Sarah Fine's Blog, page 3
January 14, 2013
High Spirits Interview!
Yes, I know, it's mid-January, and I have yet to come out of my end-of-(last)-year slumber. But I swear I'm not slumbering! Over the break, I finished revisions to Sanctum2 (soon to have an actual title), wrote another book (I know; I have a problem), and am now working feverishly on final revisions and copyedits for another project. It's been super-intense, and it shows no signs of letting up.
But I'm being interviewed today by one of my favorite bloggers, and so I wanted to tell you about it! Dianne Salerni, author of We Hear the Dead and the upcoming The Caged Graves, asked me all about my schedule and how I manage it, as well as what it's like to work with Walter Jury and my three publishers. If you find that the least bit interesting, please go check it out (and follow her--her blog is amazing).
But I'm being interviewed today by one of my favorite bloggers, and so I wanted to tell you about it! Dianne Salerni, author of We Hear the Dead and the upcoming The Caged Graves, asked me all about my schedule and how I manage it, as well as what it's like to work with Walter Jury and my three publishers. If you find that the least bit interesting, please go check it out (and follow her--her blog is amazing).
December 15, 2012
Lights Out
I love being busy. In fact, it's when I do best. I adore having three publishers and having multiple projects in various stages of preparation for publication. I'm very lucky, and I know it.
But sometimes having this wealth of good publication fortune means having to put down one thing to focus on another. A few days ago, I got not one, but two sets of revision notes, and both have hard deadlines. So! My blog is going to go dark for a few weeks as I focus on getting stuff done for both these projects.
Happy holidays, folks, and I'll be talking to you in 2013!
But sometimes having this wealth of good publication fortune means having to put down one thing to focus on another. A few days ago, I got not one, but two sets of revision notes, and both have hard deadlines. So! My blog is going to go dark for a few weeks as I focus on getting stuff done for both these projects.
Happy holidays, folks, and I'll be talking to you in 2013!
December 12, 2012
Superquick Guide to the DSM Axes
Oh, I know. It sounds pretty dry, doesn't it? I'm writing this post partially in response to searches that bring people to my blog. Sometimes I see things like "5-axis diagnosis of OCD." And perhaps you've heard of an "Axis" or "Axes" when someone's talking about a diagnosis made using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)? I've heard it on TV shows and the like. It's just part of the jargonny jargon.
But the DSM Axes are the way we organize our thoughts about diagnosis, so they're useful jargonny jargon. Not a perfect system, like I've said before, but still valuable.
When I do psychological evaluations, and I've done hundreds, it's not as simple as saying, "This kiddo has ADHD." In fact, it's really far from that. My final diagnostic--which is only a small piece of the evaluation--looks something like this:
Axis I: 314.01 Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
Axis II: none (or I might note history of significant developmental delay)
Axis III: History of acute otitis media, resolved
Axis IV: Problems with primary support group (parental stress level)
Axis V: 55
There's a lot that can be translated from this. I use the Axes to deliver as much information as possible (though, keep in mind, this comes near the end of my 10-page, single-spaced report).
Axis I: these are the primary mental disorders, with the exception of personality disorders and intellectual disabilities. Affective, anxiety, disruptive behavior, and thought disorders are all coded here. Pervasive developmental disorders (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder) are also listed here, as well as "V-codes", which are not disorders, but things that should be the focus of clinical intervention (in my speciality, "V61.20 Parent-Child Relational Problem" is the most common, but there are many others).
Axis II: Personality disorders and intellectual disabilities (formerly called "mental retardation") are coded here. Because of the group I work with, I also note significant developmental delays, because they are crucial context. Anyway, Axis II is for "long-term" conditions likely to affect resolution of the conditions diagnosed on Axis I.
Axis III: Medical conditions. I list significant ones, but also anything that might have an impact on the child's behavior or development. Like above, I listed acute middle ear infections because they can influence hearing, language development, attention, and mood in a child.
Axis IV: For me, this one's sooooo important. No mental disorder occurs in a vacuum! So here, I'll list any social/environmental/relational stressor that influences the child's functioning or behavior. Sometimes, I don't even diagnose a kid on Axis I--because the big issue is on Axis IV.
