NYT: Digital Bestseller

     The NYTimes had an interesting article last week called "I was a Digital Bestseller."

     Tony Horwitz wrote the digital bestseller, Boom, and was still broke, which begs the question, if a bestselling author can't earn a living who can? He kindly broke down some numbers. 

     I was offered an initial fee of $15,000, plus $5,000 for expenses, to write at whatever length I felt the subject (Keystone XL pipeline) merited.  Editors said that the first installment I had sent was “a ripper” and that Byliner thought we might sell up to 75,000 copies, with me getting a lofty cut of the profits.

     Then things fell apart as the philanthropic entrepreneur in Australia funding the company and thus his book was severely hit by the financial crisis. Funding was pulled (including his initial fee) and everyone was scrambling. 

At this point I called my literary agent, whom I’d foolishly failed to involve in the project. (Another fantasy of the digital world: Writers can do it themselves and dispense with all those middlemen.) Late that Friday my agent brokered a deal between Byliner and me. The advance was only $2,000, but my work would be available by Monday, for $2.99, and I’d get about a third of the proceeds once my advance was paid off.

     His book was published as an e-book, however no one in the company was promoting or marketing the book. So he began promoting the book himself.

My month of self-flackery seemed to work. In the sales rankings on Amazon for Kindle Singles, “Boom” broke the top 25, and almost all the titles ahead of it were fiction. In categories like “Page-Turning Narratives,” my work often ranked No. 1. I was a nonfiction digital best seller!

It was also the kind of story that could bankrupt a writer. I’d now devoted five months to writing and peddling “Boom” and wasn’t even halfway to earning out my $2,000 advance (less than the overrun on my travel). The cruelest joke, though, was that 700 to 800 copies made “Boom” a top-rated seller. What did that mean for all the titles lower down the list? Were they selling at all?

     The article ends with him discussing his latest writing venture. He wants to go through traditional publishing channels for his next book because at least he has something physical that will last, even if he makes no money.

     Reading this article and others about the publishing and music industries, it sounds more and more like everyone is getting a few pennies but no one is making enough to support themselves. I really hope this model shifts because otherwise we as a culture will lose out on some incredible art because the artist can no longer afford to make it.

Consent

     In light of events online and in my own life I wanted to say something and hopefully add to the conversation. First off I want to applaud all of these brave young woman for coming forward. For being so bold and vulnerable discussing abuse and manipulation. Abuse is never okay and it is NEVER the victims fault. 

     Pottermoosh made an amazing video discussing emotional abuse/manipulation.

   
     Vidcon started a task force to come up with ideas about how best to combat these issues and stop abuse from happening in our online communities. If you'd like more information, they can be found at the You Coalition. There will be a booth with information and resources about abuse at Vidcon this year and the convention issued a code of conduct. Misconduct will not be tolerated.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars (Spoilers)

     I had the privilege of attending the Night Before Our Stars-a one night promotional event on June 5. The event included an early showing of the film (at 5:30pm instead of midnight), a poster, a bracelet, and a live q&a after the film. 

     It was really cool but also strange seeing the movie with so many other people who also loved the book because I found reading the book and watching the vlogbrothers videos such a individual activity. Seeing the magnitude of this film was overwhelming. I didn't realize so many people knew we (as in nerdfightaria and hank and john and the book) existed. 

      The theater drowned in tears but also floated with laughter and joy. The audience was extremely vocal by clapping and cheering in all of the right moments. It really was a communal experience more akin to seeing a play than being at the movies. Many people had okay, okay shirts on and brought there copies of the book with them. There were no car crashes, no explosions and yet everyone was enthralled by and connected to this very human story. Sitting in the theater I felt so much pride for John Green and his success. As a nerdfighter it's been an amazing privilege to watch his career from the inside and share this journey with him.

SPOILERS     SPOILERS     SPOILERS     SPOILERS      SPOILERS      SPOILERS

      The adaptation was beautiful and incredibly faithful to the book. I felt the same way watching the film as I did the first time reading the book. Although this is a cancer story, it's not about cancer, it's about life and finding joy in life, no matter what your predicament. 

