Comments on: Question of the Week: Independent Press http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/ where writers come to play Sat, 17 May 2008 00:57:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Gail Siegel http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19697 Gail Siegel Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:12:15 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19697 Dennis, your post cracked me up. But reading about Kurt Vonnegut (I always thought he was the reincarnation of Mark Twain) was made me so sad this morning. Yes, so it goes. Dennis, your post cracked me up.

But reading about Kurt Vonnegut (I always thought he was the reincarnation of Mark Twain) was made me so sad this morning. Yes, so it goes.

]]> By: Bruce Hoppe http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19679 Bruce Hoppe Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:54:56 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19679 Since I have an abiding reverence for the entertainment value of anarchy, the small press/Indie in all its manifestations is near and dear. Our own variation is the self-created imprint. (see www.backtoonebooks.com) Not exactly the classic small press model, perhaps, but still another way to get to the business of connecting readers and writers, which can't be all bad. In another note: Goodbye Kurt Vonnegut. And so it goes. Since I have an abiding reverence for the entertainment value of anarchy, the small press/Indie in all its manifestations is near and dear. Our own variation is the self-created imprint. (see www.backtoonebooks.com) Not exactly the classic small press model, perhaps, but still another way to get to the business of connecting readers and writers, which can’t be all bad.

In another note: Goodbye Kurt Vonnegut. And so it goes.

]]> By: dennis mahagin http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19600 dennis mahagin Wed, 11 Apr 2007 21:36:20 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19600 I'm going to take a page from Gail's book, and plug myself: Not that I have anything against Indie Presses. I LOVE Indie Presses. It's just that today I'm drawing a blank, when it comes to saying anything constructive about Indie Presses. So, I think I'm gonna plug myself. I'm pretty sure that the "promotional socket" is properly grounded, & I won't get electrocuted, ...plus, I'm wearing the Latex, and the oven mitts, and the welder's helmet, and all that. So, OK. Ya ready? Here goes! : No wait... Gimme a minute... ... Gotta gear up for dangerous stunts like this. Coupla deep breaths. I mean, gah: Plugging yourself? But see, the thing is, I know I'm gonna feel so much better when it's all over, even if I do get hit with a little jolt of the ol' juice, there. CAUSTIC VOICE OF INNER CRITIC: <i>(Robbie Knievel's from Butte, too--just like you, and he never, ever stalls this much. Gah)... C'mon, man!</i> http://fourhourhardon.blogspot.com <b>ZZZZZZZZTTTTTTT!!!!!</b> Ouch. Ah. Nothing like taking one, for the Indie Press. Luv, DM I’m going to take a page from Gail’s book, and plug myself:

Not that I have anything against Indie Presses.

I LOVE Indie Presses.

It’s just that today I’m drawing a blank, when it comes to saying anything constructive about Indie Presses.

So, I think I’m gonna plug myself.

I’m pretty sure that the “promotional socket” is properly grounded, & I won’t get electrocuted,

…plus, I’m wearing the Latex, and the oven mitts, and the welder’s helmet, and all that. So,

OK. Ya ready?

Here goes! :

No wait…

Gimme a minute…

…

Gotta gear up for dangerous stunts like this. Coupla deep breaths.

I mean, gah:

Plugging yourself?

But see, the thing is, I know I’m gonna feel so much better when it’s all over,

even if I do get hit with a little jolt of the ol’ juice, there.

CAUSTIC VOICE OF INNER CRITIC:

(Robbie Knievel’s from Butte, too–just like you, and he never, ever stalls this much. Gah)… C’mon, man!

http://fourhourhardon.blogspot.com

ZZZZZZZZTTTTTTT!!!!!

Ouch. Ah.

Nothing like taking one, for the Indie Press.

Luv,

DM

]]> By: patry http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19567 patry Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:25:13 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19567 Robin makes a great point when she says that no matter who publishes your book, it's up to YOU to promote it. The difference is that if you're with a trade publisher, you can easily fall under the illusion that your publicist or someone else is going to do it. In fact, you may even be encouraged to believe that. BIG mistake. Very big mistake. Robin makes a great point when she says that no matter who publishes your book, it’s up to YOU to promote it. The difference is that if you’re with a trade publisher, you can easily fall under the illusion that your publicist or someone else is going to do it. In fact, you may even be encouraged to believe that. BIG mistake. Very big mistake.