Axis V: This number is either the Global Assessment of Functioning or the Children's Global Assessment Scale. It just gives a numerical description of the approximate level of overall function or impairment.
Whenever someone has a psychological evaluation, this 5-Axis diagnosis should be one of the final outcomes. But only one of them! One of the longest sections of my reports are my recommendations, the part where I actually make suggestions for how to make things better, which is part of why they came to me in the first place. I never see the diagnosis as the most important outcome of an evaluation, but it is one piece of data, a snapshot of what's going on for this person.
If you're a writer and including psychological stuff in your manuscript, it's important to get these details right, and good research is key. So ... any questions?
But the DSM Axes are the way we organize our thoughts about diagnosis, so they're useful jargonny jargon. Not a perfect system, like I've said before, but still valuable.
When I do psychological evaluations, and I've done hundreds, it's not as simple as saying, "This kiddo has ADHD." In fact, it's really far from that. My final diagnostic--which is only a small piece of the evaluation--looks something like this:
Axis I: 314.01 Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Predominately Hyperactive-Impulsive Type
Axis II: none (or I might note history of significant developmental delay)
Axis III: History of acute otitis media, resolved
Axis IV: Problems with primary support group (parental stress level)
Axis V: 55
There's a lot that can be translated from this. I use the Axes to deliver as much information as possible (though, keep in mind, this comes near the end of my 10-page, single-spaced report).
Axis I: these are the primary mental disorders, with the exception of personality disorders and intellectual disabilities. Affective, anxiety, disruptive behavior, and thought disorders are all coded here. Pervasive developmental disorders (such as Autism Spectrum Disorder) are also listed here, as well as "V-codes", which are not disorders, but things that should be the focus of clinical intervention (in my speciality, "V61.20 Parent-Child Relational Problem" is the most common, but there are many others).
Axis II: Personality disorders and intellectual disabilities (formerly called "mental retardation") are coded here. Because of the group I work with, I also note significant developmental delays, because they are crucial context. Anyway, Axis II is for "long-term" conditions likely to affect resolution of the conditions diagnosed on Axis I.
Axis III: Medical conditions. I list significant ones, but also anything that might have an impact on the child's behavior or development. Like above, I listed acute middle ear infections because they can influence hearing, language development, attention, and mood in a child.
Axis IV: For me, this one's sooooo important. No mental disorder occurs in a vacuum! So here, I'll list any social/environmental/relational stressor that influences the child's functioning or behavior. Sometimes, I don't even diagnose a kid on Axis I--because the big issue is on Axis IV.
Axis V: This number is either the Global Assessment of Functioning or the Children's Global Assessment Scale. It just gives a numerical description of the approximate level of overall function or impairment.
Whenever someone has a psychological evaluation, this 5-Axis diagnosis should be one of the final outcomes. But only one of them! One of the longest sections of my reports are my recommendations, the part where I actually make suggestions for how to make things better, which is part of why they came to me in the first place. I never see the diagnosis as the most important outcome of an evaluation, but it is one piece of data, a snapshot of what's going on for this person.
If you're a writer and including psychological stuff in your manuscript, it's important to get these details right, and good research is key. So ... any questions?
December 10, 2012
PLEASE FOLLOW: When magical numbers make us do desperate things.
I am in New York today to film some author interview/promo stuff. I know--that sounds cool, right? It is! Especially because I get to hang out with interesting people like Walter Jury, Dan Krokos, and Cora Carmack (we're all repped by New Leaf Literary), and of course, my awesome agent Kathleen Ortiz and the other lovely ladies of New Leaf. The only real drawback: I must put make-up on my face and, you know, be filmed. I love public speaking and teaching, but for some reason, speaking to a camera renders me a seriously awkward duck.
So wish me luck.
NOW, I wanted to chat with you about something I find so very interesting, and have experienced myself on a number of occasions. As I write this, I have exactly 999 Twitter followers. I'm running this Malachi's journal giveaway (*ahem* maybe you'd like to enter ...), and so my follower count has gone up rapidly in the last few days, and here we are.
