Comments on: Interactive e-books: Heart attack inducers someday for writers? Maybe a little if you extrapolate from the blog scene http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:46:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684345 Mike Cane Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:26:36 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684345 Haring: Well, there's not much there really, is there? It's basically hollow, shallow stuff. Art as Muzak. That's what best-sellers I've unfortunately read have been like. And I think that's what print publishers are searching for: forgettable, disposable, non-upsetting stuff. The writers I've seen getting dropped do great stuff. That seems to have fallen out of favor. Or style. Or whatever. That's why I am eager for ebooks. Writers can regain their self-determination. It'll be hard, but at least they won't have the humiliation of dealing with the New Publishing paradigm of Blockbusters. They won't have to sell out. Haring: Well, there’s not much there really, is there? It’s basically hollow, shallow stuff. Art as Muzak. That’s what best-sellers I’ve unfortunately read have been like. And I think that’s what print publishers are searching for: forgettable, disposable, non-upsetting stuff. The writers I’ve seen getting dropped do great stuff. That seems to have fallen out of favor. Or style. Or whatever.

That’s why I am eager for ebooks. Writers can regain their self-determination. It’ll be hard, but at least they won’t have the humiliation of dealing with the New Publishing paradigm of Blockbusters. They won’t have to sell out.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684286 David Rothman Mon, 07 Jan 2008 21:48:26 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684286 Robert, Rob and Mike... Rbt.: Totally agree re blogging and writing. People generally read industry-related blogs for the facts, not the prose. I'd hope we'd deliver in both areas, of course. Rob: Fiction and nonfiction are different creatures. Reader comments improve the TeleBlog; why shouldn't I also benefit from interbook posts. My goal isn't to be right all the time--impossible--but to get at the truth. How much better the tech books I'd have written have been if I'd had feedback along the way. Interactive books could separate readers' comments from the the main show. Mike: Yep, book publishing is indeed becoming just like Hollywood or, as depicted in Network, the TV industry. Right on the market, er, mark! Looked up KH via Wikipedia. Sad story. Feel free to flesh out the parallels. David Robert, Rob and Mike…

Rbt.: Totally agree re blogging and writing. People generally read industry-related blogs for the facts, not the prose. I’d hope we’d deliver in both areas, of course.

Rob: Fiction and nonfiction are different creatures. Reader comments improve the TeleBlog; why shouldn’t I also benefit from interbook posts. My goal isn’t to be right all the time–impossible–but to get at the truth. How much better the tech books I’d have written have been if I’d had feedback along the way. Interactive books could separate readers’ comments from the the main show.

Mike: Yep, book publishing is indeed becoming just like Hollywood or, as depicted in Network, the TV industry. Right on the market, er, mark! Looked up KH via Wikipedia. Sad story. Feel free to flesh out the parallels.

David

]]> By: Mike Cane http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684196 Mike Cane Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:45:09 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684196 Blogs generally break down into two areas: 1) News (or paid placement masquerading as news) 2) Personal opinion I refuse to do #1. It's hard enough attempting to "keep up" with the very few #1-type sites/blog I read (there are many I won't because they're simply grafters taking their readers for sheep -- and I won't be sheared, dammit). My blog is mostly type #2. And since this is now my 2nd blog, and having taken a break after suffocating the first one, I've decided to do things differently. If I do five posts in a day, that day has been filled. I'm not crazy enough to think the world is holding its breath waiting for my opinion (some people do think that about their blogs -- and those people *are* crazy). And if such a day ever were to occur, there'd be a lot of dying going on out there because I do the blog mainly for me, not for others. I won't be pressured by anyone -- not even myself -- to provide a non-stop flow of words Just Because It Is Possible. As for fiction writers -- things are hard enough out there in print publishing with all the consolidation that's taken place. I'm getting ominous communiques that publishers are beginning to shed authors they've had long-term relationships with. Book publishing seems to be mutating into the disgusting Hollywood Terminator Blockbuster mentality. (Another reason for people who *love* writing to NOT read anything that's on a best-seller list [well, aside from JK Rowling, who struggled hard and was never part of that university/class-structure clique].) Anyone familiar with the art of the late Keith Haring? Well, that's what'll happen to books. At least those from the MegaConglomerates. Which is yet another reason why I believe a universal ebook file format is urgent. Writers need to know the ebooks they'll self-publish can be bought and read regardless of the brand name on any particular e-reader. Blogs generally break down into two areas:

1) News (or paid placement masquerading as news)

2) Personal opinion

I refuse to do #1. It’s hard enough attempting to “keep up” with the very few #1-type sites/blog I read (there are many I won’t because they’re simply grafters taking their readers for sheep — and I won’t be sheared, dammit).

