are you submitting now? If not, how are you spending your writing-related time?http://pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-slowdown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eric)16
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