3Guys1Book: A Conversation on Interviews and Networking
Gina Frangello
· 3 months ago
Yet another great convo, guys.
I hate when editors/agents, etc. don't want their writers to have contact with others, or help others, without it being part of a marketing platform arranged by them. A good friend of mine--we had the same agent at the time--once told me our agent had to "approve" other writers before he could consent to blurb their books. I thought that was appalling and would never have agreed to it if I were him. He was better known than I am, so my agent didn't bother telling me this same thing, but if he had I would have told him where to put it.
Though we all say writing is solitary/lonely, and it can be, especially before you're publishing, sometimes when you're really in the thick of your best writing, it's "real life" that feels strange and solitary because the characters on the page seem real, and the world/people around you that you can touch seems imaginary. That's the thing non-writers don't really experience, and when you describe it you just sound like a nut.
jonathan evison
· 3 months ago
. . . i think readers can feel that realness you speak of, as well as writers, gina . . . at least i've experienced it as a reader . . . i often talk about living inside stories, my own and others . . . writing that fully engages my sympathies and senses (that is to say, about 2% of what i read) feels very real to me . . .
Drinks with Tony
· 3 months ago
as an interviewer of many writers, i've been lucky to get pretty much whoever i've wanted.
as a writer and upcoming novelist, i'm more apt to interview with bloggers and every joe-schmo than with journalists. i will do all who request, but there's something great about discussing all things literary with someone who is passionate about the craft than someone who is a check mark on a to-do list for a magazine. (and i write for magazines and some interviews are check marks and pay days.)
writing being solitary and lonely...yeah, i lose my mind when i'm writing and need social outlets. instead of being complacent, i'm thinking of putting together a pipe smoking writers club...but everyone would have to engage in tobacco consumption. kind of like the opposite of a vegan cooking club.
jonathan evison
· 3 months ago
. . . it bears mentioning that soft skull is releasing tony's book "confessions of a teenage jesus jerk" early next year, and we shall cover the launch . . . i better make a little check mark . . .
Patrick T. Kilgallon
· 3 months ago
That's seemed hard for an introvert person like me to accept. Most of the time, my efforts are a bit heavy handed like handouts of information about my book and feeling my own pressure bringing up my first book in conversation:
Stranger: Nice day out. Me: Hey, did you know I wrote a self published novel? Here's a handout, sir or ma'am.
I still have a lot to learn about promoting myself. But am learning a little bit each day about how to promote myself in person and on the various websites without alienating possible readers.
Greg Olear
· 3 months ago
Inspirational as always, gentlemen.
At the start of my TOTALLY KILLER promo work, I'm finding that there is a fine line here. You want to be open and available, but you don't want to seem desperate, either. It's hard -- much harder than writing. You almost have to assume a slightly different identity to talk about yourself, I find.
Also, I've imposed one gag rule on myself, which is this: I don't say anything bad about anyone -- even other writers whose work I despise, and even in private e-mails to my friends -- unless they're so big and famous that it doesn't matter, as in my Nervous Breakdown piece about Jennifer Aniston turning 40. That can too easily bite you in the keester...plus it's much more fun to talk about what I like.
josie
· 3 months ago
I think there is a long tradition of great artists being reclusive and exclusive. Many in the business of publishing still fixate on the mystical appeal of the author.
You can make your client aloof and stir a bit of intrigue with the public but that will only take you so far and in this day and age it will be a much longer drive to the bank.
The competition for readers is staggering. Most the books I read are either suggested by friends or something I read an interesting review on by an online friend.
That nobody from the cyberhood just sold me on a book and saved the publisher a lot of $$ in ads.
Writers need to be accessible or they'll just get shoved to the back of the line.
jonathan evison
· 3 months ago
. . . great post, josie! . . . weren't you saying something awhile back about becoming a publicist?
Jason Rice
· 3 months ago
Gina, that line about real life being strange, is EXACTLY how I feel when I'm writing a novel, especially right now, today, this minute. That frequency to create what's on the page and keep it going makes the rest of the world unreal. Right on.
All Comments
I hate when editors/agents, etc. don't want their writers to have contact with others, or help others, without it being part of a marketing platform arranged by them. A good friend of mine--we had the same agent at the time--once told me our agent had to "approve" other writers before he could consent to blurb their books. I thought that was appalling and would never have agreed to it if I were him. He was better known than I am, so my agent didn't bother telling me this same thing, but if he had I would have told him where to put it.
Though we all say writing is solitary/lonely, and it can be, especially before you're publishing, sometimes when you're really in the thick of your best writing, it's "real life" that feels strange and solitary because the characters on the page seem real, and the world/people around you that you can touch seems imaginary. That's the thing non-writers don't really experience, and when you describe it you just sound like a nut.
as a writer and upcoming novelist, i'm more apt to interview with bloggers and every joe-schmo than with journalists. i will do all who request, but there's something great about discussing all things literary with someone who is passionate about the craft than someone who is a check mark on a to-do list for a magazine. (and i write for magazines and some interviews are check marks and pay days.)
writing being solitary and lonely...yeah, i lose my mind when i'm writing and need social outlets. instead of being complacent, i'm thinking of putting together a pipe smoking writers club...but everyone would have to engage in tobacco consumption. kind of like the opposite of a vegan cooking club.
Stranger: Nice day out.
Me: Hey, did you know I wrote a self published novel? Here's a handout, sir or ma'am.
I still have a lot to learn about promoting myself. But am learning a little bit each day about how to promote myself in person and on the various websites without alienating possible readers.
At the start of my TOTALLY KILLER promo work, I'm finding that there is a fine line here. You want to be open and available, but you don't want to seem desperate, either. It's hard -- much harder than writing. You almost have to assume a slightly different identity to talk about yourself, I find.
Also, I've imposed one gag rule on myself, which is this: I don't say anything bad about anyone -- even other writers whose work I despise, and even in private e-mails to my friends -- unless they're so big and famous that it doesn't matter, as in my Nervous Breakdown piece about Jennifer Aniston turning 40. That can too easily bite you in the keester...plus it's much more fun to talk about what I like.
You can make your client aloof and stir a bit of intrigue with the public but that will only take you so far and in this day and age it will be a much longer drive to the bank.
The competition for readers is staggering. Most the books I read are either suggested by friends or something I read an interesting review on by an online friend.
That nobody from the cyberhood just sold me on a book and saved the publisher a lot of $$ in ads.
Writers need to be accessible or they'll just get shoved to the back of the line.