Archive for June, 2010

I just read James Kaelon’s new novella, “We’re Getting On.”  The story is remarkable and Evan Karp wrote a great essay about it, but I want to consider the book itself, as an object.

Wrapped in a 100% recycled cover, which actually sprouts into birch trees when planted (detailed instructions are on the back cover), the book is the result of FlatmanCrooked’s Zero Emission Book Project.

With alternatives to print like the Kindle, the iPad, and now even Nintendo DS, and free online publishing gaining serious traction, we’re on the brink of an age when a physical, paper book might have to justify its own printing.

I kept feeling the texture of the pulpy cover, admiring the embedded seeds, and thinking about the book decomposing and then flourishing as a tree, all while reading Kaelon’s tale of human devolution and nihilism.  The book as an object added to my experience of the story.  This is a high achievement, and one that makes this book-as-object more than just a medium for the printed word.

This is an essay by Steve Almond on TheRumpus.net about his decision to self-publish.

My favorite advice:

“Am I suggesting that every aspiring writer should run out and self-publish?

No way. Aspiring writers should spend their time and energy at the keyboard, trying to figure out how to make better decisions.”

Since Mr. Almond is no longer aspiring, and simply is a writer, he did run out and self publish.  Read the essay here.

Last week I entered the nebulous world of online publishing, and I also gave two live readings.  Until last week I’d not posted any of my stories online (aside from my weekly restaurant reviews) because when you put something on the internet, well, it’s out there, and you’ve relinquished all control.  But after talking to a few other writers who have had great success online I posted my story, “The Submersible,” on Scribd.com.  Within a week over 3,400 people had checked it out.

The opposite of sending my story out on the anonymous information superhighways was reciting for friends at a reading.  On Tuesday, I joined the Tuesday Night Writers for “First Draughts, Pints and Prose,” (the Marin IJ wrote about the event), at Peri’s in Fairfax.  Then on Thursday I read my short story “The Submersible” at Inside Storytime, at Cafe Royale in San Francisco.  Inside Storytime was named Best New Reading Series in its inaugural year by SF Weekly and is hosted by Ransom Stephens, Yanina Gotsulsky, and James Warner.  Both readings were a lot of fun, and they each offered instant feedback from a crowd, a chance to share, and a chance to feel people’s reactions.

Now that “The Submersible” is out on the internet airwaves I have received comments and feedback from complete strangers, which, in its anonymity, carries a certain weight that is different than the familiar smiles from my friends at readings.  It’s not better, or worse, it’s just different.  And when I read the story live, I got that immediate gratitude of telling people a good story.  All my hesitations about publishing online are now dissolved, and my eagerness to read to roomfuls of people is even stronger.  Both methods of delivery get back to the heart of why I write: I want to tell people good stories that let them see the world from a carefully developed perspective.

Upcoming reading : Inside Storytime

June 17th, at Cafe Royale. 6:30 – 8:30 PM.

(Oh. And don’t forget to s t r e t c h!)