The temptation, of course, is to attempt to push this process along. I see this ALL the time on Twitter, blogs, Facebook (likes), and Goodreads (adds). People say things like "I would like to get to XX number of followers!" They offer incentives sometimes, and other times they just ask. And ask and ask and ask. Perhaps the round, even number is appealing, or perhaps adding another digit represents a milestone, or maybe it's simply the idea of having that many people hooked to your online self. It feels good, right? You feel popular? Secure? Like it's a badge of acceptance or something?
Like I said, I feel it sometimes, the urge to say COME ON, TWITTER, GIVE ME SOME LOVE (IN THE EXACT AMOUNT OF [insert seemingly meaningful yet actually arbitrary number] FOLLOWERS).
Then I recall how I feel when I see those bleated requests from others. Sometimes I feel generous and I follow, but mostly I endure it because I like the person and am willing to wait it out until they reach this somewhat artificial goal.
But I have to admit that sometimes I unfollow, especially if the request is made several times. It grates.
And here's the primary reason why I don't make requests for specific amounts of followers: It happens anyway.
At some point, maybe even by the time this posts, I'll have 1K Twitter followers. And also: it doesn't mean anything different than having 999 followers.
When I feel the urge to ask people to follow me just so I can reach some magical number that's only magical when I don't have it (because once I do have it, I start wanting to reach the next somewhat artificial milestone) ... I forcefully remind myself that it's eventually going to happen naturally, a by-product of this career and of consistently participating in this community in a positive way. I also remind myself that those magical round numbers don't actually mean anything real, and reaching those numbers in a specific amount of time doesn't mean anything, either.
Have you done this? (it's okay! It's a natural thing to want!) How do you feel when others make these requests? Is it just part of the game? What does it say about us?
So wish me luck.
NOW, I wanted to chat with you about something I find so very interesting, and have experienced myself on a number of occasions. As I write this, I have exactly 999 Twitter followers. I'm running this Malachi's journal giveaway (*ahem* maybe you'd like to enter ...), and so my follower count has gone up rapidly in the last few days, and here we are.
The temptation, of course, is to attempt to push this process along. I see this ALL the time on Twitter, blogs, Facebook (likes), and Goodreads (adds). People say things like "I would like to get to XX number of followers!" They offer incentives sometimes, and other times they just ask. And ask and ask and ask. Perhaps the round, even number is appealing, or perhaps adding another digit represents a milestone, or maybe it's simply the idea of having that many people hooked to your online self. It feels good, right? You feel popular? Secure? Like it's a badge of acceptance or something?
Like I said, I feel it sometimes, the urge to say COME ON, TWITTER, GIVE ME SOME LOVE (IN THE EXACT AMOUNT OF [insert seemingly meaningful yet actually arbitrary number] FOLLOWERS).
Then I recall how I feel when I see those bleated requests from others. Sometimes I feel generous and I follow, but mostly I endure it because I like the person and am willing to wait it out until they reach this somewhat artificial goal.
But I have to admit that sometimes I unfollow, especially if the request is made several times. It grates.
And here's the primary reason why I don't make requests for specific amounts of followers: It happens anyway.
At some point, maybe even by the time this posts, I'll have 1K Twitter followers. And also: it doesn't mean anything different than having 999 followers.
When I feel the urge to ask people to follow me just so I can reach some magical number that's only magical when I don't have it (because once I do have it, I start wanting to reach the next somewhat artificial milestone) ... I forcefully remind myself that it's eventually going to happen naturally, a by-product of this career and of consistently participating in this community in a positive way. I also remind myself that those magical round numbers don't actually mean anything real, and reaching those numbers in a specific amount of time doesn't mean anything, either.
Have you done this? (it's okay! It's a natural thing to want!) How do you feel when others make these requests? Is it just part of the game? What does it say about us?
December 6, 2012
Introducing: MALACHI'S JOURNAL (and the chance to win a SANCTUM prize pack)
A brief excerpt from SANCTUM:
The dark city is ... dark. It's easy to lose track of time, of days and weeks. The sun is hard to see. There are no seasons. But Malachi, the Captain of the Guard, has his own system. He keeps a journal. Or, as Lela observes: lots of them.
And if you want to get to know someone, reading his journal is a pretty good strategy, no? (though in real life, I suggest you ask permission first) Malachi is no exception: his hopes, fears, plans, and adventures are all contained in the pages of his journals.
