Nathan Bransford | Writing, Book Editing, Publishing

Helping authors achieve their dreams

This Week in Publishing 5/8/09

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This week! Publishing! Busy day!

Time is money, and I’m time poor. Here is this week in publishing, brevity style.

Bigger Kindle!

Marc Fitten: 100 Indie Bookstores in a single tour! Also among Marc’s abilities: leaping tall buildings in several bounds, being an extremely cool guy, and keeping me up until 3 in the morning at a writer’s conference with loud conversation outside my window (true story – I’ve almost forgiven him too). His debut novel: VALERIA’S LAST STAND

Kassia Krozser: So publishers, what’s the Google Book Search Plan B? Um, you have one, right?

Farhad Manjoo: Google Book Search could be kind of great. Or also kind of not.

Moonrat, in response to #1 most asked question: here’s what’s safe to post of your work online.

Cormac McCarthy: another award, of course!

What Jessica said.

And finally, John Ochwat: Here be some great book videos.

Have a great weekend!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    I see that the first comma is superfluous. But are you sure the second comma isn’t needed? I thought there needs to be a comma before a quite.

  2. Mira says

    Oh good god.

    Grammer police. Anonymous ones.

    Shoot me now, please.

    Or should I say: Please to shoot me now?

    Please, shoot me. Now.

    Oh god.

    I’ve joined them. Please, shoot me now.

    Star Trek was goooooood!!! I recommend that you go see it if you like good movies.

  3. Marjorie says

    I am so glad I am retired. It gives me the opportunity to work on my brand new blog:
    http://www.marjorie-digest.blogspot.com

    I had the great pleasure to interview today Jerry, the “Marble Faun,” who appears in the great over 30 year old documentary “Grey Gardens.” There are a few other interesting interviews at the blog. Check it out.

    The blog is going to build rapidly. Many artists and authors and filmmakers are coming soon.

  4. Other Lisa says

    Mira, I’m an old-school Trekkie. Am I gonna like it?

    Karl Urban does seem to be channeling DeForest Kelley, and this is a good thing, IMO.

  6. Jen C says

    Oh Mira, I’m with you. Grammar police are so annoying. Blogs are generally considered to be informal and thus there is no need to correct the author. I mean, really. /rant

  7. Mira says

    Other Lisa, yes – I think you will. I’m an old school trekkie myself – lots of nostalgia, but with a light hand so newbies won’t be lost. McCoy, Scottie and Chekov do a great job with the impressions – they’re a hoot.

    I know Jen C. – especially when you throw in that they’re both anonymous. My head was spinning.

    Maybe it was the same person correcting himself. That would be funny.

  8. Laurel says

    Jen and Mira,

    I made allowances since I am delighted any time someone uses the word “superfluous.”

    Can’t wait to see Star Trek!

    Happy Weekend!
    Laurel

  9. Mira says

    Laurel,

    You make an incredibly good point. Although, isn’t using the word superfluous twice in two posts, a bit…..superfluous?

    Since we’re on movies, I also thought ‘I love you man’ was funny.

    As you can see, my entertainment choices are very high brow.

  14. Marilyn Peake says

    Mira,

    Avast! I just noticed you have a pirate picture now. Arrr … How awesome! I learned my pirate lingo from the International Talk Like a Pirate Day site. I’ve been visiting that site for years. All of a sudden, they had a book coming out from Kensington Books, and now another one coming out from Penguin. When your humor book comes out, I plan to buy a copy. 🙂

  15. Mira says

    Marilyn,

    Shiver me timbers. A pirate site! I’ll set my sights on that site.

    Ha ha. ha.

    Thanks for the encouragement. Means alot. 🙂

  16. Anonymous says

    Big Kindle = big bucks.

    So where’s the software that gives me the “Kindle experience” on my laptop to see if I like it?

  21. valbrussell says

    There is only one thing human beings like more than sex and food combined: bickering. I’m sending out the good vibes to you all anyway. Humour still resides in the cold black hearts of writers, editors and agents everywhere you know. I hear from those in the know, that it’s used to inject life into the discourse between us. I’m just sayin’…

  22. Haste yee back ;-) says

    Thanks for the heads-up on the looming presence of APPLE and their 09 fall? debut iPhone that’s digital and in COLOR…. I knew somebody was burning the midnight oil for that…

    Blogger killing you?… hmmm I just started a blog, google robertwahl.blogspot.com/ or click on Haste yee back 😉 Come on by if you’re a mind to! Now I’ll wait for it to flat-tire.

    Haste yee back 😉

  23. Ryan says

    Sorry to ask an odd question, but about how long does it take to build up a blog following. I feel very lonely on my own personal blogger page. That is also why I think that I am going to start shamlessly plugging my blog address everywhere I leave a comment.

    https://ryanmsmith1986.blogspot.com/

    hope you enjoy

  26. Mira says

    Ryan – I agree with Haste. For those of us who are writing solo on our blogs, it’s mostly a solo effort – but people may drop in and read, which is nice. Twist arms of family and friends – I think that’s a good place to start.