]]> By: n.l. belardes http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19451 n.l. belardes Wed, 11 Apr 2007 07:32:18 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19451 We at <a href='http://noveltown.net' rel="nofollow">Noveltown</a> have a ways to go before we get the respect, credibility and support we deserve. It's all baby steps. Thursday night is our <a href='http://www.nlbelardes.com/blogger/2007/04/noveltown-review-april-12th.html' rel="nofollow">business/mixer</a> event for our new magazine, The Noveltown Review in shich Susan has a story titled, Ladybug. Support takes hard work, networking, and vision. I like what Ray Bradbury said when I saw him speak a few months ago. He said that people should do what they believe in. Naysayers, just knock them out of the way. When you have a tiny budget like us, it takes a lot more patience than most people have. But we're having fun, we're growing and that's what matters. We're the only local literary magazine and book publisher within more than a hundred miles in our area. We may be small, but we have a big foothold. And the beauty is that anyone can have such a vision and make it work through commitment. We at Noveltown have a ways to go before we get the respect, credibility and support we deserve. It’s all baby steps. Thursday night is our business/mixer event for our new magazine, The Noveltown Review in shich Susan has a story titled, Ladybug.

Support takes hard work, networking, and vision.

I like what Ray Bradbury said when I saw him speak a few months ago. He said that people should do what they believe in. Naysayers, just knock them out of the way.

When you have a tiny budget like us, it takes a lot more patience than most people have.

But we’re having fun, we’re growing and that’s what matters. We’re the only local literary magazine and book publisher within more than a hundred miles in our area. We may be small, but we have a big foothold.

And the beauty is that anyone can have such a vision and make it work through commitment.

]]> By: Noria http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19428 Noria Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:27:18 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19428 correction: The big houses WEREN'T... correction: The big houses WEREN’T…

]]> By: Noria http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19427 Noria Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:26:00 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19427 I'm not a big fan of the Gap, I'm more of an indie-spirited gal. My story collection wouldn't have been published if an independent publisher hadn't taken a chance on me. The big houses were willing to take that risk. That said, independents can't necessarily provide the kind of advance that allows writers to make a living solely from their writing. I wonder if this will change, as more and more independents have break-out successes along the lines of The Time Traveler's Wife (MacAdam/Cage), The Sleeping Father (Soft Skull), or Clown Girl (Hawthorne Books). Anything's possible: The Gap (short for generation gap) was once a hippie clothing store in San Francisco, and Simon & Schuster was once an independent publisher. I’m not a big fan of the Gap, I’m more of an indie-spirited gal. My story collection wouldn’t have been published if an independent publisher hadn’t taken a chance on me. The big houses were willing to take that risk. That said, independents can’t necessarily provide the kind of advance that allows writers to make a living solely from their writing. I wonder if this will change, as more and more independents have break-out successes along the lines of The Time Traveler’s Wife (MacAdam/Cage), The Sleeping Father (Soft Skull), or Clown Girl (Hawthorne Books). Anything’s possible: The Gap (short for generation gap) was once a hippie clothing store in San Francisco, and Simon & Schuster was once an independent publisher.

]]> By: Robin Slick http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19326 Robin Slick Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:42:46 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19326 Jason, talk to me in two weeks after I run around in George Bush's illustrious state for five days dressed as a freaking faery. But yeah...some of the events include chocolate strawberry and champagne networking; an urban rock and roll immortal party (oh don't I wish rock stars were immortal -- except for Bono, Sting, and all members of Aerosmith, that is)...and, as you say, obsessive, dedicated readers with huge hearts. Jason, talk to me in two weeks after I run around in George Bush’s illustrious state for five days dressed as a freaking faery.

But yeah…some of the events include chocolate strawberry and champagne networking; an urban rock and roll immortal party (oh don’t I wish rock stars were immortal — except for Bono, Sting, and all members of Aerosmith, that is)…and, as you say, obsessive, dedicated readers with huge hearts.

]]> By: Jason Boog http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19313 Jason Boog Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:40:19 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19313 I'll tell you what--indie presses throw the best parties. I've attended lots of small and big press sponsored readings in New York, but small-press writers are always feel more approachable. These small press writers give quirky readings that are usually packed with obsessive, dedicated readers. I love that. I’ll tell you what–indie presses throw the best parties.

I’ve attended lots of small and big press sponsored readings in New York, but small-press writers are always feel more approachable.

These small press writers give quirky readings that are usually packed with obsessive, dedicated readers. I love that.

]]> By: Carolyn Burns Bass http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19305 Carolyn Burns Bass Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:08:23 +0000 http://litpark.com/2007/04/09/question-of-the-week-independent-press/#comment-19305 <b>Kimberly said:</b> <i>...you can always make GAP clothes more exotic! Just think of them as a solid fountation upon which to build! </i> So true. Accessorizing--making oneself stand out--is key to publicity, whether in book sales, word of mouth buzz, reviews, or guerilla marketing. This can be said for indie pubs and the big name houses. Staying in print is as much the author's responsibility these days as it is the publisher's. Kimberly said: …you can always make GAP clothes more exotic! Just think of them as a solid fountation upon which to build!

So true. Accessorizing–making oneself stand out–is key to publicity, whether in book sales, word of mouth buzz, reviews, or guerilla marketing. This can be said for indie pubs and the big name houses. Staying in print is as much the author’s responsibility these days as it is the publisher’s.

]]>