tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post8501195629744314479..comments2021-02-20T05:43:02.905-05:00Comments on In the midst of life, we are in debt, etc: GimmiePanichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03327474994924347087noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-15618091322327017812011-12-16T12:47:51.703-05:002011-12-16T12:47:51.703-05:00It's a shame that all book bloggers are seemin...It's a shame that all book bloggers are seemingly lumped into this "amorphous blob".. having become more involved in book blogging this year, I've seen quite the wide range of it. There are people who blog for the genuine interest of reading and sharing what they read - myself included. I've never outright requested an ARC from a publisher. I'll accept it if it's offered - and one I'm interested in reading.<br /><br />However, I have seen a lot of "book bloggers" (and I use the quotation marks in this case) who are solely out for the free books. It gives the legit ones a bad rap. I've seen more and more lately some blatant hounding of publishers and authors for "free copies" - which completely disgusts me at just the blatant lack of manners, let alone that sense of entitlement that they feel they can do that!Michele//Just a Lil Losthttp://justalillost.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-79009657012702931702011-12-11T00:04:46.508-05:002011-12-11T00:04:46.508-05:00Great conversation!
Let me clarify something tha...Great conversation! <br /><br />Let me clarify something that I didn't get quite right in my first comment: it cuts both ways in these relationships. I totally understand why Morrow would want to turn off the tap and/or be more selective about who they deal with and how they manage their relationships with bloggers.<br /><br />Bloggers are bloggers. They can be the perfect reader and perfect voice for a book to their audience, and by virtue of the random nature of the web that audience can expand and contract and flare off in unpredictable ways.<br /><br />Or they can be needy nerds with too much time on their hands, no audience, no chance of ever having an audience and/or only in it for the resale value of the books in question.<br /><br />Or a combination of these things.<br /><br />Anyway, defining the rules of engagement is not a bad thing.<br /><br />Basically, it's all about trust and respectful interaction. NOT about payola (*cough* #fridayreads *cough*) and not about one side trying to please the other. They should like each other but we should try to keep the subtext to a minimum.<br /><br />And that's the thing for me. There has to be transparency - as much as possible - respect and a willingness on both sides to develop the relationship without weird expectations that could compromise the audience's trust.<br /><br />I think that this is common sense but then again sometimes common sense gets misplaced.<br /><br />The power of what a blogger can do, the voice that they can achieve through interactions with their communities can't be done by most of the standard channels. The Globe's book section has no discernible human voice. It has a few great voices but they don't command the (dial) tone that the paper broadcasts every day.<br /><br />Good blogging brings authenticity and a broad audience to any book review and that works best for everybody.<br /><br />As a blogger, not receiving a copy of a book from a publisher doesn't diminish my enthusiasm for a book or a writer or a publisher.<br /><br />BOTR, W2RVWS, the ABB. Those are all enthusiasm channels.<br /><br />They exist because people love books and the web makes it easy to share enthusiasms.Sean Cranburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11583645358645689804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-30589180505196228292011-12-11T00:02:47.438-05:002011-12-11T00:02:47.438-05:00Great conversation!
Let me clarify something tha...Great conversation! <br /><br />Let me clarify something that I didn't get quite right in my first comment: it cuts both ways in these relationships. I totally understand why Morrow would want to turn off the tap and/or be more selective about who they deal with and how they manage their relationships with bloggers.<br /><br />Bloggers are bloggers. They can be the perfect reader and perfect voice for a book to their audience, and by virtue of the random nature of the web that audience can expand and contract and flare off in unpredictable ways.<br /><br />Or they can be needy nerds with too much time on their hands, no audience, no chance of ever having an audience and/or only in it for the resale value of the books in question.<br /><br />Or a combination of these things.<br /><br />Anyway, defining the rules of engagement is not a bad thing.<br /><br />Basically, it's all about trust and respectful interaction. NOT about payola (*cough* #fridayreads *cough*) and not about one side trying to please the other. They should like each other but we should try to keep the subtext to a minimum.<br /><br />And that's the thing for me. There has to be transparency - as much as possible - respect and a willingness on both sides to develop the relationship without weird expectations that could compromise the audience's trust.<br /><br />I think that this is common sense but then again sometimes common sense gets misplaced.<br /><br />The power of what a blogger can do, the voice that they can achieve through interactions with their communities can't be done by most of the standard channels. The Globe's book section has no discernible human voice. It has a few great voices but they don't command the (dial) tone that the paper broadcasts every day.<br /><br />Good blogging brings authenticity and a broad audience to any book review and that works best for everybody.<br /><br />As a blogger, not receiving a copy of a book from a publisher doesn't diminish my enthusiasm for a book or a writer or a publisher.