Comments on: Guest Post: Dreaming Well: Does the Future of Publishing Need More Imagination? http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/ Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Sun, 19 May 2013 20:02:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Olivia Ashe http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133733 Olivia Ashe Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:34:06 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133733 Thanks for this Jeff.
The genre I’m writing at the moment is fantasy, which I’ve read is almost non existent here in Australia. I’ve looked for an agent, but only found one so far that deals with fantasy. I was afraid to send them an email because of previous rejections from other novels.I was thinking about giving up.
I don’t like social media and don’t want to use it, but keep reading about how its “the future” and “you won’t be anyone with out it”.
I swear Dickens and Austen were so lucky.

]]> By: SarahP http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133697 SarahP Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:45:31 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133697 Yes, absolutely, all of it.

For those (fiction writers) who are told by their publicist/marketing person that they have to establish a platform: Yes, a marketing person can say that, but that person is very likely working off the same truisms that others in the industry are propagating but not examining. Building a platform through social media marketing is simply obnoxious, and, with a few exceptions, I suspect it’s of limited efficacy in promoting a book.

]]> By: Travis Heermann http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133680 Travis Heermann Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:38:49 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133680 Some good reminders, Jeff. Especially the section about our audience expecting content to be free. I’ve done a lot of writing and thinking about this myself recently, and mostly it’s just depressing.
Will any of use except a couple of dozen Stephen Kings be able to survive if all books (novels!) are 99 cents. No.

]]> By: CC MacKenzie http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133637 CC MacKenzie Sun, 19 Aug 2012 23:08:13 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133637 Fantastic post.

I’m self published. Two novels so far with more to come. It’s not been the big bang. Social networking totally stifles my creativity. My work is professionally edited and copy edited.

The joy is in reaching readers who email/facebook/tweet me. They don’t want a ‘relationship’ with me, they only want to tell me they enjoyed the story and when will the next book be available.

My plan is to reach as many readers as possible and if that means traditional publishing, indie publishing or whatever device grabs a reader’s attention in the future to read work then that’s what I’ll do.

The point about the polarising of opinions whether it be in politics or publishing is spot on. Both sides need to come together to put the needs of the reader first.

]]> By: Jeff VanderMeer http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133629 Jeff VanderMeer Sat, 18 Aug 2012 15:13:46 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133629 RushMC–it’s a terrible metric, given the fact book publishing will always be a roll of the dice.

Elisa–yes, this does happen. But the fact is, agents and publishers are there to push you to do commercial, PR things. And you are there to pick and choose what works for you.

JeffV

]]> By: CindaChima http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133628 CindaChima Sat, 18 Aug 2012 14:45:43 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133628 An articulate voice of reason amid the clamor! Thank you!

]]> By: rushmc http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133626 rushmc Sat, 18 Aug 2012 13:11:42 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133626 I don’t equate making money off of your writing as necessarily producing anything interesting, btw.

Of course not. And yet, it means it was interesting to SOMEBODY in some fashion, and it’s the easiest metric to use comparatively.

]]> By: LendInk, Author Activism, and the Need for Critical Thinking http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133622 LendInk, Author Activism, and the Need for Critical Thinking Sat, 18 Aug 2012 00:04:10 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133622 [...] of the book world." That's a direct quote from Jeff Vandermeer's fantastic blog post entitled Dreaming Well: Does the Future of Publishing Need More Imagination? In it, he takes issue with the pundits and self-proclaimed trailblazers who want us to believe they [...]

]]> By: Sensible and well thought out | Per Rose Oddities http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133620 Sensible and well thought out | Per Rose Oddities Fri, 17 Aug 2012 22:08:20 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133620 [...] publisher? It is a relief to hear that I can and not be made to feel like a complete moron for it. http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagin… Share this:FacebookTwitterEmailLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. This entry was posted in [...]

]]> By: The Great Geek Manual » Geek Media Round-Up: August 17, 2012 http://www.sfwa.org/2012/08/guest-post-dreaming-well-does-the-future-of-publishing-need-more-imagination/#comment-133619 The Great Geek Manual » Geek Media Round-Up: August 17, 2012 Fri, 17 Aug 2012 22:02:20 +0000 http://www.sfwa.org/?p=25709#comment-133619 [...] Jeff VanderMeer on how to be smart regarding self-publishing. [...]

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