John Green's Blog, page 69

Four Truths in Defense of Book Publishers

The past few weeks, publishers have taken a bit of a beating here at sparksflyup. First, many people read my post on excessive book advances as an attack on publishers. (It wasn't, really, but more on that in a second.) Then I criticized a publisher for putting a photograph of a white girl on the cover of a book narrated by a black girl.

While it's easy to demonize publishing companies, I think that we--as writers and as readers--chronically underestimate their value. The truth is usually more co

Book Covers and the Death of Publishing

I am very late to the party re. the discussion of Justine Larbalestier's stunningly honest blog post about the cover of her excellent new book LIAR. (I say stunningly honest because Justine is the biggest liar I know. I mean, other than myself.)

Here's what happened: LIAR's hugely unreliable narrator is black. But she is portrayed as white on the book's cover. Justine was (understandably) horrified about this, and never agreed to it, but authors do not have final say in book jacket design.

There

3 Things

1. Come see me in Chicago this Thursday at 11 AM. Tickets are free if you call 312-747-4780.

2. Prediction: The Hunger Games and its sequel, Catching Fire, will be bigger than Twilight. (Also, it's good. I will expand upon this argument at annoying length later this week.)

3. I made a video about Harry Potter and how much better nerd life is than regular life.

Live in Chicago, Publishing in Australia, and Wrock

1. If you live in or near Chicago, please come see me at the Harold Washington Library Center next Thursday (July 23rd) at 11 AM. (I know that 11 AM is an unusual time for a meet-up and discussion, but hey, it's summer.) To preregister a seat, call the Department of Children and Young Adult Services at 312-747-4780.


2. I was very disappointed to learn that the Australian Productivity Commission has recommended lifting territorial copyright restrictions for Australian books. The issue is complicat

Emily Writes...

"Why don't you post videos anymore?! I loved them! They were so funny!"

Hi, Emily. Do not fear. There are many videos for you to watch--hundreds, actually. The web site you are reading represents less than one percent of what publicists would call "my web presence." I post about two videos a week on the vlogbrothers youtube channel, which I share with my brother, Hank.

(By the way, Hank's wife, who is known in nerdfighteria as The Katherine, just became a Master of Science. I heartily congratulate

I'm Not Edward Cullen

The conversation about the business of publishing and the failure of the current business model will continue in the comments of the post below this one, where I'm still answering questions and comments. But if you've had enough of all that, here is the best song ever written about Twilight and Edward Cullen.

The Advance v. Royalties Conversation Continues

Okay, quick background: Last week I wrote a post arguing against outrageously high book advances and in favor of better royalties for authors. I followed this up with a post arguing that the widely held belief that big advances cause big marketing budgets does not really hold up to scrutiny. (Big advances and big marketing budgets are obviously often correlated, but that does not imply any kind of causal relationship.)

Then I promised a mathy post explaining to publishers why this model makes mor

Oh, The Lies I Tell

Yesterday, I promised to update the blog with a very mathy and impossibly boring post explaining why publishers are better off with higher royalty rates, and decimating their argument that with a 20% hardcover royalty, they "wouldn't make any money."

There will be no such post, for three reasons:

1. Really, how many editors read this blog? And how many of them will be convinced by the calculations of a total amateur? (On the other hand, if any editors privately want to be blown away by how not-alm

Book Advances and Marketing and the Cart and the Horse

(If you don't want to read a long and boring blog post about the business of publishing, scroll down for a delightful video in which I help two nerdfighters get engaged. The couple is awfully cute. She's a writer; he's in the USAF.)

Thanks to everyone--nerdfighters, first-time authors, old salts, anonymous editors, heroically nonaonymous editors--who commented on my blog post arguing that smaller advances with better royalties would be better for publisher and author alike. Three counterarguments

A Very Nerdfightastic Engagement

Tomorrow, a follow-up post to the much-discussed stuff below about the publishing business. But today, I facilitated an adorable marriage proposal. And she said yes. And I am happy. And I love my job.