Offering timely advice in an era when the burden of production and publicity frequently falls on authors, this essential reference reflects on meth...
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Dec 03, 2011
Isa
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x-posted from http://troubadourcottage.blogspot.com/
A change of pace - I would call this book PRACTICAL with capitals. This is not a bad thing. A lot has been said about it and (cursed buzzword!) social media in general and I'm tired of that sphere of argument so I am not going to rehash any of it. The bulk of the book deals with the niche phenomenon of internet writer celebrities, and how to cultivate then manage this on your very ownsome. There are some fascinating appendices from ed More...
A change of pace - I would call this book PRACTICAL with capitals. This is not a bad thing. A lot has been said about it and (cursed buzzword!) social media in general and I'm tired of that sphere of argument so I am not going to rehash any of it. The bulk of the book deals with the niche phenomenon of internet writer celebrities, and how to cultivate then manage this on your very ownsome. There are some fascinating appendices from ed More...
Apr 02, 2011
Loren
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Unlike so many books about writing, this one is primarily about *how* to be a writer. Everyone knows that a writer writes, but what does a published author do once the book comes out? How do you ask other writers for help? How do you maintain an online presence without pissing people off -- or being so frightened of pissing people off that you mute yourself? How do you deal with envy of other writers' triumphs? How do you deal with failure -- or success?
I found so much food for th More...
I found so much food for th More...
Feb 09, 2011
Paul
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Writing used to be all about putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). In the 21st Century, there are so many other things for a writer to consider. This book aims to answer some of those questions.
Every published writer needs some sort of Web presence. Will yours be a static website to which you post every week or so? Will yours be an active blog to which you post every day, along with daily Facebook updates, and a couple of tweets daily? Choose which is best for you; every min More...
Every published writer needs some sort of Web presence. Will yours be a static website to which you post every week or so? Will yours be an active blog to which you post every day, along with daily Facebook updates, and a couple of tweets daily? Choose which is best for you; every min More...
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Jul 20, 2010
Book
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Mar 28, 2010
Alyce
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First, a shout-out to Greg, the owner of Between Books in Claymont, Delaware, who recommended this book. James VanderMeer takes a detailed, informative look at the practical realities of the modern writer. Many books have been written about the writing process, but VanderMeer writes from a business and marketing perspective, with hints on how to go from being someone who loves to write to someone whose works are published and read.
His instructions are inspirational and helpful, not jus More...
His instructions are inspirational and helpful, not jus More...
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Mar 16, 2010
Kenny
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This book is INTENSE! The First half is about your public booklife and the second half is about your private booklife. The first half covers topics about dealing with editors, how to promote you books, Strategic and Tactical planning for your career and the goals you should set. A ton of awesome intel and advice for the Public Booklife of your writing career. This book so far is such an eye opener, a splash of ice cold water on the face. If you are serious about a writing career, a Booklife, it'
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Nov 11, 2009
Kater
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This is, as promised, not your garden-variety book on how to write. First of all, there are few passages that talk about the craft. Rather, it discusses strategies for nurturing the creative side (private booklife) and developing the career side (public booklife.) What I liked most was hearing these terms, private booklife and public booklife. I'd often thought to myself how different the act of writing was from the things that a writer must do to promote her work, but I'd never heard it put
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Jan 07, 2010
Julie
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I wasn't quite sure what this was about before I started reading. But it's about your Public Booklife and your Private Booklife. What are your goals for each? What do you hope to get out of writing and publishing? Do you have an overall strategy? If not, why not?
Jeff VanderMeer discusses the role of social media and web 2.0 in your public booklife and talks about tactics (as opposed to strategy) for promoting your work, and etc.
I do wish he'd started with private booklife More...
Jeff VanderMeer discusses the role of social media and web 2.0 in your public booklife and talks about tactics (as opposed to strategy) for promoting your work, and etc.
I do wish he'd started with private booklife More...
Jun 27, 2010
Kate
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From my experience there are two levels of books written about writing. The first is to establish the writer within himself, the second is to establish the writer within the community. Level one is neither better nor worse than level two, it simply reflects the comfort that the writer has with her craft.
