Authors breaking free of paper
That’s what Jeff Jarvis said about a number of ways publishers are making their books available and accessible. He says:
Harper Collins started changing the book yesterday, announcing that it would now create and sell audio content with and around authors and books. The publisher is also making it possible to browse inside books on its own site and elsewhere. “We want to reach consumers wherever they are, however they wish to experience our authors and their words,” said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide. Now that’s the ticket. Next add to this New York Times story about publishers making videos — trailers — about books and authors to promote them. And we start to hear authors’ voices beyond print…
There’s a pretty good discussion pro & con going on at Buzz Machine. His post is entitled, Exploding Books. I like that!
I’m one of those who embrace those new ways of getting your words out. I’ve always seen things like speaking and blogging – whatever else you can think of – to support and promote your other works as part of a package. It’s a reality that even those in other arts, such as the painters and sculptors, need to be aware of and work with in whatever way they can.
I believe that people won’t know about your work unless you can tell them in some way. The more ways you have to reach out to more people, the better, and the fact that major publishers are getting on board with new ideas is a great thing.
Not all writers accept that reality, for a lot of reasons. Some still believe in the magic, thinking that all you need is a book on a shelf somewhere, and your work is done. Some think that doing these other things is somehow beneath them, and cheapens their work. Others just don’t believe enough in their own work to “own” it, in the ways that include talking about it to strangers.
Now, I see all those reasons as excuses. When I was teaching writers to promote their works, the number one excuse from authors was that they didn’t have time for these other things. It’s true, putting together a presentation, finding ways to get it heard or seen does take time and a lot of other kinds of ingenuity that weren’t in play when you were alone with your keyboard and writing a book.
What it all comes down to is whether you want to make that time, or not. Is it important enough that your book be read for you to take time away from something else?
There is another consideration, though. Some writers can’t get past the fear of the public, or are sometimes not good at speaking, as you can see if you spend a weekend morning or afternoon watching BookTV. Some writers are unattractive or may have disabilities that would keep them from public appearances where the person, not the words are important. For example, I know a writer with Tourette’s syndrome. How would that work in a stressful situation such as making a video?
One of Jeff Jarvis’s commenters lamented their inability to create things requiring more technology than they could reasonably use.
I’m also thinking, though, that having a variety of possibilities is a good thing for those who are willing to put their creativity to work and see how they can best use what they have available to them.
I don’t think that when you’ve written a book, then your job as an author is finished. When you’ve written a book the job has only begun.