This week….. publishing….
Lots of links this week, but first comes news that Dan Brown’s long long long awaited follow-up to THE DA VINCI CODE just might be finished! He would have delivered it sooner, but he was caught up in a global conspiracy involving an ancient Sanskrit text, the National Security Council, aliens, and, of course, the Catholic Church. It was epic. I’m told the ordeal also had impeccable pacing.
My colleague Tracy Marchini attended the O’Reilly Tools of Change Conference, and has a must-read series of posts on what she learned. Absolutely worth spending some time there to learn more about eBooks, the future of free content, books and social media, and all kinds of other good stuff.
You might have heard about a little device called Kindle 2, which a little company called Amazon will be shipping out in a couple of weeks now. Kindle 2’s birthing was met with a touch of controversy, as the device includes a feature where you can have the Kindle 2 read to you in a digital voice, which Amazon may not have the right to offer as they may not have secured, you know, audio rights. Stay tuned for this one.
Meanwhile, reader John Askins pointed me to this New York Times article about an upstart challenger to the Sony Reader and Amazon Kindle. Plastic Logic debuted a prototype eReader with a 10.7 inch display (compared to 6″ for the Sony and Kindle) that will support a variety of formats, and they’ve already begun reaching agreements for content.
As we all know, confidence is essential for any writer, and super-editor (I’m pretty sure that’s his actual title) Alan Rinzler recently wrote a great series of tips on how to keep up the writerly self-esteem.
Reader Neil Vogler pointed me to a BBC article which poses the question: when you have mobile devices and a short attention span to distract you, are you still reading?
Jan Markley was the first to point me to an “End of Publishing As We Know It: Canadian Style” article from the Globe and Mail about the increasing necessity of authorial self-promotion and what’s perceived as declining promotional efforts on the part of Canadian publishers, who are battling small margins. Sounds pretty familiar, eh?
The good people over at Book Roast have an anonymous publisher writing some great posts, and the most recent discusses what goes into a book cover.
One of the very most common questions I receive: how should an author conduct themselves when they have an agent? Agent Richard Curtis has drafted a 10 Commandments on this very subject, and quite a few of the points boil down to: let the agent do the talking. (hat tip Josephine Damian)
Several different blogging agents, including this one, have noted a serious uptick in queries in ’09, and particularly of the “Dear Agnet, Ive written a book I need an agent please write me back, Sincerely, Author” variety (often with the word “query” misspelled in the subject line). Janet Reid, needless to say, has some hilarious choice thoughts.
And finally, because we all need a little more pig in our life…
Kingsford Goes to the Beach – Funny home videos are a click away
Have a great weekend!
Marilyn Peake says
That pig is adorable! Watching the video just made my day. Looking forward to reading all the links. Have a great weekend!
April Hollands says
Book covers blah blah blah ebooks blah blah blah Amazon blah blah blah little black piglet that goes to the beach and has a swim after annoying a cat who can't really be blamed for being a bit grumpy about being hassled by such a tiny and cute piglet. <–This is what I took from all that valuable information. It's just what happens if you post such cuteness.
Anonymous says
I had no idea that pigs could swim!
Mira says
Interesting links, thank you.
I didn’t like Richard Curtis’ article, though.
I don’t think that someone should write an article about courtesy, and then label three of his commandments: Keep your big mouth shut.
When I actually write something, Richard will have to be much nicer to me in his query letter offering to represent me.
Linda Cassidy-Lewis says
Great links, but the real question is: will Nathan spend the weekend pig shopping?
cg says
Who cares about publishing- okay I do and I want a Kindle, or a Sony Reader, or that tablet thing – but did you guys see that cute little piglet following the guy all around?? Thanks for the chuckle, NB. 🙂
Marilyn Peake says
Just read Alan Rinzler’s article about how to keep up confidence as a writer. I needed that. Thanks! Now, on to writing…
word verification, not kidding: “dromance” – Freaky, since Valentine’s Day is tomorrow. (Of course, today is Friday the 13th.)
Mira says
Yes, I agree Marilyn, that was an excellent article. I’m sorry if I’m overly critical, Nathan, this is a really good blog.
Kristan says
Omigosh that pig! Too cute, thank you!
Chris Eldin says
Thanks for the info!! I love your Friday round-ups!!
🙂
T. Anne says
OK, I need a pig. With two dogs and four kids, who would notice?
Dara says
I really enjoyed the article on how to keep confidence as a writer; I think it’s something I’m going to have to refer back to in the future.
Thanks for these updates in publishing; I always learn something from them.
Paul Äertker says
Yes, we do need a little more pig in our lives.
