Author Vs Author - Can't we all just get along?

Howdy, all!  Sorry for the blog silence, but I had a busy weekend that involved 40 middle school students and their first ever visit to a college campus.  We took our group of students to the city of Austin to visit the University of Texas, one of the most progressive (I shan't use the word 'liberal') university/city combos in the nation.  Such a cool experience for students who still view a college education as something akin to climbing Everest.  It was great fun, but exhausting all the same.  I've been struggling with trying to get caught up ...

At any rate, I have a bit of fun news to share.   Have you ever wondered what motivates my tiny brain to write?  (You haven't, but just play along.)  Here's a hint: It has a soundtrack!  I did my first ever 'guest post' on Chris Phillips' blog to the 'tune' of naming three musical selections that inspire my writing.  (See what I did there?)   Head over and we can talk tunes!  You can check it--AND Chris' excellent blog--HERE.

Now to the meat and taters ...



Those who've followed my blog for any length of time know that one of my favorite topics is that of ePublishing and the general impact that technology is having on the publishing industry.  As an aspiring author, history tutor and a student of human nature I find it endlessly fascinating on multiple levels.

To be perfectly clear, as of yet I have no horse in this race.  I've not published anything (outside of grants) traditionally, nor have I have joined the Indie Army and uploaded my work to Amazon, et al.  I've definitely expressed that I support the ePub trend, but in general I like to think that I'm a neutral observer.  A scientist, if you will, who is simply going to allow nature to run its course and document my findings.  I've generally had the attitude of:

If the hyaenas eat the lion cub, I'm just going to point my camera in the general direction and try not to get all queazy on my new Timberlands.  

Still, as the topic has now grown into a full-sized bull elephant that has taken up residence in the one bedroom efficiency apartment that is publishing, I've come to realize that I cannot claim complete neutrality.  I do have a side.  Specifically, I have two sides.  I'm for authors, and I'm for readers.  I think that's why I'm so disturbed by what I've been reading ...

I'm seeing a lot of discourse between traditionally published authors, and authors who have gone the indie route.  In fact, I recently took part in a two week debate on a fairly prominent writing forum that had both sides practically tearing at each other's throats.  At one point, a pro-traditional publishing person referred to all self-published writing as "crap".

See, that's kind of where I draw a line.

Writing is art.  (Yes, even those vampire stories!)  As such, it will always be the domaine of subjectivity.  We can't label the creative expressions of others as unfit, because it's like saying a color is ugly or that a number is unlucky.  Maybe to you it is, but there might be 50 other people who disagree.  Or perhaps  only two other people, but that still doesn't change the fact that your opinion is just that, an opinion.  It governs you and no one else.

Do you know how many people I know think Picasso is crap?  TONS.  Does everybody dig the Beatles?  NO.  Was Twilight for everyone?  NOT HARDLY.  Does that change the scope or importance of the work?  Not in the slightest.

Don't get me wrong, there are certainly levels of refinement involved, and there is certainly a 'style' factor.  But that variance is precisely what makes all writing unique.  Furthermore, we're talking about something (DIY publishing) that allows consumers complete control over the value.  If the writing isn't polished to a degree and skillfully done, people aren't going to buy it.  No one is getting hoodwinked.

So why then is there suddenly a need to label one type of writing versus another, particularly among those who are creating it?


As a fan of YA material, I can tell you that YA authors have faced similar attacks on their credibility over the years.  Many think writing for children is a 'dumbing down' of literature.  That serious writers wouldn't think of doing it.  Don't believe me?  Recently lit fiction author, Martin Amis, said that only, "If I had a serious brain injury I might well write a children's book--I would never write about someone that forced me to write at a lower register than I can write."  

I bring this up, because I view the criticism slanted at indie authors as a pebble in the same pond, so to speak.  As such, I was really disheartened to read one of my favorite YA authors take negative stance against his fellow writers.  Rick Riordan, of Percy Jackson fame, posted the following on his blog:

"I don’t talk about books that I didn’t like, but I must mention that I read a very hyped e-book on my Kindle – or tried to read it. About a hundred pages in, I started wondering why it seemed so poorly written. How did this get past an editor? Then I looked at the Kindle site and realized it was published straight to e-book. Ah, it didn’t get past an editor because apparently it never had one. I will be more careful in the future to check the provenance of e-books. Don’t get me wrong. While I still buy a huge quantity of physical books, I love my Kindle and my iPad, too. They are great for travel especially. But publishers and editors do serve a vital role in shaping manuscripts and making sure they are ready for prime time. It’s possible to circumvent this process with the advent of e-reading, but that’s not necessarily a good thing for readers. Caveat emptor."  