    If you’re really into building a blog readership, try googling that. Lots of advice out there.

    My blog is alittle different. It’s not me writing, it’s everyone who comes there. And it’s becoming a collective team, which is even more different.

    So, I’m thinking about this agent/writer thing. MAybe it’s time for a dialogue. Not separate threads of ‘fails’, but a genuine dialogue.

    With a mediator, or arbitor. I don’t know how to conceptualize it (real, not real?) – but I think a dialogue would be good, if there’s a way to do it. There’s still people who feel badly about the whole thing.

  27. Laurel says

    Mira,

    I love ya, babe. You know I do. But I think it is dialogued out! Lots of shouting. Dialogue only works if you actually care what the other person is saying. As long as everyone is still all lathered up about it I don’t see any effective communication taking place.

    There will always be people who feel badly. Anytime there is competition, winners and losers, somebody getting picked and somebody else who didn’t, people will feel bad. How they feel is completely valid. How they act about it, however, is subject to criticism.

  29. Mira says

    Laurel,

    I love you too, babe. You gotta know that. But yelling back and forth isn’t dialogue. It’s yelling.

    I see people talking, but not talking with each other?

    We need to talk together.

    There’s a way to do it on the internet…..I know there is.

    Does anyone know of an example of conflict worked out through healthy, positive communication on the net?

    There’s so many different ways to do this. I’m just not sure what the right one is…..

  30. Mira says

    Okay. This would be my suggestion, although I’m not positive it’s a good one.

    I would find a host, or create a blog just for this.

    I would find a mediator who is a very good communicator. Yes, thank you, I’m available. Or I suppose you could find someone neutral.

    I would have the agents select a representative. Yes, thank you, I’m available. Or I suppose you could find an actual agent.

    I would have a writer selected. One who is not represented and either doesn’t care about alienating people, or posts anon. Yes, thank you I’m available. Or I suppose you could find someone who is angry.

    Then, each person gets one thread to talk to the mediator. No comments.

    The mediator’s job is to listen and clarify until the agent/writer feels completely understood.

    Then, on the third day, the writer and agent talk to each other with the mediator. After it’s done, open for comments.

    That would be my suggestion.

    Oh, my blog is also available, in case you were wondering.

    Of course, at this point, I’m wondering if I should just do the whole thing myself. After all, I appear to be available.

    Actually, I don’t really care if I’m involved. I just think this might be a helpful thing to do.

  31. Mira says

    Oh. I am available to organize it, if you like.

    I just want to make sure you realize that I’m available.

  36. Mira says

    Chuck H.

    Of course.

    Anyone can do a self-portrait, but to do one in drag. Well, no wonder this painting is considered a masterpiece.

  37. Marjorie says

    I saw Janet Reid’s blog entry about the Writers Digest Pitch Slam at BEA. The Writer’s Digest Books Writers Conference will be at the Javits Center in NYC on May 27th.

    Considering that admission to the one-day conference is $199., they should call it the “Rich Pitch Slam.”

    I might go, just for the lure of the schmooze.

  38. Ash D. says

    Wow. It seems that my “general consensus” comment sparked a little bit of discussion.

    I have always heard the phrase “general consensus” and I didn’t think twice about using it in my post on Friday. My apologies if my ignorance offended you, Anon.

  39. Laurel says

    Ash D.,

    Me, too. It isn’t as if you said “repetitive redundance” or my personal all time favorite, “irregardless.”

  40. Ash D. says

    Laurel – Thanks! I’m relieved to know I’m not the only one who thought “general consensus” was a commonly-used phrase.

    Unfortunately, now I’m left with this overwhelming fear that my posts are being scrutinized and picked apart and that my imperfections are going to be pointed out and put on display for the entire world to see. Yikes. 😉

  41. Ink says

    Hey, irregardless is a nice word. A little rough around the edges, yeah, and not from the best background… but he tries, you know? Works hard, gets the job done despite taking all that flak. Dresses up okay, really, and doesn’t look all that bad in the dictionary, squeezed in there between irrefutable and irregular.

    I mean, what’s a guy gotta do? Give the chappie a break.

  42. Anonymous says

    Ash D –

    I was the anonymous blogger that corrected the blogger that tried to correct you. I said, “So are your commas”.

    I was actually defending you because seriously…if we all start pointing out flaws then we have to go above and beyond to be sure every word is perfect ourselves. Not something I feel like doing.

    No need for grammar police. We all make mistakes.

  43. Ash D. says

    Thanks, Anon@3:14.

    I noticed your comment and appreciated it!

    I was surprised to see that my comment had been pointed out and corrected like that, so thanks for defending me.

    Like you said, we all make mistakes! 🙂

  45. Teresa says

    RE: “Moonrat, in response to #1 most asked question: here’s what’s safe to post of your work online.”

    Thanks! That answered the question.

    Teresa