Scribes’ Tribe Scribblings

NPR on Book Returns
National Public Radio (NPR) produced a piece June 13 about the issue of book returns. To listen to this six-minute piece, visit www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91461568 and click the “Listen Now” button.

Simon & Schuster Signs on with LibreDigital
Simon & Schuster has joined with LibreDigital, who will provide digital distribution for the publisher’s electronic content. Ellie Hirschhorn, executive v-p and chief digital officer for Simon & Schuster, says, “Our new digital warehouse will afford us the flexibility to syndicate our content to meet the needs of a wide variety of partners, from social networks to portals to retail sites.” Publishers Weekly, June 24.
www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6572730.html?nid=2286&source=title&rid=1324272525
or: http://tinyurl.com/4rd3a3

Reader Statistics
In a poll conducted by Random House/Zogby, 86 percent of the respondents seek out books by authors they like. Fifty-two percent of people’s book purchases are swayed by cover art, and 43 percent of people go into a bookstore looking for a specific book. Read more statistics at: www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6565475.html
Publishers Weekly, June 2.

The Future of Bookstores
According to research from Next Big Thing, half of young people aged 18-24 years old think people will still be using bookstores in 20 years. Of this age group, 28 percent were favorable towards the idea of e-readers and 40 percent liked the idea of downloadable chapters of books. Although some publishers at The Bookseller’s Reading the Future conference (where the statistics were presented) were concerned, The Book People CEO Seni Glaister commented, “Content is king - always. As an industry I hope we don’t spend too much time worrying about technology and let’s protect our copyright, make sure downloads are available.” The Bookseller, June 16.
www.thebookseller.com/news/61072-young-see-threat-to-bookshops.html

Small Publishers Feel Power of Amazon’s ‘Buy’ Button: http://tinyurl.com/6ab5d7

The book factory: Authors pressured to crank them out: http://tinyurl.com/49v5nk

One in Twenty Buy Kindle e-Book Rather than Print Version
At the 2008 BookExpo America convention, Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos revealed that one in 20 people buy the electronic version of a book rather than the printed version. However, Kindle e-book sales account for only 6 percent of overall sales titles “where two versions – a hard copy and an electronic version – were available.”
Times Online, May 29.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article4027106.ece
Or: http://tinyurl.com/4djzsz

Book Output Increased in 2007
According to figures released by R.R. Bowker, production of “traditional” books rose 1 percent in 2007 to 276,649 new titles. The biggest increase, however, was in the production of “on-demand, short run and unclassified titles.” There were 134,773 of those titles put out in 2007, up 39 percent from 21,936 in 2006. In total, 411,422 titles were produced in 2007. Publishers Weekly, May 29.
www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6564566.html?nid=2286&source=link&rid=1324272525
Or: http://tinyurl.com/4wc4gg

Borders Cut 274 Corporate Positions
Borders Group Inc. cut 274 jobs as part of its plan to reduce annual expenses by $120 million over 18 months. The cuts came from most all of its departments, with the exception of the newly reorganized buyer/planner group.
Yahoo News, June 3.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_bi_ge/borders_group_cuts
Or: http://tinyurl.com/3keh5p

Lightning Source Now Ingram Lightning Group
Ingram has consolidated its book division and print-on-demand (Lightning Source), into one unit: Ingram Lightning Group. John Ingram says this consolidation will “help us serve the book industry better and faster … [and help] our companies work more nimbly.”
Publishers Weekly, June 5.
www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6567729.html?nid=2286&source=link&rid=1324272525
Or: http://tinyurl.com/3efzoa

Read some interesting info the other day about the best-seller lists and how they work. Check out this blog: Karen Tabke to read about it.

In addition, someone posted the following links on one of the lists I’m on. These are Yahoo groups for promoting books:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/writerspromotips

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/writepublishmarket

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MarketingForRomanceWriters

http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/BraggingRites

When I’m writing, editing, and critiquing, I often find myself asking myself or another writer, “what’s this story about?” When I ask this, I’m not wondering what the plot is. What I’m really asking is “What is the theme of this story?”

But some people hear “theme” and they are instantly beamed back to high-school English class. An uncomfortable sensation arises not unlike the one you get when you miss the last step of a stairway.

