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08.13.2008
12 Aug 2008
“The last hope of human liberty in this world rests on us. We ought, for so dear a state, to sacrifice every attachment and every enmity.” Thomas Jefferson
Who Dares Wins
Got the editorial notes back on the book. Still getting feedback it’s too complicated. So will continue to streamline it and make it more accessible. Got one month to get it back to the publisher.
Bob Land:
Finished revisions on Jefferson. Now one last go through on the screen and then one last read through on a printed out version. I’ve always found printing out a manuscript helps. It looks different on paper than it does on screen. The sun is actually out today and supposed to be for a few days. Our neighbor Elizabeth George has been bugging us to come over and sit in her garden on her bluff overlooking Saratoga Passage so might take the printout over there with the red pen while Hannah poops in their driveway like she did last time she was over there.
I’m even happier with it as I changed my heroine to someone who hopefully will click with readers, upped the stakes (always good in thrillers); and then did my famous let’s have the three main characters take down the three main bad guys/gals in rapid fire in one climactic scene. Kicks ass.
I noticed Jenny posted about blogging on her blog. So I’m going to blog about her blog about blogging on my blog, which means in short matter, well, we’re all doomed. Not just me, but the whole world.
I get emails from readers. 99% are very nice. 1% are not so nice. Used to be that 1% wiped out the other 99%. And it really affected me. This was before there were even blogs, in the those days of yore. Finally I realized I had to change my attitude because I was not a welcome person at home walking around moping about what some person I never met said about me. So now when I get an email that’s in that 1%, I usually hit delete right away. I don’t need to fill my mind with pollution. I’m not talking about thoughtful comments that might be helpful, but the: “Your writing sucks, you suck, your dog sucks . . .” kind of comments. And then I smile. Because I realize to generate such strong emotions they really had to have gotten engaged in the book. I don’t email back and try to change their minds: you can’t change other people’s minds, you can only work on your own.
I try to stay away from controversy. I’ve never gotten into all the on-line battles, especially some things generated in the romance world. Cause I’m a guy. Joking. See, even got to say I’m joking or else someone will get pissed. More because I’m lazy and selfish. I didn’t even know exactly what people were talking about with the plagiarism thing. Also, there’s the issue I have caused more than enough of my own controversy over the years. Both on-line and on the gossip loop. What I found curious about that was that most of what people were saying about me wasn’t true and what was true, most people had no clue. After all, I was in covert ops. But it all kind of evens out and there’s nothing I can do about it, except to change me.
I think I have a point here. OK—same thing with Amazon reviews. Used to read them. Don’t any more. Same with Amazon ratings—don’t care, really mean nothing. Same as Amazon sales rankings—not very meaningful.
I majored in psychology and took experimental design and here’s the thing about Amazon reviews, people who comment on blogs, send you emails, etc.: They are not representative of the overall population. That’s not saying they are bad or good. Just that there is a certain personality type that does these things. So what you’re getting in terms of “feedback” is skewed. Could be good, could be bad.
Jenny and I did two year-long blogs. We had a purpose for them. I’ve recently gone back to 2006 and 2007 and began pulling out pieces and parts, massaging them into He Wrote/She Wrote, even if we don’t ever publish the book. But there’s some really good stuff in those blogs. We entertained. We informed. And we invested a lot of time and effort into them—around 270,000 words worth. I laughed out loud at some of our posts and also realized there was some really great words of wisdom about writing there.
I also think blogs, like books, reflect what’s going on in the blogger’s life even if they don’t talk about it on the blog. I’ve gone through a death, a move, struggles with personal demons, career ups and downs, the gamut over the course of the last few years. I rarely discuss those, especially on-line because it’s my stuff. I try to talk about things that might entertain or inform the reader– sort of like writing a novel instead of wha I call the “fictional memoir”. A while back I even started getting a little controversial talking about politics. And you know what, I’m going to get more controversial. The Jefferson Allegiance is my book of passion because in researching it, I became very alarmed at the state of this country and having lived overseas, I really like the United States. But watching Bush getting interviewed at the Olympics and actually saying America no problems, I about lost it.
So anyway. I say blog on, Jenny, and as we say in the Bronx, fuggetaboutit, when people make a fuss. And if they get really nasty, then as we did in da Bronx, we put ‘em on ice.
Movies and Books:
Mad Men had a large audience for its premiere, then that number dropped in half for the second episode. Which means a lot of people weren’t entranced, which I find interesting. I enjoy the show a lot, but then as I noted above, I am not representative of the general population. In fact, I am the demographic you kind of don’t want to like something, because that’s usually the kiss of death for whatever it is.