Keeping this in mind, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer is a level two book. It does assume an expertise from the writer. It is meant more to gently More...
Keeping this in mind, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer is a level two book. It does assume an expertise from the writer. It is meant more to gently More...
Apr 09, 2011
Kal
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This is simply an essential volume for any author who's made a few sales, has established a little bit of an internet presence, and doesn't know where to go from there. As far as I know, there are no other books that address this uncomfortable place in a writer's life. This is finally something to fill the gap between the "how to submit a story" manuals and sitting down with an agent to discuss marketing strategy.
I can't emphasize enough how helpful this book was in helping More...
I can't emphasize enough how helpful this book was in helping More...
Apr 14, 2011
Johnny
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With my first novel coming out in September, I have been looking for a solid resource for how to traverse the seemingly infinite avenues for its promotion. Finding the right balance between new media and classic ways of book promotion seems increasingly more daunting, although the ability to reach an audience that much more in reach.
BOOKLIFE is great. Whether you have a book with a traditional publisher or self-publishing, it clearly goes over the various options out there to a writer More...
BOOKLIFE is great. Whether you have a book with a traditional publisher or self-publishing, it clearly goes over the various options out there to a writer More...
Feb 28, 2010
Trey
rated it:
Good stuff. Deals with new media and how to do publicity without losing yourself in the section on Public Booklife, and a lot of practical advice for how to protect your creative space and deal with the rollercoaster of writing (or pursuing anything creative, really).
Favorite quote:
"Write what moves you, what you must write, if you have the choice, before letting someone else's preconception/waking dream of market and professional influence you. A writer separated from h More...
Favorite quote:
"Write what moves you, what you must write, if you have the choice, before letting someone else's preconception/waking dream of market and professional influence you. A writer separated from h More...
Jan 31, 2010
Matthew
rated it:
"The Artist's Way" for Secular Materialists.
Heavy on instruction and light on inspiration, this HOWTO book made me feel like I was reading a textbook. Non-fiction should be informative, but it should also be fun to read. This book was informative, but man was it a slog to get through.
There's an enormous amount of helpful information in this book, which is why I'm giving it 3/5, but Jeff could have used some of his fiction chops to enliven the seemingly endless More...
Heavy on instruction and light on inspiration, this HOWTO book made me feel like I was reading a textbook. Non-fiction should be informative, but it should also be fun to read. This book was informative, but man was it a slog to get through.
There's an enormous amount of helpful information in this book, which is why I'm giving it 3/5, but Jeff could have used some of his fiction chops to enliven the seemingly endless More...
May 09, 2010
Catherine
rated it:
VanderMeer provides an interesting and useful perspective on writing as both a process and a business. He breaks down everything from public appearances to controlling your image to managing your life to ensure continued writing time (and hopefully success) into bite-sized chunks. What I liked most about it was that it encouraged me to think outside the dreaded "box" in terms of some projects I'd like to be working on. It also got me thinking about how to restructure some of the ways t
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Feb 20, 2011
Tom
rated it:
How to survive and thrive after your book is sold to a publisher and takes on a life of its own.
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Jun 16, 2010
I'm only about 30 pages into this, but I'm putting it down. It reads a bit too much like an MBA manual for my tastes: bland, jargony, trendy, too much strategy, not enough soul. It's kind of obviously cobbled together from blog posts and other musings.
Scanning ahead, this might be for you if you are interested in managing and promoting your writing career, probably won't appeal if you want to explore or nurture the creative act. It has a special emphasis on embracing new trends in te More...
Scanning ahead, this might be for you if you are interested in managing and promoting your writing career, probably won't appeal if you want to explore or nurture the creative act. It has a special emphasis on embracing new trends in te More...
Sep 20, 2010
Alex
rated it:
Jeff VanderMeer is a writer who’s done a little bit of everything, whether it’s publishing compelling fiction, editing his own anthologies (as well as co-editing with his wife, Anne), going on book tours for author appearances, or presenting writer workshops around the country. He’s the sort of guy who has a lot of say about writing and publishing and advice he can offer just about any level of writer. Fortunately, he’s done just that in his new book, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips fo
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May 02, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
This is not one of those "find your inner self and you to can be a writer" books.