But theme is important. All the pretty phrases, witty dialogue, and brilliant imagination count for little if your stories don’t have a theme. Themes are universal ideas that resonate with our subconscious.

Now, I admit, I have never sat down to write with a theme in mind . . . yep, today, I’m going to write about Redemption! No . . . Love Conquers All! No, no, no. Today, I feel more like The Early Bird Gets the Worm! Wait, is that a theme or a cliche?

I often don’t know what the theme is until I’ve finished writing a story. But once I figure it out, I make sure that the unifying ideas really do hold true for the entire book.

Earlier this week, my daughter, who is in 2nd grade, had homework on Plot and Theme. The way her book explained theme was as “The Big Idea” of the story. I like that. Nothing better than going back to elementary school to get definitions clarified.

So, the next time I’m trying to figure out what a story is really about, I’m going to ask, “What’s the big idea?”

So, along with Amy’s question to you all . . What are you working on? I challenge you to talk about the themes you are working on in your writing . . .

What’s your big idea?

Oh, my big idea? Believe in the unbelievable, believe in yourself.

Okay, fellow Tribers and friends of the Tribe, this page needs a little love. . . So let’s have some fun. My question today is: What are you working on? Are you like me, finishing up April poems in May? Or maybe you’re working on a mysterious short story? Or could it be that you’re stuck knee-deep in the plot of your novel and don’t know which way to turn? Tell us about it. Inquiring minds want to know. . .

Me first: I am finishing up the poems from the April prompts on Poetic Scribblings. (Read our results. They’re fun.) I’m also editing a few short stories sent to me by a writer from Denmark. How’s that for interesting? No, I don’t speak Danish, but I sure like to eat their pastries.

WOW! Women On Writing: Quarterly Flash Fiction Contest Sponsored by SEAL PRESS

DEADLINE: MAY 31, 2008

OVERVIEW:

WOW! hosts a (quarterly) writing contest every three months. The mission of this contest is to inspire creativity, communication, and well-rewarded recognition to contestants. The contest is open globally; age is of no matter; and entries must be in English. We are open to all styles of writing, although we do encourage you to take a close look at our guest judge for the season and the flavor of our sponsor, if you are serious about winning. Express yourself, and most of all, let’s have some fun!

GUEST JUDGE: Literary Agent, Wendy Sherman

WORD COUNT: 250 - 500 WORDS MAX

Entry Fee: $5

Optional critique: $5

PRIZES: 35 WINNERS TOTAL!

FIRST PLACE:

· $200.00 cash prize

· Seal Press Goodie Bag

· Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing

· $50 Gift Certificate to the WOW! Boutique

· 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community

· Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog

SECOND PLACE:

· $150.00 cash prize

· Seal Press Goodie Bag

· Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing

· $50 Gift Certificate to the WOW! Boutique

· 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community

· Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog

THIRD PLACE:

· $100.00 cash prize

· Seal Press Goodie Bag

· Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing

· $50 Gift Certificate to the WOW! Boutique

· 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community

· Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog

7 RUNNERS UP:

· Seal Press Goodie Bag

· Entry published on WOW! Women On Writing

· 1 Year Subscription to the Premium-Green Markets Community

· Interview on the WOW! Women On Writing Blog

25 HONORABLE MENTIONS:

· Seal Press Goodie Bag

· Name, state, and title entry published on WOW! Women On Writing

Terms and Conditions are available in a downloadable PDF on our contest entry page: http://wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php (Links to previous winner’s entries from the past year and a half are available for reading on this page as well.)

contest email: contestinfo@wow-womenonwriting.com

Hey everybody, got a question for you. It’s a bit off the wall, but I would really like to know. . . When you’re working on deadline, writing feverishly, and you don’t have a lot of time to cook, much less eat, what do you reach for to keep you going?

I’ve been working like a dog the last few weeks and finally finished editing a book manuscript. The last couple of days have been brutal. Today especially, with me putting in 10+ hours in front of the computer. (Cue the violin solo.) Anyway. . .

Anybody got a recipe for the weary writer? Something easy to fix for those long days on deadline?

Novel Beginnings 1st Chapter Contest

The Great American Novel beckons! (Or any other country for that matter!) And you accept the challenge. But first things first, you must write the opening chapter. Your objective: to write the best attention-grabbing, heart-stopping, thought-provoking chapter imaginable. So get started, your adoring public awaits!

