Getting a signed copy of a book isn’t always easy. Though, sometimes, it’s incredibly easy. Behold, another unscripted account of how I managed to get a copy of a book signed by its author. In this episode, I discuss the long, arduous path to acquiring a signature by Caleb J. Ross.
I have three questions for you? Do people read without an ulterior motive anymore? What is so alluring about writing? Are you a reader, sans the writer motivation, willing to Skype about it? NaNoWriMo this year has made me realize just how rare the reader is becoming. It seems every reader out there also wants to be a writer. As a writer, this of course concerns me. What happens if the only market for a product is also the creator of the product? Watch the video below as I ask and explore these questions. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel to keep updated on all videos. I release about two videos per week.
No matter the reality, books feel to most of us like the last bastion of commercially untouched culture available to us. We see product placements in every TV show and movie, and ads occupying every inch of livable off-screen space, but books seem to be pretty much ignored by advertisers. Why is this? I’ve been hired by Caleb J. Ross Enterprises to explore this question. Oh, and for all of your enterprising needs, call on Caleb J. Ross Enterprises: “Enterprising Since Even Before Star Trek.” Mentioned in the video: Unexpected Literary References blog category: https://calebjross.com/category/lit-references/
Phone conversations rarely work in stories. Why is that? The most common reason I’ve discovered is that it’s simply too easy; a reader is smart enough to know that the author is generally taking the easy way out of a weak plot. But, if you must include a phone call in a story, there are some basic things to keep in mind.
It’s a gift, to see perversion in the uncorrupted. I bring you episode #3 in my Easily Perverted Book Covers series, wherein I manipulate existing book covers to my mind’s disturbed whims. Watch me as I contort Stiff by Mary Roach, Commonwealth by Joey Goebel, Mop Men by Alan Emmins, and The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender. Fair warning: impending hilarity.
Cloud Atlas is heavy on concept and light on satisfaction. I appreciate the lengths David Mitchell went to play with story structure in a way that’s rarely been done, but in the end, the artifice came off, well, artificial. Maybe just watch the movie starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry. I haven’t seen it, so I can’t compare the two story forms. But, it will save you quite a bit of time to just go the movie route.
I’ve had a hard time coming to terms with my opinions of National Novel Writing Month. Part of me appreciates the kick in the pants it gives to new writers. The other part of me hates the kick in the pants it gives to new writers (is it fear of more competition? Maybe). The one opinion I can be faithful to is that NaNoWriMo isn’t for me.