Lady Glamis says
I am very sorry to hear that you get queries of that sort. 🙁 My sympathies.
Nice video. I’m still giggling. Hehehe.
Anonymous says
Pigs are very smart. But not smart enough however to figure out how not to be delicious.
Gina Black says
Cute piglet video.
You notice anything about it that might involve the issue of digital rights and copyright infringement? People don’t even notice it with music anymore. Pity, pity, pity.
Jill Corcoran says
Thanks for the links and have a great 3-day weekend:)
brianjayjones.com says
Yes, it’s true: The Solomon Key is finished. And I’ve hidden ten clues to its storyline on the cover of my book.
(Just kidding!)
Rowenna says
On the subject of the Kindle…it’s been touted for its ecofriendliness (ie lack of paper usage), but an open letter from a paper exec(see https://sections.whattheythink.com/environment/2009/02/letter-to-the-industry) recently commented on the sustainability of paper production (when done eco-consciously) compared to the toxic elements inherent in electronic devices like this. Anyone have any comments? Do environmental factors play in for anyone else when deciding to stick with paper or go with a device like the Kindle?
I actually liked Curtis’s article, though most of it (ie, don’t badmouth anyone) seems like common sense for any industry.
abc says
I heart Kingsford!
clindsay says
Thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU for Kingsford. That made my whole week!
=)
Colleen
Scotty says
Having worked at a full-service, in house marketing agency for the last 20 years, I can tell you with the highest degree of certainty that a camel is indeed a horse by committee. You just can’t fall in love with a design when others are involved. It can break your heart. In fact, I design covers for all of my books and posters for my screenplays, but have learned to keep them to myself. Bah.
Also from experience, I actually owned a potbellied pig for three years. He lived with me in my apartment in Philadelphia and was the cutest, smartest pet I have ever owned. However, if they’re mixed heritage–and that one most definitely is unless it’s a very rare teacup–they grow to unmanageable size without a very large piece of property. I eventually had to place him with some folks who had a tree nursery and all’s well that ends well.
Lastly, Nathan, I have a contest suggestion: best log line wins a pass to hear Jennifer Egan and Robert Stone read at the Golden Gate Room on March 12th (Tobias Wolff will also be there). I would say the winner gets a date with Jennifer, but alas she has already been wifed.
Can’t have everything.
Newbee says
Cute little Kingsford the pig! I bought a card for Valentines Day for a friend and it has a pig on the front of it with wings. On the inside it says, “Look it’s cupig!”…hahaha…
Nathan hope you and your wife have a great long weekend. I’ll look over the links and get back with you.
I can’t wait for the Dan Brown book to come out. I have been waiting a long time to read it. The buzz around the research has been very interesting. It should be a good read!
Jen
lotusgirl says
Thanks for the links. It never ceases to amaze me the kind of crazy stuff that you agents get in your inboxes. Have a great weekend.
DebraLSchubert says
Damn, that pig’s cute! I’ve got six cats (yes, you read that correctly), and Kingsford comes close to being as cute as my littlest kitty, Emma Lou Cupcake. Thanks for the smiles. That’s clearly what we need these days…;-)
PurpleClover says
i <3 Kingsford
He just wants to belong…poor little guy. He would crawl inside their feet if he could.
Word verification: HatFunk (When you take your hat off and your hair smells funky)
as meredith says
That video is the cutest thing you have ever had on your blog!!!
Newbee says
PurpleClover wouldn’t that be more Hairfunk?
Margaret Yang says
Richard Curtis has made me terrified of editors. He makes them sound so conniving and sneaky and evil. But since I’m already terrified of my agent, I guess having an editor in the mix won’t be anything new.
ryan field says
I always wanted a pet pig.
JaxPop says
Mmmm…. I could go for a bacon, lettuce & tomato …….
PurpleClover says
Newbie-
Well when you remove your hat and your hair is messy it’s called “hat head” right? It was the quickest thing I could come up with…
don’t hate me for being a student nurse. 😉
Marilyn Peake says
I’ve been seeing posts about the Kindle 2 and its Text-to-Speech function in many of my writers’ groups, starting last night and all day today. The Authors Guild has definitely stirred up controversy.
I’m torn over the Kindle 2’s Text-to-Speech function. On the one hand, publishers, including my own, pay good money to have voice actors record audio books; and then Amazon does what Amazon always does: sells books in ways that benefit Amazon without ever consulting authors and publishers. Grrrrr… On the other hand, this is one time I really don’t care. (Maybe I’m tired.) However, Text-to-Speech already exists on computers and is nowhere near sounding like real voice actors.