<br /><br />BOTR, W2RVWS, the ABB. Those are all enthusiasm channels.<br /><br />They exist because people love books and the web makes it easy to share enthusiasms.Sean Cranburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11583645358645689804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-88481953333943260192011-12-07T19:50:07.845-05:002011-12-07T19:50:07.845-05:00You're right, Panic: as you said on Twitter, w...You're right, Panic: as you said on Twitter, we do feel much the same way. We even used the same words (whiny, entitled, etc.) I was nodding right from the start. <br /><br />I agree with your answer to Sean's comment as well. <br /><br />Sean: I like this: "At the end of the day it comes down to the relationship that the publisher/author has with the blogger and whether the blogger is doing work that's worth supporting."<br /><br />But like Panic I'm not sure I agree that the publisher's expectations are unnecessary. This could be because either I'm not informed enough or because I have a different relationship with publishers than you do. <br /><br />Your last paragraph makes sense in light of the one I quoted above, but I wonder, then, if maybe publicized blanket expectations are okay, and then the publisher can adjust those per blogger as they see fit, privately. You know, so long as there's some sort of standard or policy in general to cover things. <br /><br />Which actually is pretty much what Panic was saying, I think.Stephhttp://www.bellasbookshelves.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-48445222976757960552011-12-06T19:06:47.540-05:002011-12-06T19:06:47.540-05:00Sean:
Morrow and other publishers are fine to hav...Sean: <br /><i>Morrow and other publishers are fine to have the expectations that they have. I find their expectations unnecessary, tho.</i><br />Morrow didn't really have expectations to begin with though, if I understand it correctly. They only have them now, as a result of abuses to a more open system. It's a shame, but it's probably necessary. I look at this stuff from the dollars end, as well. I can't help it, it's what I do all day. The marketing folks have bosses and budgets to answer to, and if they can't show tangible results from their programs, they have to change those programs. Which leads to<br /><i>Blanket expectations are a tendency of bloated hierarchies and serve little positive purpose in the hype-specific world of creativity as it's pushed across the web.</i> <br />Absolutely. Agree. But, publishing is a business like any other, and especially for the big houses (Morrow being a subsidiary of one), that's the structure we have to work with. I think there's probably more wiggle room and less expectation with small presses, and more personal relationships can evolve there as well.<br /><br />I do like the term "enthusiasm channels." Very much.Panichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03327474994924347087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-73190379757094163512011-12-06T18:30:56.934-05:002011-12-06T18:30:56.934-05:00Context is everything, my dear.Context is everything, my dear.Panichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03327474994924347087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-81069747588226171162011-12-06T17:16:26.547-05:002011-12-06T17:16:26.547-05:00"Getting adversarial is no way to conduct a r..."Getting adversarial is no way to conduct a relationship ..."<br /><br />Panic, tell me you mean this ironically.<br /><br />Affectionately,<br /><br />Yr. Twitter palSteven W. Beattiehttp://www.stevenwbeattie.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2017089181576705744.post-19938152040767269942011-12-06T16:47:44.232-05:002011-12-06T16:47:44.232-05:00Very thoughtful piece about the role of the blogge...Very thoughtful piece about the role of the blogger in the grand scheme of things.<br /><br />Admittedly I cross over a bunch of territory with my volunteer work: Books on the Radio, Advent Book Blog, W2 Real Vancouver Writers' Series. So I can approach the publisher, author, blogger relationship from a few different angles.<br /><br />Here is how I angle my relationship with publishers and authors: <br /><br />These channels are enthusiasm channels and the expectations on both sides are kept minimal and open. Timelines can be discussed but at no point does any of this work translate as 'marketing or publicity' for the book or the author, tho those things are without a doubt potential fringe benefits of inclusion in any of these channels.<br /><br />Morrow and other publishers are fine to have the expectations that they have. I find their expectations unnecessary, tho.<br /><br />As a resourceful blogger who only does this because I think it's fine and interesting I am more than happy to buy the books that interest me and to contact the author directly if I want to speak to them or work with them in some way.<br /><br />The publisher is NOT required to be a part of the equation.<br /><br />That is what I think of their expectations.<br /><br />I hustle like a M%F to do the things that I do because I think that it's cool. I am a publisher's ally and I'm ready to work with them if they see value in the work that I do.<br /><br />If they don't that's fine as the 'direct to author' channel is usually much easier.<br /><br />For other bloggers it might be different.<br /><br />At the end of the day it comes down to the relationship that the publisher/author has with the blogger and whether the blogger is doing work that's worth supporting.<br /><br />Blanket expectations are a tendency of bloated hierarchies and serve little positive purpose in the hype-specific world of creativity as it's pushed across the web.Sean Cranburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11583645358645689804noreply@blogger.com