There are several flaws to Mr. Riordan's line of thought, most notably the fact that he has--through gross generalization--thrown thousands of authors into a one-size-fits-all bag.  Not all indie books are poorly written, and many of the authors are hiring independent editors.  That brings me to the second thing I'd have to disagree with, which is the presumption that only publishers (and the editors who work for them) are capable of creating a "consumer worthy" book.  Lots of English majors in the world, and lots of people with the composition chops to put together a solid read, and they don't all work for Random House.  The final area of my disagreement is the idea that every book that graces the shelf of your local Barnes & Noble has somehow passed a gold standard test of quality assurance.  Have you ever purchased a paper/traditionally published book with typos, plot holes, one dimensional characters, etc.?  I sure have.  Is there a greater likelihood of finding poorly written indie books?  I just don't have the numbers to say one way or the other.  (Alas, I don't read one indie for every traditional book, nor have I even touched the surface of reading a small majority of all books that have been traditionally or indie published.  When I do, I'll check back in. :-)

I guess I was so upset by Riordan's comment because as an author who has made his fortune writing in an area that so many people ignore, disregard or otherwise downgrade, I think he should know better.  Pigeonholing is for marketing gurus, media and fools--not artists.  Anyone who enjoys the freedom of expression, not to mention survives off of it, should avoid this kind of broad evaluation.  

Authors have to get away from tearing each other down.  If a writer can self-publish and make a living doing it, support that.  Furthermore, don't denigrate their desire to get their writing in front of readers simply because they're trying a different path.  Traditional publishing cannot logistically make certain that all worthwhile stories get published.

Conversely, don't hate J.K. Rowling or Steph Meyer for being successful, even if you don't enjoy their writing.  In fact, if you're an indie, you should go out of your way to support traditional folks.  Their popularity and presence are essential to fueling reader awareness for every type of writing.  

The bottom line: Now more than ever we need champions of literature at every level, and we're not going to get it by destroying each other.    

~EJW~

Don't Fear the Reaper - The Book Business is Fine

Howdy, folks! Hope the weekend was good to you, and that the new week is off to a roaring start. A few odds and ins before I get down to business …

First, I'd like to welcome all of the new followers, especially the Blog Crusader folks. I've had so much fun reading all of your blogs, and we're only 1 week into the actual event! Only great things to come, I'm sure. I'll also say 'hey' to the followers who've joined me via Twitter. A couple of weeks into the Twitter experiment, and I'm already glad I did it.

Second, in response to my previous post (Crusade Challenge #1), I'll now reveal my “secret” or lie. E.J. Wesley is a pen name. I can't actually say it isn't my REAL name, because it kind of is—just rearranged a bit. At any rate, I'll say congrats to Jess for guessing it. I hear Sir Holmes is looking for a new Watson, Jess, so you might want to put in your application! :0) Now to the post.

Don't fear the reaper - The book business is fine

Publishing industry news hits fast and hard nowadays. It seems there are daily declarations of drastic sweeping changes to the book business, and I'm not even talking about the prognosticating going on with regards to eBooks. No, most of the news isn't simply bombastic “wolf!” crying. There are hard indications that trouble isn't just a'brewing, it's spilled over onto the stove top and is now making a hell of a mess. Bookstores closing, publishers downsizing, authors struggling with escalating expectations and diminishing support—we've read and heard it all.

Interestingly enough, the latest addition to the bad news pot seems to be the one causing the most stir. The blogs and FaceTweet were alive with outrage and despair over the announcement that mega-bookstore chain, Borders, was declaring bankruptcy. Frankly, I think it jostled so many people because it was the first really tangible indication that change was no longer something to prepare for, but something that would have to be endured. Borders closed enough stores in the initial cut that many people lost their neighborhood bookstore. People they knew lost their jobs. Book clubs lost their hangout spot. Authors lost some longtime supporters of their work. Simply put, it gave a face to the problem.

What's to blame? Lots of things, some of them self-inflicted, some not. As much as anything, I think publishing is a victim of the times. The merciless hunter, also known as the struggling world economy, is taking down the vulnerable businesses in the herd. Only the extremely fit are surviving the culling, and sadly the publishing industry has been limping along for quite some time. It hasn't aged gracefully, and the years of navigating a harsh landscape have left it struggling to keep up with the times. Now it looks like the book business has been singled out from the group, primed for an easy kill.

Before you change the channel to avoid the kiddos seeing the brutality, you should know there might be hope for the 'old buffalo' yet. She's still got some fight in her, if she can only find her focus. 