Starting today, and continuing throughout the publication of my Guards of the Shadowlands series, excerpts from Malachi's journals will be posted regularly at:
www.GuardsOfTheShadowlands.tumblr.com
That's also the place to go if you want to ask a question about the characters, the world, and the series.
To get things started off right, I've teamed up with TEN fantastic book bloggers to share excerpts from Malachi's journals from his first ten days as a Guard. Even better, we're giving you chances to win a SANCTUM prize pack containing exclusive extra content that you can only access IF YOU WIN. The good news is there are tons of ways to get entries in the contest!
I'm so excited about this, guys! Malachi is one of my favorite characters, and judging from the feedback I've received so far, he seems to be a favorite with readers as well.
Here's where you can find the journal entries (DAY 1-9 are posted NOW): DAY 1: Lili's Reflections DAY 2: Readers Den DAY 3: Rainy Day Ramblings DAY 4: Ivy Book Bindings DAY 5: The Nocturnal Library DAY 6: The BookittyBlog DAY 7: Paperback Princess DAY 8: Collections DAY 9: Christy's Love of Books DAY 10 (posting 12/14): My Guilty Obsession Here we go! Contest ends 12/20/12 at MIDNIGHT. I don't care where you live. This contest is INTERNATIONAL. I do, however, care how old you are. Age 14 and older only, please.
NOW LOOK OVER IN MY SIDEBAR AND ENTER ENTER ENTER.
AND GO TO THE LOVELY BOOK BLOGS AND ENTER THERE, TOO.
I WANT YOU TO WIN.
I'M ROOTING FOR YOU.
YOU ARE MY FAVORITE.
NO, I'M SERIOUS. YOU ARE.
Malachi’s quarters had no windows, no decorations. His room was just like everything else about him—nothing unnecessary, nothing wasted. His narrow cot rested in a corner, right next to something that looked like a hat rack. He walked straight to it and hung his bloody, stained armor over it. A small desk stood across from the rack, but the only things that sat upon it were a fountain pen and a single book, like some kind of journal. Neatly stacked in a corner rose a tower of identical books as tall as I was. A lot of journals.
The dark city is ... dark. It's easy to lose track of time, of days and weeks. The sun is hard to see. There are no seasons. But Malachi, the Captain of the Guard, has his own system. He keeps a journal. Or, as Lela observes: lots of them.
And if you want to get to know someone, reading his journal is a pretty good strategy, no? (though in real life, I suggest you ask permission first) Malachi is no exception: his hopes, fears, plans, and adventures are all contained in the pages of his journals.
Starting today, and continuing throughout the publication of my Guards of the Shadowlands series, excerpts from Malachi's journals will be posted regularly at:
www.GuardsOfTheShadowlands.tumblr.com
That's also the place to go if you want to ask a question about the characters, the world, and the series.
To get things started off right, I've teamed up with TEN fantastic book bloggers to share excerpts from Malachi's journals from his first ten days as a Guard. Even better, we're giving you chances to win a SANCTUM prize pack containing exclusive extra content that you can only access IF YOU WIN. The good news is there are tons of ways to get entries in the contest!
I'm so excited about this, guys! Malachi is one of my favorite characters, and judging from the feedback I've received so far, he seems to be a favorite with readers as well.
Here's where you can find the journal entries (DAY 1-9 are posted NOW): DAY 1: Lili's Reflections DAY 2: Readers Den DAY 3: Rainy Day Ramblings DAY 4: Ivy Book Bindings DAY 5: The Nocturnal Library DAY 6: The BookittyBlog DAY 7: Paperback Princess DAY 8: Collections DAY 9: Christy's Love of Books DAY 10 (posting 12/14): My Guilty Obsession Here we go! Contest ends 12/20/12 at MIDNIGHT. I don't care where you live. This contest is INTERNATIONAL. I do, however, care how old you are. Age 14 and older only, please.
NOW LOOK OVER IN MY SIDEBAR AND ENTER ENTER ENTER.
AND GO TO THE LOVELY BOOK BLOGS AND ENTER THERE, TOO.
I WANT YOU TO WIN.
I'M ROOTING FOR YOU.
YOU ARE MY FAVORITE.
NO, I'M SERIOUS. YOU ARE.
December 3, 2012
Development is jagged.
