Very big week for links, so let’s get started!
First of all, I hope everyone remembers that This Week in Publishing is but a pale imitation of author Cynthia Leitich Smith’s comprehensive weekly Cynsational News and Giveaways, which rounds up all of the best news and promos all in one place. It’s a weekly must-read.
Andrew Sullivan recently summarized two different anguished posts about the effect piracy is going to have one the future books. In order to enjoy my weekend I will stop thinking about piracy now. Okay now. Now.
Over at Bookpage comes word about Stephen King’s new book UNDER THE DOME, a 1,136 page epic novel about a town that is suddenly surrounded by an invisible force field and things start to go crazy. Anyone who has spent a day in 100+ degree weather in New York City probably knows what this feels like.
The Guardian recently featured the opposite of the “end of publishing as we know it” article: the less common but still enjoyable “things have always been this crappy” take on the book business. And actually, they have the audacity to suggest that some things might be less crappy now than before.
Janet Reid ponders what I’ve been pondering, which is that we agent bloggers may have terrified the wrong group of writers. It’s the age-old blogging agent conundrum: we want to reach the truly clueless, but the truly clueless don’t read agent blogs. If an agent screams in a forest about rhetorical questions, does he make a sound?
Kristin Nelson has some really terrific advice if you’re going to name-drop someone in a query: remind us who that person is. Our brains are full.
In agent pushback news, Jennifer Jackson took up one of my personal sticking points, and reminds authors to remember the difference between what is wanted and what is owed.
Via reader Tomas Mournian comes a really great post by author Joshua Mohr about his path to publication with big agents and a small press. He gets at some of the essential truths about the business: luck is huge, and rather than knowing everything, agents and editors are just making the best guesses they can.
Neil Vogler pointed me to an article in the Bookseller that provides the very interesting news that in 2008 the number of self-published books exceeded the number of traditionally published books for the first time. Wow.
And finally, I’m sure that I’m the absolute last person to know about this in the universe since even the New York Times wrote about it a couple years ago, but reader John Ochwat took pity on me and pointed me to the review page of a gallon of Tuscan Whole Milk, which has the best and most hilarious review thread on the Internet. Enjoy. If you haven’t already.
Have a great (long) weekend!
Kimber An says
Well, I work for the readers because they pay the bills. However, since there isn’t much money in this business unless I become a bestseller, which is less likely than winning the lottery, I write for the readers out of a desire to share my stories. If I didn’t care about sharing my stories, I sure as heck wouldn’t be going through everything required in order to achieve publication.
Chuck H. says
@ The First Carol
Sorry, the Airstream is long gone and the Underwood is sitting down in my dungeon room waiting for an over haul. Must go now. Sun shinning still and bike is warmed up.
Chuck H. says
Of course, I meant shining but I was so excited over going for a ride that my finger stuttered.
allegory19 says
Thanks for the info Nathan!
I would also just like to add that today’s my first time blogging from the west coast – Seattle!!!
This Michigander’s loving the city – but can’t adjust to Pacific time yet.
Laura Martone says
allegory –
Where do you live when you’re in Michigan? I’m sitting in a little house in the woods – not far from Gaylord. So, I guess I’m a Michigoose, too. Small world, huh?
Elaine 'still writing' Smith says
Milk and interesting? Who’d have thought!
Thanks, Nathan, for ensuring I have too much to ‘do’ to get anything done; as usual!
allegory19 says
Hey Laura,
I live in Saginaw. Although I wished I lived up north – it’s so much nicer!
PurpleClover says
UNDER THE DOME sounds interesting. I have to say I’ve never read Stephen King. I’m sure I’m flog-worthy for even admitting that. I think I saw part of two movies of his but never anything in its entirety and I’d have to google it to find out what those two movies were.
I may have to give UNDER THE DOME a try though.
Funny about the milk. Very odd. But you were not the absolute last person to know about it. I think that would be me.
I did comment on Janet Reid’s post. I thought it was sweet of her to acknowledge that about blog readers. Although I’m a fairly new blogger so I’m not sure it applies to me yet. I’m still finding that I’m on a steep learning curve.