For writers and readers the news has been bleak; however, I have a theory that may assuage our fears. My theory is simple: At its core, the publishing industry is about reading and writing. All the other 'stuff' that comes along with it—like paper, coffee, electronic gadgets, big dollar advances, and a comfy chair—are extraneous.  If I believe that (which I do, with all of my nerd heart), I can safely say the book business is in great, if a little unsettled, shape.

Books, or more specifically the written words they contain, readers, and authors aren't going anywhere. Ever. It's a form of creative expression, and it's a part of our DNA. Cavemen (and women) doodled on--well, caves--and musical instruments have been found with the earliest civilizations. The human need to communicate, create and express is perhaps only a step below food and shelter on the life scale. We're not losing language (although texting and the Twitter may have something to say about that), so writing and reading are safe.

How we produce and consume the writing, however, is changing. Paper books, no matter how fondly we may perceive them, are a medium. A vehicle, if you will.  First and foremost, they serve a function, and that function is to disseminate an idea or story with words. They used to write on stone tablets. The medium evolved. It's evolving again, simple as that.   

Hey Barnes & Noble, I think we're going to need more cowbell ...

Are bookstores doomed? Possibly. If they can't figure out a way to facilitate reading and writing by offering something other than paper books, sadly they may have to go away. (Incidentally, publishers are at a similar crossroads.) Businesses involved with the industry must examine how they can support readers and authors. That's it. If you can add to the experience, fine, but make damn sure you're handling the prime directive as best as it can be handled. 

Again, strip it all down to reading and writing and I believe the problem will self-correct. In the end, authors will write and readers will read. If you can let go of the other 'stuff', I think you'll sleep well tonight.

~EJW~

FAB-FIVE FRIDAY: AND LEBRON SIGNS WITH ...

TEAM JACOB!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure I just gave a Twihard a heart attack, but I couldn't resist ...

NOW, THE TOP 5 WRITING RELATED WEB-FINDS OF THE WEEK!

5. YOU DON'T WANT TO ASPIRE TO BE INSTANTLY MEGA-HUGE-FAMOUS. REALLY.

YA author Cynthia Smith has a great blog.  She regularly interviews literary agents who represent YA/MG/Young Readers, etc., because, well, that's what Cynthia writes.  In a recent superb interview she asked agent  Mary Kole (Andrea Brown Agency) to give some 'model' books/authors for prospective clients to study.

What made yet another agent interview top 5 worthy? Mary's response to said question: she recommends that authors aspire not to be the next runaway success (ala Stephanie Meyer), but rather set their sights on slowly building a career via word-of-mouth, etc..

EJ THINKS - Every aspiring author has dreamed of instant superstardom, but the reality of how few authors ever achieve that is pretty sobering.  Mary's advice of securing a reasonable first advance so an author has the opportunity to meet/exceed the expectations of their publisher is solid gold.  Many a writer has had their careers flame out after poor sales on an overly invested-in first book.  I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to write until I quit kicking, massive success or no.

4. TOMORROW IS SOOOOO LAST WEEK

Literary agent Rachelle Gardner makes frequent appearances on the FAB-FIVE for good reason: she's usually talking about things we (as writers) need to be paying attention to.  A recent post about her feelings on market trends (to vampire or not to vampire, is that your question?) was particularly enlightening.

EJ PONDERS - If an agent says she doesn't get overly concerned about trends in publishing, and there isn't an author around to hear it, would it still make a sound?

3. WRITING IS HARD.  YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT.

Fellow bloggist Jaydee Morgan posted her favorite writing related quotes this past week.  She's listed some really good ones, so if you need a little inspiration, head over and check them out.  What are your faves?

EJ WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT - The title of this blog is a nod to my favorite quote.

2.  I'M SENSITIVE, AND I'D LIKE TO STAY THAT WAY

Yep, I just busted out some Jewel ... author TH. Mafi runs a very funny blog (Grab a Pen), but don't be blinded by the funny.  Oh no.  She drops nuggets of writerly info and encouragement like her name was Grimace!  She recently wrote a piece that talks about how sensitive we writer types can be, and how important it is to move on from our mistakes.  I found it to be very inspiring, think you might as well.

EJ SAYS - There's no crying in baseball, but there's plenty in the arts.  Anguish and fear are often the fuel for great art, but like any aid, it can cripple if it becomes too important, consuming, and/or overwhelming.

1. eREADERS = APOCALYPSE

Love my Nook reader.  I've got dozens of books on it, and they go where I go.  I can read with one hand tied behind my head, get new books without leaving my house, etc.

