Today, it wouldn’t hurt our congregation of publishing to catch a church-window reflection of how we look engaging in one industry-wide panic after the next. Our energetic knees-up exercises of feverish fellowship seem so frequent nowadays that we might as well schedule them. Plus: Why “The Joy of Books” is joyless cuteness. Read More
Writing on the Ether | JaneFriedman.com
In chatting with some year-enders as we watched that ball ex machina descend in Times Square to haul us all out of the mess that was 2011, it became clear that many authors today see the digitization of things as just such a handy lift, a chariot swinging low to carry us home (where the readers are) — to deliver everyone from the gatekeeping Eumenides of old publishing and into the stage-center jig-fest of DIY abandon. Mickey Rooney, that ancient thespian, called this “let’s put on a show!” Read More
Writing on the Ether | JaneFriedman.com
Dan Blank of We Grow Media and I are planning a series of informational pre-confab pieces for you starting January 9, 2012. And I’ll be tweet-storming the dramatic recitations and balletic debates, barre the door, at the major publishing conferences of the season. DISCOUNT: Use code WDCTWEET to get $50 off your Writer’s Digest Conference full registration — and hurry. It starts on January 20 in New York City. Read More
Writing on the Ether | JaneFriedman.com
By Porter Anderson | @Porter_Anderson From December 22, 2011 Part of my series of columns on publishing, Writing on the Ether, appearing Thursdays at JaneFriedman.com Flirting with foolishness I don’t make predictions. Especially at this time of year. It lies before us, the future does. ‘Tis the reason: I just don’t know. I think even… Read More
Book Review
Near the center line of his recently published football opera, Slotback Rhapsody, debut novelist Christopher Harris can make even the most skeptical guy in the stands believe his protagonist’s secret. You’re ready to buy into the idea that this author has memorized a playbook as rich as the one his likeable hero keeps executing. Read More
Writing on the Ether | JaneFriedman.com
And there were in the same country traditional publishers abiding in the field, keeping watch over their hardbacks by night. Because Peter Meyers‘ new Breaking the Page had yet to be published. And, lo, the Archangel Android came upon them, and the glory of Seattle shone ’round about them. And they were sore afraid. Read More
Writing on the Ether | JaneFriedman.com
By Porter Anderson | @Porter_Anderson From December 8, 2011 Part of my series of columns on publishing, Writing on the Ether, appearing Thursdays at JaneFriedman.com A digital dogfight Propellers spinning, exhaust plumes curling, wings tipped at disastrous angles. Rat-a-tat-a-tat. Pa-rum-pum-pum-pum. Shut up, Bieber. I mean Bieba. (Did he just sing, “I am a… Read More
Writing on the Ether | JaneFriedman.com
Problem is, our loading dock is so freaking full already. Every other tweet screams BUY MY BOOK. How are we going to squeeze in Tiny Tim between Konrath and Manus? Lose the crutch, there’s no room in the inn. He’ll just have to do extra limping. Like this industry. Read More
Book Review
By Porter Anderson | @Porter_Anderson From December 5, 2011 A review I wrote for the site Reader Unboxed. The Art of Fielding, by Chad Harbach Deep down, he thought, we all believe we’re God. We secretly believe that the outcome of the game depends… Read More
Writing on the Ether | JaneFriedman.com
By Porter Anderson | @Porter_Anderson From November 23, 2011 Part of my series of columns on publishing, Writing on the Ether, appearing each Thursday at JaneFriedman.com Reverse Penguin! So crikey. Just when you think you have it all worked out—the difference between mammals and publishers—you look up or down or somewhere and find a… Read More