I remember the day my son took his very first step all by himself. He was eleven months old, and I thought to myself: This is it. He's walking now.
That was the last independent step he took for three weeks. Throughout that time, he'd stand, and he'd cruise (walking while holding onto the couch or some other stable object), but he seemed stuck. And then: he took another step! Or maybe it was two! And I was like: Here we go! Walking!
Nope. Three or four more weeks. What the heck, I thought. What is wrong with you, boy? He'd taken his first step nearly two months before! He should have been sprinting at that point!
Except, really, I knew better. I do, after all, have some training in this kind of thing. And I think we all know this at some level, though it's easy to forget:
Development is jagged.
It's easier to think in straight lines, to imagine growth as a smooth upward slope, to get tripped up by the expectation that any type of progress will continue evenly. Whether it's writing, writing career, emotional development, interpersonal relationships, level of expertise, progress toward goals, or any other type of personal evolution, we all hope for continued growth, right? And when it doesn't seem to be moving along--or! Horror! We seem to be devolving in that area--it's easy to get discouraged, and even to believe we're done growing, that this might be it.
And I guess it could be sometimes. There are limits to our potential, I suppose. But we also know development is jagged. We go through periods of rapid growth followed by periods of level coasting or even a slight decline in the level or consistency of our skills/thinking/whatever. We often get really uncomfortable during those times, either because of frustration at the seeming lack of progress or because our minds are gearing up for the next push, something more complicated than we can grasp, so all we know is we feel squirmy ... until the next burst of development comes along.
Sometimes there are external factors that catalyze a period of growth. Sometimes it is a purely internal process. I'm not sure it can be forced, though, not if our minds aren't ready or able to go there.
Erm. Those are my random thoughts for today. Have you observed uneven growth in a specific area of your life or personal evolution? Have you felt the squirminess before a phase of rapid development (kids show this--they sometimes have trouble sleeping right before they enter a new phase of motor development, for example)? Did you recognize it for what it was, or were you merely frustrated? What phase are you in now? Growth ... or potential for growth?
That was the last independent step he took for three weeks. Throughout that time, he'd stand, and he'd cruise (walking while holding onto the couch or some other stable object), but he seemed stuck. And then: he took another step! Or maybe it was two! And I was like: Here we go! Walking!
Nope. Three or four more weeks. What the heck, I thought. What is wrong with you, boy? He'd taken his first step nearly two months before! He should have been sprinting at that point!
Except, really, I knew better. I do, after all, have some training in this kind of thing. And I think we all know this at some level, though it's easy to forget:
Development is jagged.
It's easier to think in straight lines, to imagine growth as a smooth upward slope, to get tripped up by the expectation that any type of progress will continue evenly. Whether it's writing, writing career, emotional development, interpersonal relationships, level of expertise, progress toward goals, or any other type of personal evolution, we all hope for continued growth, right? And when it doesn't seem to be moving along--or! Horror! We seem to be devolving in that area--it's easy to get discouraged, and even to believe we're done growing, that this might be it.
And I guess it could be sometimes. There are limits to our potential, I suppose. But we also know development is jagged. We go through periods of rapid growth followed by periods of level coasting or even a slight decline in the level or consistency of our skills/thinking/whatever. We often get really uncomfortable during those times, either because of frustration at the seeming lack of progress or because our minds are gearing up for the next push, something more complicated than we can grasp, so all we know is we feel squirmy ... until the next burst of development comes along.
Sometimes there are external factors that catalyze a period of growth. Sometimes it is a purely internal process. I'm not sure it can be forced, though, not if our minds aren't ready or able to go there.
Erm. Those are my random thoughts for today. Have you observed uneven growth in a specific area of your life or personal evolution? Have you felt the squirminess before a phase of rapid development (kids show this--they sometimes have trouble sleeping right before they enter a new phase of motor development, for example)? Did you recognize it for what it was, or were you merely frustrated? What phase are you in now? Growth ... or potential for growth?
November 28, 2012
Kindness, quantified.
I'm guest posting at The Kindness Project blog today! Please go over and check it out if you have a chance.
Before you go, I need to tell you something. A week from tomorrow (12/6/12), I'm teaming up with ten book bloggers to unveil some extra content for Sanctum and the Guards of the Shadowlands series. Part of that will be a pretty epic contest. I am super excited about it. I hope you will participate. Yes. You. I'm looking right at you.