I will check out JenJa’s post next. Have a happy weekend! Hope you’re enjoying yourself and taking much needed time off rather than “monitoring”. 😉
Laura Martone says
Hey, Allegory!
Aw, Saginaw’s not so bad. I like the museums there.
I’m only a seasonal resident of Michigan (can’t handle the winters!) – but my latest travel guide (Moon Michigan) just came out, so now that the deadlines are past, I hope to explore even more of the state this summer – your area included. It’s such a beautiful state – I have to admit I love living in the northern woods. It’s fun seeing deer, foxes, porcupines, and beavers on my daily walks. You should come visit during blueberry season!
Patrick Rodgers says
I just can’t see how you can say you have only seen two of Kings movies and not even in entirety. I mean I can understand not having read any of his books but his movies have been almost as successful as his writing. Shawshank Redemption, the Green Mile, the Shining, Stand by Me, 1408, the Mist, IT, Carrie, Children of the Corn, Firestarter, Pet Sematary, Misery, Secret Window, Hearts in Atlantis, Dreamcatcher. And thats not even mentioned TV miniseries like the Stand, Salem’s Lot, the Tommyknockers and the Langoliers.
Films based on his work might be more famous than his writing starting with greats like the Shawshank Redmeption.
Laurel says
PC:
I’m not a huge King fan, either. I appreciate his ability but the stories freak me out too much. NOTHING is sacred. You have no idea who’s going to make it through to the end.
Oh, yeah, and the “don’t kill kids or animals” rule. I don’t think he likes that one. But hey, it works for him. Pet Cemetery was huge.
Laura Martone says
Patrick –
I’ve seen almost all of the films adapted from Stephen King’s books – even “Rose Red” – and I’ve read quite a number of his books and stories… “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption” long ago inspired me to be a writer – well, that and “The Hobbit” of course. So, I can’t fathom anyone having seen only two of his flicks.
Sorry, Purple Clover. I’m just flabbergasted is all… not passing judgment or anything. 😉
Mira says
I can’t read Stephen King’s books either. I read Salem’s Lot and couldn’t sleep for a week – his books terrify me.
I will acknowledge his skill though. He’s masterful at what he does. I will also say, 1,136 pages – that’s a long book.
Laurel says
I like long books…Maia was over 1000 pages and one of my all time faves. It even got pretty creepy at the end. But King is the master of scary. I’m not a thrill seeker.
No sky diving, no bungee jumping, no free climbing any mountains, and no King. Just haven’t got the chops.
Mira says
Laurel – me too. I’m too imaginative, and King’s got a direct line into unconscious imagery.
Jil says
If the agent saw that a writer had many more good books in her, wouldn’t it pay to get the first one out there anyway he could in hopes of getting a following and then be picked up by a big publishing house?
By the way, on Query Tracker it’s possible to type in an author’s name and get their agent.
Also, does Stephen King write his own books? I’ve heard, {Is it true?} that some prolific authors just give their ideas to a stable of writers to get on with. What do agents think about that?
Laurel says
Hey, Jil!
Out of turn here, not being a King expert, but I find it far-fetched to think that a stable of writers could duplicate his style. Mira’s right about him. He has a preternatural ability to tap into primordial fear that affects both an individual and a community. What if everybody’s crazy/ what if I’m crazy? Even worse, what if it’s all really TRUE?
He’s a really gifted writer, I think. If he wasn’t, I could probably read more of his stuff. I don’t think just being good at mimicry would be enough to pull it off…
What do you think? You’ve probably read more King than I have. Did any of it not quite ring true for you?
mkcbunny says
A friend of mine has had the Tuscan Whole Milk on her son’s Amazon wish list for years. It was not always $77+ a gallon. If I recall correctly, a couple of years ago, it was under $10, maybe even only $5.
The problem wasn’t the cost of the milk. The shipping was outrageous.
Patrick Rodgers says
King hiring a stable of writers is the most bogus thing I have ever heard. Just read On Writing he comments that he spend 4-6 hours a day reading or writing. And then look at his retirement after his accident in 1999. The reason he retired was because he could no longer sit for long periods of time to write.
If he had a stable of writers he would never have had to retire as they could have just churned his stories out for him.
