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thewallflower00's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic resource for someone like me whose almost in the game but not quite. It's one of the only books I've read that has more to do with the promotion/publishing game than what adverbs to choose. It provides much needed guidance on how to promote, how to plan for your future, how to have an effective public marketing appearance. This book tells you how to do that.
The second half talks about how best to set up habits, mental health, and so on. But not so much about the nitty-gritty writing advice, which was just fine by me.
The problem is that, even now, it's a teensy bit dated. It still mentions MySpace as a valid source of social networking, and bypasses Twitter. Also, the material tends to be really dry. It feels like reading a text book at times. It's thick enough to be one. I wish the text was broken up into some diagrams or lists for easy access.
But I feel this book was a necessary read. Definitely if you're a first time writer. It provides a jumping off point for creating a marketing plan and the do's and don'ts of the public persona.
The second half talks about how best to set up habits, mental health, and so on. But not so much about the nitty-gritty writing advice, which was just fine by me.
The problem is that, even now, it's a teensy bit dated. It still mentions MySpace as a valid source of social networking, and bypasses Twitter. Also, the material tends to be really dry. It feels like reading a text book at times. It's thick enough to be one. I wish the text was broken up into some diagrams or lists for easy access.
But I feel this book was a necessary read. Definitely if you're a first time writer. It provides a jumping off point for creating a marketing plan and the do's and don'ts of the public persona.
eowyns_helmet's review against another edition
5.0
As others have noted, this isn't so much about the craft of writing (though there is a bit of this) as it is about how to be a writer in the world -- how to plan a career, expand your reach, engage with a public, etc. It's very specific (the mind of an engineer, methinks) but also very helpful -- argumentative at times (MySpace, seriously?) but also realistic and authentically helpful.
dannosaurusrex's review against another edition
5.0
This is a comprehensive look at writing and publishing, both on the creative side and on the promotional side. I particularly liked how VanderMeer wrote parts of it in a way that protects it somewhat from obsolescence concerning the ever-changing Internet. Despite being published in 2009, this book still holds up well in terms of relevancy.
The book covers everything, and VanderMeer speaks plainly about the issues. He gives us no gimmicks and doesn't hide from us the difficulties and struggles of a life in publishing. At the same time, he offers great advice on how to weather the storm, both physically and mentally.
I'd recommend this to writers based simply on the first part of the book, which deals with marketing one's publications. Although I imagine much of this may be the focus for revisions in any updated editions, the information here is relevant, and much of it is timeless at its core.
The overall subject matter is balanced cleverly between the two aspects of a writer's life (public and private), and it should serve most writers well in helping them get the most out of their work.
I think everyone will get something valuable out of this book.
The book covers everything, and VanderMeer speaks plainly about the issues. He gives us no gimmicks and doesn't hide from us the difficulties and struggles of a life in publishing. At the same time, he offers great advice on how to weather the storm, both physically and mentally.
I'd recommend this to writers based simply on the first part of the book, which deals with marketing one's publications. Although I imagine much of this may be the focus for revisions in any updated editions, the information here is relevant, and much of it is timeless at its core.
The overall subject matter is balanced cleverly between the two aspects of a writer's life (public and private), and it should serve most writers well in helping them get the most out of their work.
I think everyone will get something valuable out of this book.
jonmhansen's review against another edition
4.0
"Your one-year plans should support your five-year plan. Each five-year plan should build on the last, if possible. It also shouldn't result in the equivalent of crop failures or massive purges, like most of the Soviet Union's five-year plans."
heatherjm's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Helpful advice and info, but the outdated stuff like “San Diego’s Comic Con is only for comic books” was hilarious.
tregina's review against another edition
4.0
There are times when I think I would like to just let Jeff VanderMeer run my life. That is, if I weren't worried he would let me be devoured by a carnivorous fungus or something. Really, he's always struck me as a guy who has his shit together...which is why I was so interested in reading Booklife.
A lot of the social media information and examples it provides in terms of connection with audience and promotion is dated at this point (myspace, second life), but the book acknowledges that it's not about the specific social media sites, it's about using what's out there now, whenever 'now' is. (The section on Scribd seemed prescient, since I actually read the book on Scribd.)
I'm not in a place where I need this book specifically right now, but the advice is valuable and it gave me a lot to think about in terms of work-life balance, which isn't just applicable to writing.
A lot of the social media information and examples it provides in terms of connection with audience and promotion is dated at this point (myspace, second life), but the book acknowledges that it's not about the specific social media sites, it's about using what's out there now, whenever 'now' is. (The section on Scribd seemed prescient, since I actually read the book on Scribd.)
I'm not in a place where I need this book specifically right now, but the advice is valuable and it gave me a lot to think about in terms of work-life balance, which isn't just applicable to writing.
jamietr's review against another edition
4.0
Outstanding book on the business of writing, and managing a career as a writer. This is the book I always hoped would be written and Jeff did a terrific job. It's the kind of book you have to pull out every once-in-a-while after reading it because it is so densely packed with interesting thoughts and good ideas. I highly recommend it to other writers, published or not.
alexctelander's review against another edition
5.0
Jeff VanderMeer is a writer who’s done a little bit of everything, whether it’s publishing compelling fiction, editing his own anthologies (as well as co-editing with his wife, Anne), going on book tours for author appearances, or presenting writer workshops around the country. He’s the sort of guy who has a lot of say about writing and publishing and advice he can offer just about any level of writer. Fortunately, he’s done just that in his new book, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer.