Note: Only 22 entries received as of 4/21!

Guidelines

Every entry receives a free critique!

(Optional: To receive a thorough line edit, enclose an additional $1 PER PAGE, plus 9 X 12 SASE with enough postage for returning your chapter.)

DEADLINE: Postmarked by April 30, 2008.

ENTRY FEE: $10 per entry, maximum of three entries. Checks payable to: The Write Helper.

PRIZES: 1st Place $100
2nd Place $50
3rd Place $25

RULES:

1. Open subject, open genre. (No graphic sex or gore.)
2. Unpublished at time of submission, original work of contestant.
3. Standard manuscript form: 81/2 x 11 paper, typed and double-spaced, pages
numbered, 12 point Times New Roman.
4. First chapter of a novel only.
5. Attach paper clip to your chapter, no staples.
6. Cover sheet for each submission, with contestant’s name, address, phone number,
email (if you have one), and title of entry.
7. Postmarked no later than April 30, 2008. DO NOT SEND BY CERTIFIED MAIL!
8. Mail flat, not folded, with sufficient postage to:

Novel Beginning 1st Chapter Contest
c/o Amy Harke-Moore
104 Harke Lane
Old Monroe, MO 63369

9. Checks payable to: The Write Helper.
10. For free critique, provide either an email address or business-sized SASE so we can
get your critique to you. For optional line edit (additional $1 PER PAGE), enclose 9 X 12
SASE with enough postage to return your story.
11. Online entry available at: thewritehelper.com.

For a list of winners, check our website: thewritehelper.com after June 1, 2008.

Decision of the judges is final. Not responsible for lost or misdirected entries. Winning entry has the opportunity to be published on our website, along with a profile of the author. Manuscripts will not be returned.

From Scribes’ Tribe Member, Joy Wooderson:

I had the pleasure of attending the West Coast Publication Party in Los Angeles on April 10 to celebrate the Spring 2008 issue of The Truth About The Fact: International Journal of Literary Nonfiction published by Loyola Marymount University. My piece “Bougainvillea and Barbed Wire: A Former Citizen Looks at the New South Africa” was selected for inclusion in this journal of essays, poetry and photography.

The impression imprinted on my mind from listening to the other eleven readers is the enormous courage of creative nonfiction writers. Writing the truth calls for a commitment to absolute honesty, and in many instances, a huge emotional investment. The essays in this journal are powerful, well-written, and reveal each writer’s willingness to be vulnerable. They also give personal insights into life in other cultures, telling stories that would never make the news.

I have written a variety of nonfiction essays—some humorous, some informative. For the longest time, I wrestled over portions of the content of my manuscript, Finding Joy. I didn’t want the world to know my deepest feelings, my questioning, my struggles. Listening to, and subsequently reading, the essays and poems in this journal have made me realize the power of honest writing. Its emotional impact will differ for each reader, but it will have an effect.

So, to my fellow nonfiction writers, I say “Bravo!” Thank you for sharing the nitty-gritty of your lives, for inspiring courage in me and others. Thank you for opening my mind to people, situations, and challenges I would never know about otherwise. Thank you for reminding me that it’s healthy to be vulnerable.

Loyola Marymount University’s Department of English is to be commended for their commitment to nonfiction writers and poets, for giving us credibility and affirmation.

To learn more about Joy and her writing, and to read an excerpt of Finding Joy, check out her website.

Lately, I’ve seen more and more video trailers for books. You’ll find them on author’s websites and, of course, on youtube. Here’s a couple of links to get you started:

Cursed by Moonlight by Melissa Lopez
Jodi Picoult - Nineteen Minutes Book Trailer
Alexandra Sokoloff THE PRICE

I’d be interested to know how many hits these trailers get and how many of those lead to sales. There’s no question more and more of today’s readers are oriented to the visual–and if it’s good enough for Jodi Picoult . . .

Similar but different, animated poems:

Forgetfulness - Billy Collins Animated Poetry

Another idea I’ve heard author’s use is interviewing your main character or having your main character write his or her own blog. Now, an entire blog has started devoted to character interviews: It’s My Turn to Talk

What do you think? Something you’d be interested in trying?