     There was so much humor. One of my favorite scenes from the book that translated even better on screen was when Augustus was flirting with Hazel as Isaac smashed the trophies. It beautifully showed the ridiculousness of life and the dichotomy of new love beginning as an old love withers.

     I was skeptical of Ansel Elgort as Augustus because he did not look as I imagined Augustus would look like but he did a great job. I believed him. I believed his confidence and charm and his vulnerability. I believed him when he said some of my favorite lines with so much charisma.

      Shailene Woodley (played Hazel Grace) looked like a normal girl. She wore simple clothing, very little make up and her cannula was always visible. It was amazing to see a sick protagonist as a fully fleshed out human being who is important and deserving of love.

      The sex scene was perfect. It was shot beautifully but not fuzzy. It was awkward but still full of humor and levity. Hazel's shirt gets wrapped around the tubes as she tries to take it off. Augustus clearly looks at Hazel's breasts and feels them. It's an expression of caring and not just a hook up. 

      The q&a began and ended with musical performances by Birdy and then Nat and Alex Wolff. I had no idea Nat could sing or who Birdy was but the music was beautiful. The performances were quiet and simple, just a musician and an instrument. The simplicity really matched the vibe of the film.

      In the q&a one of my favorite answers was from Ansel. The question was did the cast feel more empathetic and understanding of what it's like to have cancer after having played these characters? Both Ansel and Shailene said no they didn't really because it's such a complex insurmountable thing to try and wrap your head around. But he did say the cancer informed some of the behaviors. He said Augustus' confidence at the beginning of the film came from defeating cancer.

      Someone asked John if he struggled with killing off characters and his response was perfect. He said I don't kill people in books or in real life, especially real life which I pride myself on. People die in real life and in this book I dealt with reality. Everyone will die at some point.

      The last question of the evening was “What do you hope people take away from the film?” Nat said, I hope people want to go tell those they love that they love them. That's how I felt walking out of the cinema. I wanted to run home and tell everyone I loved that I love them.

Book Review: Eleanor and Park

"You just look like you with the volume turned up"

      Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell is a young adult novel set in 1986. It follows the story of two 16 year old teenagers as they fall in love for the first time. Each chapter alternates points of view. Eleanor has frizzy red hair and is a bit overweight. She is mercilessly bullied by the other students in school and by her step dad. Park is a half Korean student who is grappling with identity and parental expectations.

      Rainbow Rowell beautifully describes the intensity with which you can fall in love. The characters love starts with comic books then expands to include music.  The small magnified details really make the book relatable. Not knowing where to sit is a huge nerve wracking situation in school.  I could relate to the feeling of uncertainty and nerves about walking into a new environment but I couldn't relate to that specific scenario. Reading the first half of the book made me feel like I missed out on a huge cultural experience of riding a bus. Where I grew up in the suburbs, there was (and still isn't) any school buses to take to get to school. Your parents drop you off and pick you up. Most people live too far away to walk. But that sense of community of living near school and your peers and taking a bus was such an important part of this book that I never experienced it. Up until I went to college I didn't know anyone really took a bus to school in this day and age. I thought it was a nostalgic relic for a time that no longer existed, like a John Hughes film.

      I realize this isn't a film however it broke a big rule at film school which is never show the falling in love because it's boring. If you've ever noticed the falling in love scene is usually a montage. However, this book makes the falling in love portion interesting and important. All of the questioning and uncertainty that occurs when your in a relationship is beautifully explored throughout this book.

      The story, however, fell apart near the end. I wasn't satisfied with the ending of the book and the events leading up to it seemed to come out of nowhere. I was confused by the shift in character relations and the sudden tonal shift. The secondary characters didn't receive a conclusion. All actions have consequences, good or bad. The consequences in this book didn't pay off. Considering we had so many details about each moment of their relationship, the ending felt rushed. The the book ends with no further explanation.

"She didn't realize that their were things worse than selfish"

Outfit of the Day: Patterns

 We've been have lovely summer weather. This is a cute dress I found in the back of my closet.