I was thrilled, however, when Authors Guild took up the fight against Google’s plan to offer book text for free. I had read a statement by Google expressing the opinion that all books should be available to the world for free … except, of course, with advertising running alongside it. (Advertising money paid to Google, I assumed.) The electronic revolution is pounding on our doors, trying to break down copyright barriers and let it in. I’m just hoping we aren’t entering an era in which writers receive very little compensation for their work. There have been times in history when that was an artist’s reality.
I better go look at that cute little pig again. Baby pigs! Puppies!
Laura says
Pig=-cute
Dan Brown novel = UGH!
Alexa says
I want Kingsford far more than a Kindle!
reader says
Re: the 10 Curtesy article. Are you kidding me? The article makes it sound like editors are not to be trusted and have the power to send you to Hades if they wish.
Quote: “…Even your correspondence with your editor should be sent to your agent for review and forwarding, at least anything more significant than Thank you/You’re Welcome…”
How is a writer supposed to feel free to communitcate about their book or ideas if they have to look over their shoulder to this extent? And what agent actually has the time to hold everyone’s hand in this manner?
Anonymous says
That pig is SOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Annalee says
Concerning audio rights, and with do respect to agents who are just trying to look after their clients:
Text-to-speech is as much like an audiobook as a cave painting is like the Sistine Chapel. No one inclined to buy the audiobook is going to decide not to because of the Kindle’s text-to-speech. The only thing that technology does is make e-books that don’t have audio versions more accessible to the blind and the reading impaired–thereby increasing the book’s audience.
Seriously, this is like complaining that people who get paid to read things for blind people and dyslexics are violating the copyright.
Kristin Laughtin says
Great batch of links this week, especially Alan Rinzler’s post and the Ten Commandments (“keep your big mouth shut” is good advice in most professional situations, it seems–shooting off without a thought rarely accomplishes anything).
I have never wanted a piglet until now.
Heidi the Hick says
I’m supposed to self promote but keep my damn mouth shut? haha! I think I get it… leave the agent’s job to the agent, but don’t expect anybody to promote your own book as hard as you would.
Now, the piglet. Never in an entire childhood of attempting to raise runty piglets did I keep one alive long enough to have it follow me around. Let me tell you, when he was squealing at the stairs, did that ever bring back some memories!! Imagine a couple hundred like that! My heart almost broke at the sight of those cute little hooves trotting around. But the litter box… oh my. What’s the little guy’s breeding and are those folks aware that pigs end up being several hundred lbs worth of hog eventually?
Still it was fun to see the cuteness after all the doom and despair, so THANKS!
Nathan Bransford says
annalee-
I don’t think it’s a question of quality, it’s a question of rights. Making an electronic audio reproduction of a book, even a mechanical one, is a derivative right.
I mean, no one would argue that making a bad movie adaptation shouldn’t count as a derivative right but a good one should.
There are existing provisions in many, many agreements that provide for granting copies royalty-free to the handicapped and/or visually impaired and many programs that exist in that arena. And let’s be honest — the overwhelming people who would use this feature on the Kindle are not the handicapped.
Melanie Avila says
I want a piglet!
Anonymous says
Anyone read this posting on Neil Gaiman’s blog?https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/02/quick-argument-summary.html
I thought his opinion made sense. He also posted an email he got from a quadriplegic reader which was also a good argument for the text-to-speech function:
https://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/02/zoom-zzzzoom.html
Gina Black says
Here’s the thing. Text-to-speech technology is only going to get better as time goes on. It’s not unrealistic to think that in ten years (or even less) it could replace the process that exists now for audio books. Maybe not in all cases, but in many.
If a line is to be drawn in the sand, now would be the time to do it.
Elyssa Papa says
The video of the piglet is priceless. I loved it. Neil Gaiman shared an e-mail on his blog today that really addresses the pros of having text to audio speak. I think any naysayers out there who read that e-mail would view the topic differently.
Elyssa Papa says
Oops, Annonymous @ 2:48 already provided the link. Sorry, I didn’t read through all the comments before I posted.
Sue says
I’m glad to be a vegetarian. Cute little Kingsford.
Nathan Bransford says
Elyssa-
I still don’t know that the e-mail that Neil posted obviates the argument that it’s still a derivative right that Amazon needs to clear. Yes, make the technology available (and free for the handicapped), but it doesn’t completely negate the claim that it’s a derivative work.
These things don’t need to negate each other.
Cam says
Thanks for the links. Thanks for the news. And thanks, especially, for the Pig.
Scotty says
My pig ate bacon, Sue. Just saying. 😉