But there’s not much to like about any of the characters in Mad Men. Nobody stands out as a particularly empathetic character, which means a lot of viewers can’t lock in to someone whose fate they care about. A lot of lying and cheating and manipulation. A lot of pretending. But that’s the point of the show. I think it shows how few people are really living and how many are living these false lives because they think they have to for some reason.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:34 am
I can never understand how someone can go out of their way to tell another person how much they suck. Why? If you don’t like something, don’t buy another one.
I like some of your books, but not all of them. Yet, I would never write you and say “This was great but that was bleh, therefore you’re nothing but a googley-eyed poopie-pants hack.” But people these days think they are entitled to voice their feelings, no matter how nasty, or the collateral damage. You have embraced the idea that one person is never going to be able to please all of the people all of the time, and that a great rule to live by.
Mine, of course, is, well, you know.
Excited about JA.
An as far as Amazon goes, I asked a published writer I met at the library for some advice about local writers groups, and in exchange for the information he asked me to write a favorable review on Amazon for a book of his I had read. Except I didn’t really like his book, so I thanked him but declined to pimp for him on Amazon.So I ignore the reviews, figuring that there are too many relatives/friends out there willing to bs their way through a book review.
Have a great day in the sun, Bob.
August 13th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I’m glad my tastes aren’t the only kiss of death. And it also seems to run the opposite direction with movies, music, etc. If I hate it, usually it’s the next huge thing.
Oh well.
Looking forward to Jefferson Allegiance. It is good to get contaversial ever so often. Refreshes the tree of liberty…:).
August 13th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Sometimes blogs can be nasty hurtful places. It seems there has been a lot of it going around lately. Agent Janet Reid blogged today about something she’d experienced.
Anyway, I agree, let’s forget about the crazy bloggers out there.
Hope you get to sit in the sun and edit your manuscript and maybe even have a beer. And I’m sure EG will forgive Hannah any unfortunate accidents.
Me, I went swimming. There’s nothing like it to get rid of life’s frustrations (although in our temperature it is more like a warm bath). But it’s still all good. My kids pre-kindergarten teacher used to say, “Give him/her a warm bath.” It was her answer for every problem.
August 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
JA - really looking forward to it. Would love to praise it but you forgot to add me to the list of beta readers. I’m sure it was just an oversight. I’ll try to wait patiently for it to hit the shelves.
The internet: I can never figure out why so many people are so eager to show the world how ignorant, intolerant and rude they can be. Geez, keep that sort of thing in the family.
Mad Men: I enjoyed the first show, but I’m not one for following a plot for an entire season. I like my tv viewing wrapped up in one hour. Short attention span, I guess.
Please tell EG she writes good books. I don’t always like what she does with Lynley and Havers, but she does it well.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Good for you - no one needs to listen to abusive name calling and thoughtless hurtfulness. Your family and close friends are tired of telling you to get over yourself. (grin)
I try not to listen to anything Bush says; it’s too stressful. I can’t wait for the new administration. But I suppose who ever wins, they will be politicians - after all we elected them.
As far as blogs go, while the technology has changed, and the number of voices as well, we are all still human and it shows. Sometimes that’s good and sometimes that’s bad but it’s good to see some of us are still trying.
August 13th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
I must confess I started to read your books after your first collaboration with Madame Crusie. I do recommend your books if I like them to my friends. Sorry to hear you got cornered at a conference by a “on-line bully.” Good for you that you kept your cool. Also, I am glad I listed to your recommendation of the movie “Eastern Promises”.
August 13th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Olympics. The Internet Olympics occur with frequency, individual and relay events:
Jumping to conclusions
Flame Throwing, aka Pushing buttons
Hitting on unsuspecting souls
The Internet is a subculture. Part good, part really lousy. There are great opportunities for entertainment as well as information, as long as you have a salt shaker handy when reading. And a really thick skin. Common Sense is a big plus as well.
Really looking forward to JA. Especially now as I/We know that Hannah might have been crapping in Ms. George’s driveway whilst you were busy editing (humor, har).
August 14th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Bob, you make an excellent point about not being able to change the actions of others, only your reaction to them. Some people are cool, some people are knobs and unfortunately the knobs are the ones who are more likely to make noise.
I think there’s an escalation issue as well. Kind of a “your dog pooped in my driveway so I’m going to napalm your house” kind of attitude. A friend was telling me over the weekend about an episode of Mad Men called “Shoot” where a nieghbor threatens some kids he will shoot their dog if it doesn’t leave his pigeons alone. Apparently the end of the episode is the mother of the kids in a negligee picking off the pigeons with a rifle. Brillinat imagery but it kind of encapsulates the whole oneupmanship issues of life, not just the internet.
