To my wonderful chums in the chasm...

I think the NZ Post Children's Book Awards are in good hands this year if this post by convenor Bernard Beckett is anything to go by. I had to laugh at the use of the masochist/sadist story - very apropos for book awards. And he's right I think. We might disagree on our favourites but most would agree on what reaches a good/the best standard. I have some books in contention but I am not overly hopeful. Its hard not to fall into that middle territory between not quite good enough for awards but not populist enough for commercial success. That middle territory always looks like a yawning chasm to me.

In my last post I bleated about some books that rode a tsunami of commercial success and yet were full of writerly annoyances. Things that I am repeatedly advised by blogging agents, editors and others should be fixed before an author even breathes in the direction of an agent, or publisher. One of the things that shocked me most as I stumbled for the umpteenth time over a missed editing opportunity was the fact that these books were agented and published by experienced industry professionals. Why didn't these professionals address any of the sloppiness or awkward technique? And what should I take from this?

In the end I take from it that publishing is an industry full of contradictions and exceptions. And being an author messes with your mind. Fifi Colston said it very well here. All the sparkly bits that the public perceive as being part of the creative life, all the things we dream of and hope for: the hordes of devoted fans, the soirees, the awards, the riches, the residencies, the festival invitations and the associated travel, are ephemeral, if they happen at all. We are all just usually huddling in the chasm together: despite the amazing talent and the hard work, the sweat, the tears and frustrations that you will find there. We keep trying to climb a little higher on the beautiful stories and illustrations that we are creating. But whatever else happens it is the fantastic company in the chasm that keeps me going and saves my sanity. Thanks chums

Waxing lyrical...

Here is a juicy read on the key differences for publishers of print versus digital publishing. We come at it differently as authors but this is useful information. As I've recently learnt a whole bunch of stuff about e-books with the digital publication of The Half Life of Ryan Davis I nod my head at a lot of this. Knowledge is power. Even if you choose not to go down this route with your own stories it pays to understand all the implications. Jonathan Franzen can wax lyrical about print books all he likes and lament their demise but I think his real fear is not print-versus-digital, but a worry about the ease of digital publishing dumbing down the quality of the stories. Mr Franzen, there is some serious rubbish in print. And whether quality or format is the concern, ultimately it is all (as it has always been) in the hands of the readers. Readers like me. I think reading all books by e-reader would do my head in. But I can't afford to buy everything in print, either financially or physically. I still look for quality in both formats. I've rejected buying a whole bunch of e-books despite their .99c price (even some that were free) if I didn't like the look of the prose. Readers will read what they've always read. They will look for writers they prefer and try and stick with them where possible.I don't think the number of people buying Mr Franzen's books in whatever format will change. And in the end, even if publishers could no longer afford to publish him, there is nothing to stop him self-publishing.

And I have harped on a fair bit about promotion in recent times too : the hairy necessity and the fine line of not enough/too much. Waggle your eyebrows the wrong way and you will be over the line. I like the guiding push-me-pull-you philosophy of Stroppy Author on this topic. Go read it here.

I am still thinking on what competition I am going to run in honour of reaching 500 posts. Feel free to let me know what you would like - old books, new books, the promise of not another 500 posts?