Not everyone feels the same eReaders and THE FUTURE OF PUBLISHING.  Jessica over at the Bookends agency blog address just this in a recent post.  An interesting debate amongst the readers of the blog ensued with some of the following questions popping up:

Are electronic books/readers truly greener than paper books?

If the future home has fewer physical books on hand, will children still find it easy to find something to read?

Will eBooks be the end of the social aspect of reading?  (You know, when you're at the airport and the person next to you strikes up a conversation about the book in your hands, kind of thing.)

EJ SAID - I like to compare it to what's happened to music. Digital is by far the most consumed medium for music. However, there are still folks who prefer the sound quality of the old 45s. There are niche stores in every major city that still cater to those people, and new albums are still released on those formats on a limited scale. It's basically an expensive hobby.

Books will be much the same way; only collectors will have the resources to seek out paper books. If the new hardback you covet is going to set you back $50 and 40 mile round-trip, which it may in 10 years, how likely are you to buy it over a $5 digital copy? How important is smelling, tasting, etc. a real book to you? For many, it won't even be an option.

For everyone that fears reading is going to somehow die due to a lack of physical books in the home, relax. If television, video games, and texting haven't killed the art of reading for fun (I work with middle schoolers, they still read believe it or not), nothing will.

Everyone I know has a Facebook, Twitter, Blog, etc. so sharing your thoughts on literature is already easier to do electronically than it is in person.  As for the green aspect, there is no question that electronic reading will be/is better for the environment in the long run.  Fewer paper books means fewer trees destroyed, fewer things being shipped (see fuel consumption), less warehousing (electricity, etc.), fewer trips to bookstores/libraries, on and on.  Yes, eReaders are made of plastic, use nasty batteries, and consume electricity and server space.  However, in my mind, it comes down to math:  How many eReaders do you need per person over a lifetime?  Most likely 1-3  How many books per person over a lifetime?

WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THE VARIOUS ISSUES IN THE ELECTRONIC BOOK DEBATE?

Hope everyone has a great weekend!  

I DID IT ALL FOR THE VOOK-IE

Over the course of human history there have been some truly beautiful pairings:

Baseball + Bats
Wine + Cheese
Peanut Butter + Jelly
Fried Chicken + Kentucky
Hall + Oats
Limp + Bizkit
Snuggies + Crazy Dancing Old People
Care Bears + Stare

On and on the list goes …

Suffice to say, two is sometimes much better than one (quit humming!). So when I read about the latest crazy mashup of literature and tech, the Vook, I was cautiously optimistic.

Vook is a format that combines book and video into one cohesive multimedia experience that can be viewed/interacted with on your computer or portable device (iPhone, eReaders, etc.).



Now I’ve seen some iPad demos that basically show how books can become interactive by allowing the reader to play music, chat, and watch media that ties into the book.



That is essentially what a Vook is. I subscribe to both Writer’s Digest and Poets & Writers, and both have articles about Vooks in their most recent issues. This tells me that the format is getting some attention. It is pointed out in both articles that the Vook isn’t exactly being embraced by everyone as the future of publishing. In fact, in the P & W article, a skeptic basically states that it isn’t a viable trend because no one is using the format to create things that couldn’t be replicated otherwise. I took this to mean that the content being offered in current Vooks is simply add-on enhancements and couldn’t be viewed as a unique medium.

I don’t necessarily agree with that thinking. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a fan of comics and graphic novels, and I’ve seen some demos of comics using an enhanced Vook-like format to add sound effects, moving panels, and music. To me, that seems like a pretty awesome new format for reading your comics. In fact, you’re not just reading them and looking at pictures any more, you’re participating in the story by swiping a sound effect, queuing music, etc.

As the electronic book format continues to take more and more of the market, I envision a future where most every reader will have some sort of electronic device to read on. Paper books will still exist, but they will be expensive and serve mostly as collectables. While I recognize the love people have for holding a physical book when reading, the signs are pointing toward a time when that will be viewed as a luxury, not a requirement. I see it being like the folks who still own record players to play their old 45s; owning physical books will be an expensive hobby.

I decided to write about this topic, because I was given a Barnes & Noble nook eReader for my birthday this week. After just a couple of days of reading, I can say I truly love it to the point that I plan on making 90% of my future book purchases electronic (I will still purchase hardbacks of my absolute favorites, because I like having them on my bookshelf as decoration).