And you can see his stylistic changes and influences in all his writing. Read anything before he gave up junk in 1987 and anything after he gave it up and you can see the differences. In fact the more whacked out he got on drugs the stranger his stories got like the Tommyknockers.
His writing ties in with what is happening in his life and no stable of writers could mimic that.
I am not sure if it is true about other authors but it is most definitely false about King.
Now that Stephanie Meyer is hugely successful she should hire a stable of writers to improve her work.
annerallen says
Eternally grateful for Tuscan whole milk. I’m laughing tears.
PurpleClover says
Patrick –
You’re right I’ve seen a few more of his movies. Thanks for listing them out. I did see Shawshank Redemption and Green Mile. Parts of Misery and Firestarter (on TV in the eighties). I’ve seen Langoliers more than once. Oh and I watched the IT and Stand By Me.
I think he has a great imagination. But I can’t watch the scarier stuff (mind control or whatev). Plus, in my defense, I’m fairly young (I like to think) sooooo some of his stuff I’ve just “missed” out on because I was too young to be exposed.
Ink says
Howsabout that LeBron?
Jil says
I think you are right about King – thank goodness – but is it true that others do have books written from plots they provide? Maybe, at least an outline?
What is Tuscan whole milk?
Ink says
Oops. Sorry, Nathan. Forgot it was the long weekend. We Canucks just like to jump the gun and get the holiday weekends done early. Mea culpa.
PurpleClover says
Laura –
No offense taken. It’s just a matter of taste really. Like Laurel, he’s just too scary for me. I’m very sensitive to horror and supernatural stuff. Not so much when I was a teen but even then King was too out there for me.
If I’ve seen a King flick it was only because it came on TV and I was curious. I never seeked him out. But again, that is due more to taste than anything. I picture his house to have dishes flying around at night and creepy squeaking stair cases and such. 😀
Not my cup of tea. On the other hand, there are some of his flicks that I did like and thought were tasteful. So it’s kind of like a lottery.
Deniz Bevan says
Love the milk link! Have you seen the pen one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/B000JTOYLS/ref=cm_cr_pr_helpful?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0
Patrick Rodgers says
My favorite work by king is his novellas and his collection of stories in books like Four Past Midnight and Nightmares and Dreamscapes. Its not surprising either that his best movie adaptations were almost all based on his novellas and not his full length novels. The best of course being the Shawshank Redemption. My second favorite was Kubrick’s the Shining and King said he never liked Kubrick’s version.
I just bought King’s first seven novels off ebay and plan on reading them in a row.
Bane of Anubis says
Byran – that was sick – of course, SVG once again showed why he needs to work on his coaching. Should have been hedging the 3 more and why would you put Hedo – a taller, but much slower defender than Pietrus? If you’re not guarding the inbounds play with a big, should have had a double hedging on LeBron… nonetheless, helluva shot….
I still think Orlando wins the series, but Denver’s taking it home (my Lakers just aren’t tough enough to handle Billups, Melo and the energy Denver’s bringing every night)
Ink says
Bane,
I gotta support my Cavs for the title… but I never liked the match-up with Orlando. The Cavs interior defense and rebounding is rather nullified by the fact Lewis and Turkoglu always pull the bigs away from the basket… and the bigs can’t guard them out there. I mean, LeBron can guard one of them… but who on Cleveland can guard the other? Of course, the Cavs biggest thing is that they’re simply missing shots. Easy shots. Delonte, Mo, Z… miss, miss, miss. If they start hitting, though…
And Denver intrigues me. Kind of snuck up on everybody. And the Lakers aren’t playing great right now. Not terrible, but not their best, certainly. Right now, Denver looks better… but Jackson usually finds a way to push a few buttons and ramp up the intensity. Like how he said “Oh, maybe I’ll have to sit Fisher…” and suddenly Fisher is playing well again. I’m curious to see what happens in that series.
I know what the League is hoping for… LeBron v. Kobe.
allegory19 says
Hey Laura –
Yes Michigan in beautiful (and I don’t blame you for booking it in the winter – it’s miserable in February). When’s the blueberry festival?