Anyway. Er. I just needed to say that. Have a lovely day.
Before you go, I need to tell you something. A week from tomorrow (12/6/12), I'm teaming up with ten book bloggers to unveil some extra content for Sanctum and the Guards of the Shadowlands series. Part of that will be a pretty epic contest. I am super excited about it. I hope you will participate. Yes. You. I'm looking right at you.
Anyway. Er. I just needed to say that. Have a lovely day.
November 26, 2012
SHOW & TELL IN A NUTSHELL
Click to add me to Goodreads!Today I'd like to welcome author Jessica Bell to the blog! She has a new book out, and it seems like an excellent resource:Have you been told there's a little too much telling in your novel? Want to remedy it? Then this is the book for you!
In Show & Tell in a Nutshell: Demonstrated Transitions from Telling to Showing you will find sixteen real scenes depicting a variety of situations, emotions, and characteristics which clearly demonstrate how to turn telling into showing. Dispersed throughout, and at the back of the book, are blank pages to take notes as you read. A few short writing prompts are also provided.
Not only is this pocket guide an excellent learning tool for aspiring writers, but it is a light, convenient, and easy solution to honing your craft no matter how broad your writing experience. Keep it in the side pocket of your school bag, throw it in your purse, or even carry it around in the pocket of your jeans or jacket, to enhance your skills, keep notes, and jot down story ideas, anywhere, anytime.
If you purchase the e-book, you will be armed with the convenient hyper-linked Contents Page, where you can toggle backward and forward from different scenes with ease. Use your e-reader's highlighting and note-taking tools to keep notes instead.
The author, Jessica Bell, also welcomes questions via email, concerning the content of this book, or about showing vs. telling in general, at showandtellinanutshell@gmail.com
Reviews:
“Jessica Bell addresses one of the most common yet elusive pieces of writing advice—show, don't tell—in a uniquely user-friendly and effective way: by example. By studying the sixteen scenes she converts from “telling” into “showing,” not only will you clearly understand the difference; you will be inspired by her vivid imagery and dialogue to pour through your drafts and do the same.” ~Jenny Baranick, College English Teacher, Author of Missed Periods and Other Grammar Scares
“A practical, no-nonsense resource that will help new and experienced writers alike deal with that dreaded piece of advice: show, don’t tell. I wish Bell’s book had been around when I started writing!” ~Talli Roland, bestselling author
Purchase the paperback:
$4.40 on Amazon US
£3.99 on Amazon UK
Purchase the e-book:
$1.99 on Amazon US
£1.99 on Amazon UK
$1.99 on Kobo
About the Author:
The Australian-native contemporary fiction author and poet, Jessica Bell, also makes a living as an editor and writer for global ELT publishers (English Language Teaching), such as Pearson Education, HarperCollins, Macmillan Education, Education First and Cengage Learning.
She is the Co-Publishing Editor of Vine Leaves Literary Journal , and co-hosts the Homeric Writers’ Retreat & Workshop on the Greek Isle of Ithaca, with Chuck Sambuchino of Writer’s Digest.
For more information about Jessica Bell, please visit:
Website
Blog
November 19, 2012
Eyes Wide Open
Oh, man. Have you guys heard about this Tim Ferriss thing?
His latest book comes out tomorrow, and he's basically promoting it as a "banned" book because Barnes and Noble, along with most indie bookstores, are refusing to stock it.
Their refusal to carry the book is not based on its content, of course. It's really only based on one thing:
Amazon's the publisher.
Oh, hey! Amazon's my publisher, too.
I haven't talked about this much, but now I find myself wanting to, at least a little. So here it is:
When my agent and I were considering the offer from Amazon Children's Publishing for SANCTUM, we talked about the pros and possible cons of it. I'm a compulsive information seeker, and so I did a lot of research. I don't go into anything with my eyes shut. Instead, I take a look at data, evaluate my options, and make my decisions. This situation was no different.
