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Tuesday, May 11, 2010
What are "emergency 911 interviews" with authors? I found this phrase twice in PR material about a book. If I make a 911 call, it will definitely NOT be to interview an author. How about you? What would constitute an "emergency interview" anyway?
"Oh, quick, I'm dying from lack of a quote from the author to go with this free book publicity. Call 9-1-1, stat!"
Well, they do call them "book doctors" so maybe this isn't so far off base as first glance suggests.
The publicity agent also asks that I "please everify the best street address so we can send you a package." Is that a new verb? Makes sense: "to everify" is to verify via electronic media. Right? I think what he really wants is for me to email him my street address.
9-1-1, help! I've been hit by runaway creative nonfiction.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Currently Reading
New books pop in more frequently these days. Like what? S&S sent the paperback of Alexis Wright's CARPENTARIA, the one about the Aborigines that I loved. It's a terrible print job, but a wonderful story to revisit. Why do publishers send the paperback editions to reviewers who have already published reviews of a book when it came out in hardback? If it weren't so good, I wouldn't even mention it here.
I asked the Free Press for WISENHEIMER by Mark Oppenheimer because in the PR it sounded funny (in a good way) and the author sounded a lot like me with the love of words thing. It's not and he's not. It's all about debating. Yawn!
Atria Books surprised me with WRITE THAT BOOK ALREADY! by Sam Barry and Kathi Kamen Goldmark, the Author Enablers at BookPage.com. I just started reading this one with some trepidation. It has a chapter about self-publishing. In fact, the book is about getting published, not about writing. The authors' breezy style is a bit off-putting, and the fact that they don't discuss getting an agent until chapter five, disquieting. We'll see.
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Give it Away
Listen to this article
Give it away -- a concept that eludes the young, anal retentive, greedy and unsure. Trust me, there is no end to creativity, new toys or techniques. "Giving it away" enriches you, frees up the flow. It takes a lot of energy to hold on, to protect, to hide. Generosity enhances reputation and credibility, too.
Exactly what and how much to give away is unknown. It depends partly on what you otherwise offer for sale. Give it away until you're uncomfortable. Then give some more. Breaking through barriers brings pleasant release and satisfaction--what a paradox! The nature of the media are such that you can effectively provide only small bits of information at a time.
Let's get specific. I sell editing services to help others write well and get published. You want to sell a novel (establish a platform, sell books, connect with readers). He is a temporarily unemployed writer for print publications seeking a new job or assignments. We can all provide free information in our blogs and other social media, on our websites, in seminars and conferences and online communities without jeopardizing our incomes.
No one is not going to hire, buy or assign work because we shared our talents. I can tell others the elements of editing, but that won't enable someone to compete with my service or not need it. My abilities include years of experience and more knowledge than I could cram into, say, six years of blog posts. I give away articles on a single topic, not everything I know about how to write well. And many people just don't want to do the editing themselves. They'd rather write.
Fiction writers have unique voices that add value to their work. Discussing their writing processes, plot points, characterization or a story's background will not dampen interest from an agent, publisher or readers. Even if you give away a whole novel, you have more to write, right?
Similarly for nonfiction writers, explaining the finer points of interviewing, for example, won't enable others to instantly become crack reporters and snatch away jobs. You can also demonstrate your abilities to write well and to craft articles.
While you digest all this, think about the urgent need for writers to show mastery of electronic media. Old school is out. Open hands are in.