My blog is mostly type #2. And since this is now my 2nd blog, and having taken a break after suffocating the first one, I’ve decided to do things differently. If I do five posts in a day, that day has been filled. I’m not crazy enough to think the world is holding its breath waiting for my opinion (some people do think that about their blogs — and those people *are* crazy). And if such a day ever were to occur, there’d be a lot of dying going on out there because I do the blog mainly for me, not for others. I won’t be pressured by anyone — not even myself — to provide a non-stop flow of words Just Because It Is Possible.

As for fiction writers — things are hard enough out there in print publishing with all the consolidation that’s taken place. I’m getting ominous communiques that publishers are beginning to shed authors they’ve had long-term relationships with. Book publishing seems to be mutating into the disgusting Hollywood Terminator Blockbuster mentality. (Another reason for people who *love* writing to NOT read anything that’s on a best-seller list [well, aside from JK Rowling, who struggled hard and was never part of that university/class-structure clique].)

Anyone familiar with the art of the late Keith Haring? Well, that’s what’ll happen to books. At least those from the MegaConglomerates. Which is yet another reason why I believe a universal ebook file format is urgent. Writers need to know the ebooks they’ll self-publish can be bought and read regardless of the brand name on any particular e-reader.

]]> By: BooksForABuck http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684090 BooksForABuck Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:55:35 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684090 I wonder about the concept of interactive books. Sure for non-fiction, you'd like something that is updated, that stays current, and that responds to trends. But for fiction? I know that Hollywood likes to change endings, but do we really want The Grapes of Wrath to maybe have everyone happy and buying real estate in California? And wouldn't we rather have our favorite authors writing new books so we can gain new experiences rather than simply reading over the old stuff again and again to see the clever new twist of dialogue he added on pages three hundred? Best of luck on your healthy blogging decisions, David. Rob Preece Publisher, www.BooksForABuck.com I wonder about the concept of interactive books. Sure for non-fiction, you’d like something that is updated, that stays current, and that responds to trends. But for fiction? I know that Hollywood likes to change endings, but do we really want The Grapes of Wrath to maybe have everyone happy and buying real estate in California? And wouldn’t we rather have our favorite authors writing new books so we can gain new experiences rather than simply reading over the old stuff again and again to see the clever new twist of dialogue he added on pages three hundred?

Best of luck on your healthy blogging decisions, David.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

]]> By: Robert Nagle http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684079 Robert Nagle Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:40:50 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2008/01/07/interactive-e-books-heart-attack-inducers-someday-for-writers-maybe-a-little-if-you-extrapolate-from-the-blog-scene/#comment-684079 Sadly, a good blogger is a workaholic, one who is posting tidbits every 15 minutes. There is really no division of labor involved, and that's why bloggers gravitate to blogging networks like gawker. Too much stress. About a year ago, my blog was hacked, causing me unbelievable amounts of stress. I'm not as manic a blogger as David, but the prospect of losing my meager amount of readers due to the outage terrified me. University students have the advantage of time and flexible schedules to blog like crazy. For most people though, it's a part time avocation. For me the difficulty has been trying to separate blogging from writing. They don't always overlap. Sadly, a good blogger is a workaholic, one who is posting tidbits every 15 minutes. There is really no division of labor involved, and that’s why bloggers gravitate to blogging networks like gawker. Too much stress.

About a year ago, my blog was hacked, causing me unbelievable amounts of stress. I’m not as manic a blogger as David, but the prospect of losing my meager amount of readers due to the outage terrified me.

University students have the advantage of time and flexible schedules to blog like crazy. For most people though, it’s a part time avocation.

For me the difficulty has been trying to separate blogging from writing. They don’t always overlap.

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