Booklife is a book for any kind of writer whether he’s someone who’s never published anything and is looking to make it in the business, or whether she has a few books under her belt and is looking to make it really big. Booklife has a little something for every type of writer. The book is divided into two parts: Public Booklife, which covers how to present both yourself and your work as a writer, how best to organize and carry out successful signings and book tours, and – most importantly – creating and managing your goals so you can really make it as a writer. The second part, Private Booklife, covers some of the mechanics of writing, how important feedback is – and not just from friends and family, and using some of the lessons from the first part of the book in different and constructive ways to make your writing the best it can be.
And it doesn’t all end when you reach the last page of Booklife, there is the booklifenow.com website, filled with helpful articles, tips and strategies, updated three times a week, and affiliated with Publisher’s Weekly Booklife portal. Booklife is not just a book, but a whole package experience that gives you ideas and suggestions to help you achieve your goals; it’s not necessary to do every thing this book tells you; it’s up to get what you want out of it, which depends on how much work you put into it. But Booklife will certainly help you along the way to becoming that bestselling writer you’ve always dreamed of.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
Booklife is a book for any kind of writer whether he’s someone who’s never published anything and is looking to make it in the business, or whether she has a few books under her belt and is looking to make it really big. Booklife has a little something for every type of writer. The book is divided into two parts: Public Booklife, which covers how to present both yourself and your work as a writer, how best to organize and carry out successful signings and book tours, and – most importantly – creating and managing your goals so you can really make it as a writer. The second part, Private Booklife, covers some of the mechanics of writing, how important feedback is – and not just from friends and family, and using some of the lessons from the first part of the book in different and constructive ways to make your writing the best it can be.
And it doesn’t all end when you reach the last page of Booklife, there is the booklifenow.com website, filled with helpful articles, tips and strategies, updated three times a week, and affiliated with Publisher’s Weekly Booklife portal. Booklife is not just a book, but a whole package experience that gives you ideas and suggestions to help you achieve your goals; it’s not necessary to do every thing this book tells you; it’s up to get what you want out of it, which depends on how much work you put into it. But Booklife will certainly help you along the way to becoming that bestselling writer you’ve always dreamed of.
For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter.
pearseanderson's review against another edition
4.0
So technically I still have a few appendices to leaf through, but essentially I did finish Booklife. I don't have to read all of it though! A lot did not apply to me in my current stage. I took a lot of unnecessary notes on book readings and the advertising world and whatnot. I would've liked a few more issues to be addressed in this former topic. Like book trailers: what if yours, like many others, sucks? What's the best way to quantify a piece of literature into other mediums for publicity? If a promise is made, for a book site or blog or something to stay updated, how long should it actually be updated? When Jeff discusses new media, decay needs to be heavily factored in. Because the internet is a real graveyard at times and I could use a lantern.
In terms of writing, Jeff did a great job highlighting different aspects of the job, gave powerful anecdotes, and used all the networks he had to give even more anecdotes from others. It was a professional though tiring read. 8/10.
In terms of writing, Jeff did a great job highlighting different aspects of the job, gave powerful anecdotes, and used all the networks he had to give even more anecdotes from others. It was a professional though tiring read. 8/10.
juliemawesome's review against another edition
4.0
I wasn't quite sure what this was about before I started reading. But it's about your Public Booklife and your Private Booklife. What are your goals for each? What do you hope to get out of writing and publishing? Do you have an overall strategy? If not, why not?
Jeff VanderMeer discusses the role of social media and web 2.0 in your public booklife and talks about tactics (as opposed to strategy) for promoting your work, and etc.
I do wish he'd started with private booklife first and then public. That would seem to me a more logical progression. You have to write first, before you think about getting it published and promoting it!
He's also included a lot of extra bits of writing from himself and others in the appendix and I would've liked to see most of that included in the rest of the text. It needn't have interrupted the flow of the narrative if it had been included as sidebars that one could read or skip and go back to. As it is, it felt like the main body of the book was a bit short, and then had a hodgepodge collection tacked onto the end.
Lots of good stuff to think about in here though.
Jeff VanderMeer discusses the role of social media and web 2.0 in your public booklife and talks about tactics (as opposed to strategy) for promoting your work, and etc.
I do wish he'd started with private booklife first and then public. That would seem to me a more logical progression. You have to write first, before you think about getting it published and promoting it!
He's also included a lot of extra bits of writing from himself and others in the appendix and I would've liked to see most of that included in the rest of the text. It needn't have interrupted the flow of the narrative if it had been included as sidebars that one could read or skip and go back to. As it is, it felt like the main body of the book was a bit short, and then had a hodgepodge collection tacked onto the end.
Lots of good stuff to think about in here though.