Save the date! June 3, 2013 is the trial date for the Department of Justice’s e-book price-fixing lawsuit. I don’t know where Apple, Macmillan and Penguin are registered, but it’s not at Amazon.com.
Outside Context Villain? The Authors Guild isn’t registered with Amazon, either. In fact, the Guild’s recent letter to the DoJ re the proposed settlement with Hachette, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins (which should be finalized in a month) depicts Amazon as the villain of the piece even though Amazon’s not a party to the suit.
Does my e-book think I’m interesting? More importantly, will data about e-book users’ reading patterns help me craft a compelling story? Amazon, Apple, and Google and others track how fast readers progress through digital books, what passages they highlight, and what search terms they use to find books. This information is trickling back to publishers and authors. “In the past, publishers and authors had no way of knowing what happens when a reader sits down with a book. Does the reader quit after three pages, or finish it in a single sitting? Do most readers skip over the introduction, or read it closely, underlining passages and scrawling notes in the margins? Now, e-books are providing a glimpse into the story behind the sales figures, revealing not only how many people buy particular books, but how intensely they read them.”
Shhh! This is a no-dissing-category-romance zone. Wendy, the Super Librarian takes on those who consider themselves too serious for series.
Get Smoky Elmore Leonard writes four pages to get one he likes. Watch this video of his tips to writers. Warning: not recommended for those who have given up cigarettes.
Mythbuster According to agent Jenny Bent, it’s not who you know. http://jennybent.blogspot.com/2012/06/its-really-not-about-who-you-know.html
Sex Changes Everything Chuck Wendig lists 25 things you need to know about writing sex.
Good in Blogosphere Writer Jennifer Weiner offers opinions on blogging, writing about controversial issues, and more.
Takin’ Care of Business Want to know what a literary scout does?
Begin Again Agent Kristin Nelson suggests fixes for opening pages here. Got prologue? Nelson offers her opinion on that via a vlog here.
Bad Idea? Writers excel at self-flagellation and don’t need to read another mea culpa, but people are talking about journalist Corinne Purtill’s take on her unpublished books, so I’ve included it.
I wish you a productive writing week, less self-blame, and a happy Fourth of July.
Pat, you do such a great job with your mash-ups! I like “Does My EBook Think I’m Interesting.” That’s an eye opener. Thanks!