Happy August to everyone. Out here in Salt Lake City, Utah, it has been extremely dry for a very long time. I saw on the weather report yesterday that we had 5% humidity (that's low even for Utah), and of course there are wildfires everywhere to match the August heat. Living in the desert isn't for the timid. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to live someplace wetter and cooler. Anyway, being August, it's time for the IWSG (Insecure Writer's Support Group) post. Sign-up for it HERE if you are interested, and I'll recap some of the details you can expect from the group below:
What is the Purpose of the IWSG?: It is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak (Pride isn't one of the seven deadly sins for nothing). Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds.
When does the IWSG post?: It's on the first Wednesday of every month.
What content should you post? Good question. You should post your thoughts on your own blog. Other ideas include talking about your doubts and the fears you have conquered or discussing your struggles and your triumphs. While doing all that, you could offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. The IWSG is also a good place to practice your networking. So, I'd advise that you visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writers. A dozen or so new people each time would be sufficient. Engage and comment. This group is all about connecting. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.
The X (formerly known as Twitter) handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.
The awesome co-hosts for the August 6 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Natalie Aguirre, Sarah - The Faux Fountain Pen, and Olga Godim!
Every month, the IWSG announces a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. The question is optional though.
August 6 question - What is the most unethical practice in the publishing industry?
So, my answer might be anti-capitalist. However, I think that vanity publishing is the most unethical thing. A vanity publisher is a company that provides self-publishing services to authors for a fee. While they offer services like editing, design, and marketing, the truth is that the services are expensive, and they are done as cheaply as possible. Editing is probably just a complete lie. I bet many don't actually have an editor (or a person qualified to edit). In reality it's probably a person in Thailand who barely reads English and who eliminates a couple of commas in 400 pages and calls that edited and done with an Ai communication designed to flatter you. And then they probably charge $4,000 for that. Marketing is probably them just putting up a picture of your cover on their own homepage. That probably costs another $4,000. And the design of your book before Ai was probably just some type font on a clip art picture. After Ai...you can bet it's all done with Ai. And not screened either so if a human or a character on the picture has a third eyeball or a missing limb it will not be corrected. It needs to be done in under thirty seconds so that they can charge you $4,000 for the experience.
Vanity publishers are there for one reason...to prey upon your own vanity at wanting to not be invisible. They are there to make you feel special (even though you aren't really unless you call being just another sucker "special). It's basically a pig-butchering scam of another color. But it comes from the same kind of place. It's unfortunate that it ensnares so many people. Older folks who have accrued some savings and who believe in their hearts that there is an audience out there just salivating to hear their story are particularly vulnerable. I think the whole business model is unethical. But again, this goes against capitalism that says a business has a right to exist if there are people wanting the service. I mean...I think that crystal readings and tarot cards and astrology are a scam too. But it's a multi-billion dollar business. I also think crypto is a scam. And NFT's...they are a scam too. Multi-level marketing is a scam. Geezzz... there really are scams everywhere.
Personally, I think my generation (Gen X) is the last generation of people who read in big numbers. I'm not saying that there aren't new readers in younger generations, but they will heavily skew along the sexes to female with a few male readers sprinkled in there. There will still be breakout stars here and there (as there should be), and the invention of genres like romantasy. But no one knows why or how that happens. There isn't a formula you can follow, especially in a world where there is no central authority anymore regarding books. Everyone is reading something different as we all do not circulate around a water cooler anymore to talk about literature. We are fractured and disparate and in our own subreddits online or listening to podcasts or looking at doggy influencers on Instagram. And honestly, I think the most important thing a person can do who wants their book to be read is to make it available in Audio. I recently came across a sobering statistic...over a third of the country now is functionally illiterate (in America) in adulthood and it is only rising. I know professors in college who tell me, "Mike...my students can't read or write. I've never seen anything like this." I'm not sure why this is happening but it is, and Ai is only going to make this problem worse as it will do things for a student so they don't actually have to learn.
So how do you get a book in the hands of someone who can't read? You make it an audiobook. That's my writing advice to you if you want your book read. Make it available in audio as we are entering a phase of the United States where grift and scams are king and no one can read.
Thanks for visiting :).
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