Publishing Evolution 84: Writer Communities & Author Websites

 

1. I have gone to several of my favorite author's websites.  I like keeping an eye on what 
    books will be coming out soon and having the "inside scoop" on what is going to be 
    available.  I love knowing more about them because I can get a sense of where they are 
    coming from as a writer.  Several of the writers that I enjoy most do have their own page 
    and do have some way of getting in touch with them, either through that site or through 
    MySpace (where I have several author friends such as Chris Crutcher.) 

2. More. Here's why: At least on Authonomy, it seems like there are several readers and 
    "scouts" who are reading the story and vetting it and making sure that it makes sense and 
    has the editing that  I believe that a story needs to be fleshed and matured.

    And....

    Less.  And here's why:  I think that a writer has to have something to say, a message, a
    meaning of life that they are compelled to impart.  Otherwise, why bother?  I don't want to 
    see that message fading away because it isn't getting the "votes."  Not everything that a 
    writer has to say is going to be pleasant.  In fact, you should often find yourself challenged 
    by ideas presented by a writer and have to look inside yourself to figure where you stand 
    and how you would react in the same situation.  I fear that something akin to jealousy 
    would wind up playing out in the voting process.

Publishing Evolution 83: Paper to Pixels (or e-ink)

 

1. I have to admit that I still prefer paper to pixels, when it comes to reading.  When I write I almost exclusively use my computer simply because my hand gets tired and I hate erasures.  I like holding the book in my hand when I am reading.  I really don't mind waiting for the next book in the series to come out.  It builds the excitement that I feel when I finally get the book in my hand.

2. Uhmm, yes, price does influence the format.  If it is an author that I really, really like and a book in a series that I really, really want to read then I might pay a hardback's price, but I might decide to wait on the paperback.  I would really prefer not to pay the same hardback price for a digital copy.  It really doesn't make sense to me to pay that much money for something that I can't hold and that potentially could be taken away from me. (I cite Amazon.com as an example.)

 

3. Do you like the idea of preview and then pay? Yes, however, I am not sure I like the materials that this site offers.