Articles from April 2005

The Curious Case of Determining Literary Merit

April 29th, 2005 · 16 Comments

Today, we learned that we’ve been laboring under a misconception. We thought we took writing pretty seriously as an art. We were wrong. Only men can do that, which is good since the hunting thing they used to do so well isn’t paying the bills. Our work is fluffy and inconsequential. Probably we shouldn’t even […]

File Under: Square Pegs

In Which We Advocate Heavy Drinking

April 29th, 2005 · 7 Comments

First, let us congratulate Mad Max on his pending promotion. Assistant Manager, Mailroom Operations is a huge leap, and we hope his new responsibilities (including alphabetizing packages) won’t cut into his blogging time. Wait, it already has — he’s padding his blog with the work of others. He’s using some fancy-schmancy title, but it all […]

File Under: Tools and Craft

This Is The Modern World

April 29th, 2005 · 2 Comments

As part of our romantic evening, the husband regaled us with exciting sentences from the latest Adam Penenberg column. You know, as a prelude to a rousing discussion on the state of journalism today. Or rather the state of newspapers, which is something that interests us greatly. It’s not that news isn’t relevant, but when […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

The Worst They Can Say Is No

April 29th, 2005 · Comments Off on The Worst They Can Say Is No

One of the hazards of shyness is a fear of approaching strangers and asking questions. It’s the stuttering, the red face, the inability to form coherent sentences (though they always sound good in one’s mind). Sometimes, however, desire thwarts shyness, and we (the terminally shy) walk right up and ask for what we want*. Sometimes […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

Ladies Who Lunch And Solve Industry Problems. Simultaneously.

April 28th, 2005 · Comments Off on Ladies Who Lunch And Solve Industry Problems. Simultaneously.

Today we had a long lunch with frequent commenter and author Karen Palmer, and the subject of upperbacks (yes, stealing Publisher’s Lunch terminology) popped into the conversation. We were thinking specifically about hardbacks and less expensive alternatives. It didn’t surprise us that we were in agreement on one point: hardback prices are off-putting to readers […]

File Under: Books/Mags/Blogs

Authors Are Doin’ For Themselves

April 28th, 2005 · Comments Off on Authors Are Doin’ For Themselves

We just can’t stop it — here’s hoping a long listen to the Magnetic Fields will break our spell — but that’s beside the point. The New York Times takes a long look at self publishing. And M.J. Rose, who we first met over her (then) self-published first novel, responds with some questions she can’t […]

File Under: Publishers and Editors

How Many Times Must One Question Be Asked?

April 28th, 2005 · 2 Comments

Today, David Thayer poses the big one: How can a publisher get books into the hands of readers? That’s the battlefield of the next decade. Sometimes the best way to deal with a large obstacle in your path is to go around it. The asteroid has already landed. The only restaurant is Carl’s Junior. Streets […]

File Under: Publishers and Editors

What Else Can A Poor Author Do?

April 28th, 2005 · Comments Off on What Else Can A Poor Author Do?

Most of us leave high school with sighs of relief. If you can survive the bitter end of your senior year, you can survive the worst the world has to offer. This is likely because most people do not become authors (though we meant a woman today who thought she might like to get around […]

File Under: Square Pegs

In Which We Issue A Challenge To Think Differently

April 28th, 2005 · Comments Off on In Which We Issue A Challenge To Think Differently

You want to know what makes us cranky? Other than that. Supermarket design consultants. Like any addict, we supplemented our regular book purchases with novels slipped in with the fruits and vegetables. It was a win-win situation for us — we got books, the husband got food. Then a funny thing happened that ruined our […]

File Under: Square Pegs

You Say It’s Her Birthday

April 28th, 2005 · Comments Off on You Say It’s Her Birthday

We have this fantasy: Harper Lee is writing stories and getting them published under various names. She writes the New Yorker stories you love, and when you try to learn more about the author, not a single website can be found. She’s not prolific, but she’s writing and reaching readers. She does what she loves […]

File Under: Square Pegs