At the time (July 2011), B&N hadn't yet announced their official policy of not stocking Amazon pubbed books. In fact, I don't think they even had an unofficial policy at that point, at least, not one they'd stated publicly. HOWEVER, there was abundant evidence suggesting they might go in that direction. Borders hadn't stocked B&N published books, after all. Lots of indies were blogging and getting quoted in news articles about how they had no intention of stocking Amazon pubbed books. Twitter was full of ... chatter. As it always is.
Still, it seemed like an intriguing opportunity. I took a good, hard look at what Amazon was offering me for the series. I thought about my options. I talked it over with my agent. And I made the call.
My book isn't in B&N (though you can order it from them online). It's a Kindle exclusive. I don't know if any indies are stocking it, and I respect their choice not to if they don't (I'm grateful if they have).
And yet: I don't regret the choice I made. I've had great support from my publisher. Also, I've seen Sanctum's sales numbers from its first month after publication, and they please me.
Would I like my books to be in bricks-and-mortar bookstores? Of course I would. But: I made my choice. So did Tim Ferriss. And bookstores will make theirs. That's what it is: a choice. A business decision that comes with its own pros and cons. I think it's clear Mr. Ferriss knows all of this, though. He's a smart guy, an expert self-promoter with a huge platform, who has developed a savvy and potentially innovative marketing plan for his book. I doubt there's as much outrage here as there is cool-headed strategy. I really wish he hadn't appropriated the term "banning", which brings with it some pretty significant meaning. But again, I suspect the decision to use it was made because the term is fairly emotion-laden.
Getting published is all about these decisions. Authors decide if they'll accept offers from publishers, or they decide to self-publish, or they decide to shelve projects and move on to the next. They decide how they market their works. In the constantly shifting terrain of the publishing world, each and every one of those choices comes with its own opportunities and consequences. It's tricky!
And ... that's life, right? We all live with our choices, and very few of them are easy black and white, particularly because we are so intricately connected to one another. Given that complexity, I have loads of respect for people in any part of this industry who remain focused on the legitimate strengths and advantages of their choices rather than focusing on the disadvantages and blaming them on the choices of others. But I guess that's a choice, too.
I'll be spending time with my family this week, so I'll be back next Monday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
His latest book comes out tomorrow, and he's basically promoting it as a "banned" book because Barnes and Noble, along with most indie bookstores, are refusing to stock it.
Their refusal to carry the book is not based on its content, of course. It's really only based on one thing:
Amazon's the publisher.
Oh, hey! Amazon's my publisher, too.
I haven't talked about this much, but now I find myself wanting to, at least a little. So here it is:
When my agent and I were considering the offer from Amazon Children's Publishing for SANCTUM, we talked about the pros and possible cons of it. I'm a compulsive information seeker, and so I did a lot of research. I don't go into anything with my eyes shut. Instead, I take a look at data, evaluate my options, and make my decisions. This situation was no different.
At the time (July 2011), B&N hadn't yet announced their official policy of not stocking Amazon pubbed books. In fact, I don't think they even had an unofficial policy at that point, at least, not one they'd stated publicly. HOWEVER, there was abundant evidence suggesting they might go in that direction. Borders hadn't stocked B&N published books, after all. Lots of indies were blogging and getting quoted in news articles about how they had no intention of stocking Amazon pubbed books. Twitter was full of ... chatter. As it always is.
Still, it seemed like an intriguing opportunity. I took a good, hard look at what Amazon was offering me for the series. I thought about my options. I talked it over with my agent. And I made the call.
My book isn't in B&N (though you can order it from them online). It's a Kindle exclusive. I don't know if any indies are stocking it, and I respect their choice not to if they don't (I'm grateful if they have).
And yet: I don't regret the choice I made. I've had great support from my publisher. Also, I've seen Sanctum's sales numbers from its first month after publication, and they please me.
Would I like my books to be in bricks-and-mortar bookstores? Of course I would. But: I made my choice. So did Tim Ferriss. And bookstores will make theirs. That's what it is: a choice. A business decision that comes with its own pros and cons. I think it's clear Mr. Ferriss knows all of this, though. He's a smart guy, an expert self-promoter with a huge platform, who has developed a savvy and potentially innovative marketing plan for his book. I doubt there's as much outrage here as there is cool-headed strategy. I really wish he hadn't appropriated the term "banning", which brings with it some pretty significant meaning. But again, I suspect the decision to use it was made because the term is fairly emotion-laden.