Sorry Nat for going way off topic. Laura, you can e-mail the answer if you want: steph.damore@gmail.com
Bane of Anubis says
Yeah, Nike, too – with those creepy muppet commercials (though the one w/ LeBron clapping powder all over the place cracks me up 🙂
Jil says
Seeing as we’re already off topic … would Kindle work in a space station? How great to have a world of books up there in one little gadget!
Bane of Anubis says
Jil, probably not b/c most wireless communications occur through tower/antenna transmission – even if it were directly based through a satellite, the space station would have to be in a lower earth orbit relative to the satellite.
To work, NASA would probably have to reroute Amazon’s transmission metric to sync with its own.
Mira says
Jil – I don’t know if authors use a stable of writers, but I can think of one who could use one.
G.R.R. Martin. He’s a bit behind schedule.
I wonder if all those fans on his site who are chewing him out would like to volunteer to help him write his books?
Ink says
Bane,
Nike has muppet commercials? How have I missed this? The citizenry of Canada is being robbed of its rightful commercial propaganda and manipulation. I am going to write a strongly worded letter to Nike concerning their failure to properly export consumerism.
Bane of Anubis says
Bryan, here’s a link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtzQ0eXVoJo
I’d avoid writing Nike, though – keep Canada pure 🙂
Ink says
Okay, those were funny. Ah, Youtube, what would I do without you? First you brought me Jeff Vader and the Lego Deathstar Cantina, and now this…
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
Re: “sitting in a little house in the woods – not far from Gaylord”
You mean, near “Call of the Wild” museum? I love that museum. How can it be possible to go “Up North” and not go to the “Call of the Wild” museum? I surely do not know.
Trout farm
Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes (I wrote a poem about them)
Cherry Festival (Cherry syrup on pancakes)
Mackinac Bridge (too scary – but I might write a poem about it to go with the one I wrote about the Ambassador Bridge) (#1 scary bridge in Michigan)
“Up North.” Down here – well, let me put it this way – “for sale or lease” signs are sprouting in office parks like morel mushrooms. Depressing as hell. I understand Macomb County is about to get slammed as well.
Good luck with Ruby Hollow.
Laura Martone says
I’m way behind everyone else on this stream… I think the last comment was yesterday afternoon… but I’ve always been a late bloomer… so, here goes.
Purple Clover –
It’s definitely a matter of taste. King’s not for everyone, I know. I haven’t read all of his books, I must admit, but I’ve read a lot of them – and I love his sense of atmosphere – makes me feel the ghosts and ghoulies are right behind me! I love that feeling!
The craziest experience I had with King was when I was a camp counselor in West Virginia. The kids and counselors were playing a massive game of hide-and-seek, and for some wackadoo reason, I decided to wait it out in a walk-in fridge, reading “The Shining” while I waited (guess which scene – yup, when Jack is locked in the pantry). Talk about scary – I banged so hard on the fridge door that a kid found me anyway!
Steph –
Well, the National Cherry Festival is in Traverse City in July – and blueberry-picking season is also in July. I think the National Blueberry Festival is actually in South Haven in early August (far from both of us).
Wanda –
Yep. I’m not far from Call of the Wild – I’ve been there a couple times with my nieces. So charmingly low-tech. I’d love to read your Michigan poems – can I see them somewhere?
In the meantime, I’m sorry that things are so depressing down south. My brother-in-law lives in Rochester, and he’s about to lose his GM job (he’s got three girls, too). Well, you and Steph are both invited to the north – so pretty now that spring is finally here – you can forget your troubles for a while.
Thanks for the well wishes – I’ll need ’em!
Pamela Terry and Edward says
“things have always been this crappy”… I love that world view!!
Mira says
Good links, I read through them.
I had a couple of thoughts. The first is that I agree with the Guardian article. I believe the golden age of publishing is coming up. Ease of access means more – more poor quality, maybe, but more good quality definitely.
The other thought I had was about about Janet Reid’s aricle: we’re terrifying the wrong group of people.
I agree – except she doesn’t quite get to the real point. It’s there underneath….
I think the main point is why is anyone being terrified?
I have a good writer friend who spent months and months researching agents, writing queries, etc. Just think – if she had spent that time instead on writing.
I wish agents would completely simplify the process. Create a fill-in form.