VanderMeer, who's arguably one of the most important lesser known sf writers/editors out there today, delivers an awesome collection of essays covering issues like networking, getting help from other writers, finding the right publications for your work, using online tools like blogs and twitter to both promote yourself and improve as a writer, etc. etc. I've only made it half-way through the More...
VanderMeer, who's arguably one of the most important lesser known sf writers/editors out there today, delivers an awesome collection of essays covering issues like networking, getting help from other writers, finding the right publications for your work, using online tools like blogs and twitter to both promote yourself and improve as a writer, etc. etc. I've only made it half-way through the More...
Nov 09, 2010
Nicole
rated it:
With humor and humility, Jeff Vandermeer candidly discusses the stuff that no one (up until now) has candidly discussed outside of a stray blog post here or there. I found his approach honest and refreshing, with an almost zen-like appeal. The message I took away from this one: nurture equanimity.
But that doesn't even begin to do justice to the book. There's lots of nuts-and-bolts advice about the writing process itself and about how the publishing industry works. Highly recommen
But that doesn't even begin to do justice to the book. There's lots of nuts-and-bolts advice about the writing process itself and about how the publishing industry works. Highly recommen
Apr 13, 2011
Belea T.
rated it:
A resource brimming with solid ideas about both the creative and business sides of one's Booklife. Vandermeer has a track record with decades of experience in traditional publishing, and his insights into maintaining a career are terrific. He divides a writer's life in public and private sides, each with their own challenges and strategies to manage well.
Highly recommended for writers.
Highly recommended for writers.
Jul 14, 2010
Jamie
rated it:
Outstanding book on the business of writing, and managing a career as a writer. This is the book I always hoped would be written and Jeff did a terrific job. It's the kind of book you have to pull out every once-in-a-while after reading it because it is so densely packed with interesting thoughts and good ideas. I highly recommend it to other writers, published or not.
Aug 13, 2010
Jackie
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I adore this book and return to it often when I need a reminder that the writing life is a choice, a challenge and a gift. Jeff's friendly tone makes me feel like a cohort-in-arms, not a bystander. And his resources have sent me off to find other reading materials that I've deeply enjoyed. His material is unique and worth reading!
Feb 07, 2012
Very interesting concept. This author discusses in depth how to be a writer in the 21st century. Everything from how to leverage social networks, blog and other internet sources to how to keep creativity flowing. Looking forward to reading this book and I'm sure it will become a reference for my future writing endeavors.
Jan 13, 2010
Becky
rated it:
A refreshingly pragmatic book on writing, one I found especially useful as a young writer interested in producing and marketing both "genre" and "literary" fiction. It has been easy for me to uncover excellent books about the writing craft, but finding clear and direct advice about creating publicity, managing an online presence, and working with editors/agents/publishers/reviewers has been difficult. VanderMeer's advice reads as tried and sound--this book makes a great comm
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Nov 05, 2009
Chris
rated it:
This is a solid book with a lot of excellent information about writing, without spending a lot of time about the mechanics of it. It's a little dry, but not so much that reading it was a slog. Good for anyone trying to make a go at freelancing in anything artistic, I would think.
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Mar 24, 2010
Allyson
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This book is an invaluable tool for the writer engaged in new media channels-- how to negotiate them for collaboration, promotion and production while keeping a balance so they do not infringe on your imagination and energies.
This book is generous in its transparencies. What most published authors refuse to reveal for fear of being vulnerable, VanderMeer shares with wit and compassion.
Without sounding too cheezy, I found this book to be medicine for my wounded writer's More...
This book is generous in its transparencies. What most published authors refuse to reveal for fear of being vulnerable, VanderMeer shares with wit and compassion.
Without sounding too cheezy, I found this book to be medicine for my wounded writer's More...
Dec 07, 2009
George
rated it:
Writers should buy this book! I love it. I love everything about it. It may actually replace king's On Writing for my fav writing book. And THAT's saying something!
Oct 23, 2009
I think this goes up with Bruce Holland Roger's Word Work as a favorite and recommended book about writing.