Getting published is all about these decisions. Authors decide if they'll accept offers from publishers, or they decide to self-publish, or they decide to shelve projects and move on to the next. They decide how they market their works. In the constantly shifting terrain of the publishing world, each and every one of those choices comes with its own opportunities and consequences. It's tricky!
And ... that's life, right? We all live with our choices, and very few of them are easy black and white, particularly because we are so intricately connected to one another. Given that complexity, I have loads of respect for people in any part of this industry who remain focused on the legitimate strengths and advantages of their choices rather than focusing on the disadvantages and blaming them on the choices of others. But I guess that's a choice, too.
I'll be spending time with my family this week, so I'll be back next Monday. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
November 14, 2012
Caution **spoilers ahead**
I'm a book review reader. Not just reviews of my own book, but in general. Reviewers are, of course, a generally intelligent bunch of individuals, no matter whether they write for a published journal, a blog, or simply post on a retail site or on Goodreads. I usually find reading their thoughts stimulating and enjoyable.
Here's one thing that I've always appreciated and respected in book reviews: the convention of marking spoilers as such, and even hiding them from view unless someone chooses to click on the jump/link/hidden text and read.
Because if reviews really are for readers, as they're supposed to be, it's a bit rude to just come out and say [spoiler ahead! highlight to read!] BRUCE WILLIS WAS DEAD THE WHOLE TIME, right?
Regarding SANCTUM, like many books, it has an ending that's unexpected. Many readers have commented about it in very general terms, and I love that. And I'm grateful that they let other readers experience that same thing for themselves.
What I don't love: A review that flat-out says (without the spoiler warning) something like: "At the end of the book, Malachi and Lela [highlight to read] come on now, people. You didn't really think I'd tell you that, did you?!? And that's how it goes."
(To be clear: I'm not talking about one review of SANCTUM in particular, and not even only about reviews of SANCTUM, just using it as an example)
But anyway, to all reviewers out there: I adore you. And I respect your right to do what you do. If you feel like your critique of a book would simply not be complete or coherent without revealing specific details of plot twists, etc., go ahead--just mark them clearly! [If revealing the details isn't necessary for the review, may I suggest you leave them out or speak of them only in the most general of terms?] It gives your fellow readers the choice--whether they want to be spoiled or not. It's the polite thing to do.
</rant>
What do you guys think of spoilers? How do you define "spoiler," and what kinds of things should be marked as spoilers? What can be included without that kind of warning? Laying out the ending is obvious (or should be?), but what about all that stuff in between? And--do you read spoilers? Do they enhance your enjoyment or ... spoil it?
Here's one thing that I've always appreciated and respected in book reviews: the convention of marking spoilers as such, and even hiding them from view unless someone chooses to click on the jump/link/hidden text and read.
Because if reviews really are for readers, as they're supposed to be, it's a bit rude to just come out and say [spoiler ahead! highlight to read!] BRUCE WILLIS WAS DEAD THE WHOLE TIME, right?
Regarding SANCTUM, like many books, it has an ending that's unexpected. Many readers have commented about it in very general terms, and I love that. And I'm grateful that they let other readers experience that same thing for themselves.
What I don't love: A review that flat-out says (without the spoiler warning) something like: "At the end of the book, Malachi and Lela [highlight to read] come on now, people. You didn't really think I'd tell you that, did you?!? And that's how it goes."
(To be clear: I'm not talking about one review of SANCTUM in particular, and not even only about reviews of SANCTUM, just using it as an example)
But anyway, to all reviewers out there: I adore you. And I respect your right to do what you do. If you feel like your critique of a book would simply not be complete or coherent without revealing specific details of plot twists, etc., go ahead--just mark them clearly! [If revealing the details isn't necessary for the review, may I suggest you leave them out or speak of them only in the most general of terms?] It gives your fellow readers the choice--whether they want to be spoiled or not. It's the polite thing to do.
</rant>
What do you guys think of spoilers? How do you define "spoiler," and what kinds of things should be marked as spoilers? What can be included without that kind of warning? Laying out the ending is obvious (or should be?), but what about all that stuff in between? And--do you read spoilers? Do they enhance your enjoyment or ... spoil it?