What is your genre:
What is the main conflict of the book:
Who are you:
etc.
And attach 3-5 pages.
Simple. Easy to read, easy to fill out.
Ease of access. No one is terrified.
Wouldn’t that be nice? And think how much easier it would make an agent’s life. No more queries to sift through. Just easy to read forms.
No joke, totally serious. Just because something has always been done that way, doesn’t mean it’s the best way.
Anonymous says
Tuscan whole milk is the bomb
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
Hi Laura,
I emailed you my Ambassador Bridge poem since I didn’t want to post it here.
Suddenly, I have a craving for blueberries and cherries! Hmm…
General Motors…perhaps your brother-in-law will get a job in the new “green economy” that’s been bandied about…when my mom broke her hip, at one point she said, “Out of the darkness comes radical change. Creation, then re-creation, the re-creation again.” So I’m trying to stick with that about Detroit, and Michigan as a whole…that’s the last line in the last poem in my book about Detroit: “Out of the darkness come radical changes” (thanks for the inspiration mom!) It’s like Michigan has got a broken hip, and the broken hip is called “Detroit.”
Wanda B.
Mira says
So, I was imagining an agent’s response to my idea posted yesterday. In keeping with the fact that I never need anyone else to have a conversation, I thought out the whole thing.
Here’s the conversation:
‘Mira,’ said the agent. ‘That was brilliant.’
‘I know,’ I’d reply with false modesty.
‘But,’ the agent would continue, ‘Queries are the only way to know if the author is a professional and someone easy to work with.’
‘Balderdash!’ I’d reply. Then I’d say it again, because it’s so much fun to say. ‘Balderdash!. Queries are a very poor way to get that information. Know a better way? Talk to the person on the phone for 5 minutes. That will do it.’
‘True,’ the agent would nod.
‘Not only that,’ I’d continue,’but really, why should you get clients who are easy to work? The rest of the world gets clients who are living nightmares. Why should you get be exempt?’
‘Good point,’ the agent would admit.
‘And finally, I noticed that you don’t like it when writers are mad at you. Well, insisting that writers not only be extremely talented but also willing do extra work and be sooo nice is a tad annoying.’
‘You’re right on every point.’ the agent would agree. ‘Mira, you’re a genius!’
‘I know!’
‘I’ll get right on it. No more queries for me. Fill-in forms it is!’
‘Yea!’
Then, we’d walk off hand and hand into the sunset to go get some beer.
Middle Ditch says
Some good information here
Anonymous says
Interesting links, Mr. Bransford. Many thanks.
Laura Martone says
Oh, Mira, if only it were that simple. Ah, a fantasy world where hateful queries didn’t exist…
I liken the whole experience to that of a smart person who doesn’t test well. Overall, I’m proud of my novel – I think it’s something that readers (especially women) could relate to and perhaps be inspired by – but, alas, my query-crafting abilities are less than desirable.
As proven by my first rejection. Sniff, sniff.
Still, like standardized tests, queries seem to be the best way for unpublished authors (at least in the fiction world) to reach agents (or, realistically, their assistants) who might otherwise not take their phone calls.
But I wish you much luck with your sunset-strolling, beer-snarfing dream!
Anonymous says
I wish everyone a nice Memorial Day. God bless all the veterans, their families and friends, and especially our fallen heroes who lie where American Flags mark their graves.
A salute to all veterans!
And a “hello” to fellow vets who like to write.
Mary Jo, old Cold War nag
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
I love this poem:
Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)
Dulce et Decorum Est
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! — An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime . . .
Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, —
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
_________________________
From Wikipedia:
Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori is a line from the Roman lyrical poet Horace’s Odes (iii 2.13). The line can be rendered in English as: “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”, “It is noble and glorious to die for your fatherland.” or “It is beautiful and honorable to die for your fatherland.”
Marilyn Peake says
Noticed there was some discussion here about angry vs. cooperative authors. Found out via Neil Gaiman on Twitter about an interesting TV documentary scheduled for tonight about the writer Harlan Ellison. The article says, “But, mostly, he’s just angry as hell.”
Harlan Ellison Documentary on TVHarlan Ellison’s Background on Wikipedia