BTW - thank you for all the Jefferson et al quotes you put at the header of each post. It is very nice to be reminded of our past when our present is not very enlightened.
August 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Sorry to hear that some people–on line and elsewhere–have been so abusive and bullying. It’s weird how perfect strangers can feel it is incumbent on them to tell someone else something, especially in a public place or public forum. And usually that stranger has no idea what they’re talking about or who they’re actually dealing with.
I tend to think it is very “telling” about those strangers, and to analyze, briefly, what their comments say about them, what their motivation was. And if they knew what their behavior actually says about them, they would never repeat the performance, their outrageous behavior. They’d be embarrassed. They’re not part of my world, thankfully.
There’s a saying, similar to the one on your home page (which I like better), that says:
Be careful of the words you say,
Make sure they’re soft & sweet,
You never know from day to day,
Which ones you’ll have to eat.
On another note, very happy to hear about the kick ass climatic scene in JA. And very intrigued about the controversy you’ve written in the book!!
August 14th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Really looking forward to JA! And like McB, you forgot to put me on your beta reader list (whine)… Guess I’ll have to wait for it to hit the shelves.
IMO, those people who spew in the Internet (or in the Amazon reviews) have not been taught appropriate boundaries. They remind me of the people who commit a crime and who, when caught, are not sorry except that they’ve been caught. No boundaries, espcially when they can get away with it anonymously… or at least not face to face…
August 14th, 2008 at 11:12 am
Since you seem to like A. Hamilton (yeah, I do. A LOT), I suggest Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow. Really, really good.
Hmmm. Do I skew your data? Oh yeah. I never claim to be w/in 2 Standard D’s.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Clicking heroines, upped stakes, and kick ass scenes with bad guys getting their asses kicked. Sounds like an awesome book. Revise already so we can read this book. Please. (Print on paper - nothing like it.
Complications and controversy - good luck.
Much from the HWSW blogs was laugh out loud funny. Good stuff.
I too was dumbfounded by Bush’s comment about America having no problems. I chocked on my drink (Coca-Cola) and had to leave the room. My children didn’t need to hear my gut reaction comments. (They are only 10 and 7.)
Good luck with your creating controversy plan.
August 14th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Email to Bob: Your dog is pretty, your writing is pretty, you are pr– nonono.
Email to Bob: Your dog is cute and fluffy, your writi– um, no.
Gotta admit, there is an elegant simplicity to “you suck.”
Note to self: Never send email to Bob.
So you recommend growing a thick skin and becoming
insensitiveless sensitive. I can see how that would work for some people. Or a person could simply learn to stay the hell out of the kill zone, as Wilder might say. Works for me.Um, Bob, you do realize most hostesses would consider it horribly rude for a guest to bring homework to a garden party, right? It’s good to have friends who are writers. They get it. But still. Be sure to make appreciative noises every third chapter or so.
Enjoy the warm sunshine.
August 15th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Well, he could always pass the completed pages off to her.
August 15th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Hey Bob - I’m always poking around here on your blog, but I’m not much of a commenter. Just wanted to say that this post about how you deal with the different types of reader communication is probably one of my favorites. As a yet-to-be-published writer, I have a great interest in what’s going through the minds of those who have been published and are “out there,” thus opening the floodgates of feedback. Thanks for the glimpse! It’s infinitely informative, as is most of your writing-related insight.
August 15th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I’m just getting into Mad Men. Sadly, they removed the first season from On-Demand here, so I didn’t get all the back story. You’re right that there is not much to like about the characters. One moment a character is being perfectly pleasant and the next they slap a child. Or someone who is often a real jerk does something kind. The characters are complex, and that makes them hard to predict.
There is some discussion of Mad Men from a story-telling perspective over at edittorrent.blogspot.com. “Mad Men” is in the label list on the right.
August 16th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
“But it all kind of evens out and there’s nothing I can do about it, except to change me.”
It’s all perspective and this week that is what stood out for me. I spent two days angry at someone who was prejudiced. How much sense does that make? I actually said “I will not tolerate prejudice in my home.”
Wow. Prejudice is lack of tolerance and listen to me go! Smacked my darn self! You’re so right on so many levels but I think we cross over into actual wisdom when we say “the only thing I can change is me.”
Having said that, I don’t watch TV much so I will let the “mad men” discussion continue without me. Was afraid there for a second that in might be a “Robins’ exe’s support group!” whew!
August 19th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Well, it’s 04:23 Zulu time 8-20 (I think) and no new blog. It’s great for us readers that Bob is so busy! So many words, so little time!
August 20th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Relaxing around the Campfire, toasting marshmallows and first scenes.