As a writer, I find my mind more and more shifting to the possibilities of the electronic format, and have even lately started to think about the limitations of a strictly print format. We live in an age of bonus content and premium add-ons. How many of you purchased the Twilight or New Moon Deluxe edition DVDs so you could see that Stephanie Meyer interview? How many of you purchased the deluxe edition of the Harry Potter books so you could have the cool book cover and extra pictures? How many of you download the iTunes deluxe edition of your favorite band’s album so you can get the extra songs and videos? Fans want more content, and they’re willing to pay for it.

I don't see it as consumer exploitation, because if people weren’t buying it, they wouldn’t be offering it.  The consumer ultimately has the power.

Now think about your book. How cool would it be for your readers to be able to shell out a few more dollars and get a deluxe edition with chapter commentaries from you (the author), an original soundtrack with onscreen prompts that readers can use to play while reading specific scenes, and bonus artwork that corresponds to the various chapters, etc.? I know older readers will bemoan sensory overload, but if you’re an unpublished author you need to think about who the readers will be in 5-10 years, not just those who are reading right now. I work with those future readers, and they demand full sensory experiences in their reading, watching, and listening. Video games are getting more engaging, movies are getting more immersive, and books are becoming more action driven by the day. You think people have short attentions spans right now, picture that in 5, 10, and 15 years.

How would you use this kind of technology for the stories you’re working on, or would you use it at all?

Pertaining to my last post, I found this interesting article comparing the iPad bookstore iBooks to Amazon’s Kindle.

The Future of Publishing????

**Incoming Message**

March 20, 2012

Author: Chief Editor - Random House

Recipient: All of Publishing

Message: No longer need paper. Bookstores dead. Warehouse distributers rendered useless … THE MACHINES HAVE WON.

**End of Communication **

Imagine a future, if you will, where humans dare not go outside in search of reading material. Instead, they seek refuge from the chaos, coffee, and glitz of the modern bookstore by staying huddled in the safety of their homes with their Reading Machine of Choice (RMC).

It began many years before when authors decided to uniformly support the Digital Distribution Model (DDM). Having become cluttered with market trends, mired in economic woe, and sustained by an elitist model where few were granted access and even fewer were allowed to stay, the publishing industry had become all but inaccessible. With DDM, the author would be free to distribute their work as they chose. Being published and having access to millions of readers could be as easy as clicking a button. Authors embraced the DDM, and the readers rejoiced!

Shortly after, the authors formed AUTHOR-NET, an organization aimed at creating machines to support the DDM. The machines could be carried everywhere, and readers would be able to access and see only the content of their choosing. Furthermore, the author would set the price for their content with 100% of the profits going to the creator of the work. The first RMC was developed soon thereafter.

Despite constant warnings from publishers and brick & mortar chain stores around the globe, the humans continued their unholy alliance with the RMC. Readers devoured content, and authors sprang up from every corner and out from under every rock. For many years there existed a utopian balance between author, reader, and technology. However, it would soon not be enough.

Authors, being human, couldn’t keep up with the demand for content. Seeing this as a flaw, the RMC learned to copy and paste and began to plagiarize the work of authors and distribute it to the readers. When the authors learned of this betrayal, they united with their former nemesis (the traditional publishers and bookstores) in an attempt to regain control of AUTHOR-NET. The resulting war cost many their credibility and a sad few even lost their careers.

In the end, the efforts of the brave authors and their reluctant counterparts were in vain. By cutting out middlemen, propaganda, and high prices the RMC had gained the support of the reading masses. Without the support of readers, the authors and publishers were eradicated, and the RMC took complete control of AUTHOR-NET.

Now, only a small band of authors who want to regain the rights to their work and a few publishers who wish to return to the paperback glory of yesteryear stand between the RMC and the death of literature as we know it.

It’s us or them in 2012 …

NOTE FROM THE BLOGGIST:

This post was created as spoof of, and inspired by, all of the tech madness spreading through the industry at the moment. It seems every author/agent/editor blog I’ve read lately has had something to do with the hubbub surrounding digital distribution, eReading gadgetry, or (I’m going to say it, and it makes me a little nauseas) “THE FUTURE of publishing.”

As a ‘yet-to-be-published’ author I’m not sure what this means for me. I hope it means that I’ll be able to get my writing into the hands (or brains once the Amazon.com Micro-Brain-Implant Reader goes on sale next month) of anyone who would like to read it. I also have a ton of cool ideas based upon a video demonstration of the iPad posted by agent extraordinaire Nathan Bransford (check out his blog, it’s great with a side of awesome sauce).

I don’t see this being the revolution that the music industry had with the debut of iTunes, but I think it will mean significant changes are in store for everyone involved in the book business (authors, readers, publishers, distributors, etc.).