Collage and Congrats

Busy, but very rewarding, days here as I settle into a new job and splitting my time between two places, both filled with people I love and things I enjoy doing. Life is full and very good, but my posts will likely slow down a bit. I'm trying to catch up with correspondence as well, so if I owe you a letter, it's coming! Promise. For now, a few collages I've been working on -- I've tried layering and collaging on top of some of my mono print efforts. I like the effect in the yellow one in particular, but I think I could have dropped the little armadillo-like creature in the red one; it seems a bit stuck in. (I would love some feedback from any readers, particularly constructive criticism. For the most part I work in a bit of a creative vacuum.) I don't think these are finished, but I'll keep staring at them for awhile.

There are several benefits to spending time in the city. One is re-connecting with old friends -- actually having time to spend with them -- and taking part in the many arts event in the city. This weekend I went to two books launches, both of friends. Jude Isabella, my work partner in crime, released Salmon: A Scientific Memoir, on Friday. And my friend Margaret Horsfield, along with Ian Kennedy, did a signing and presentation on Tofino & Clayoquot Sound: A History, a book that the region has long needed, yesterday. I'm so proud of you, my friends. I know how much angst and sleepless nights go into writing projects so it's great to have them out there, released into the world.

And I also received another book from a dear writer friend. So happy to have I Wasn't Always Like This, a book of essays, by Shelley Leedahl, on my bed stand. (The collagist in me loves the cover of that one.) All is good surrounded by so much creativity.

Put a Bird, er Collage, On It

When I made this collage this morning, I couldn't help but think of the Put a Bird on It episode from Portlandia. I will try not to make a collage out of everything. Promise.

So here's the story. As I was cleaning my office, studio, piano room, junk catch-all place in my house, yesterday I decided the Rolodex had to go. As I was going through it though, I realized that all of those cards were a little bit of my history. I don't think I've even looked at it - and certainly haven't added a new card - for several years, but there were a few gems in there. (And clearly an attestation to my pack rat nature.) Much of what I found were old logos and cards from publishers and publishing contacts. The cards are a bit of a time capsule of my writing history. In fact, I still had the card from Mary Macchiusi at Pembroke Publishers, who published my first book, The Green Classoom, 23 years ago (is that really possible?). I think it was the original card she gave me 25+ years ago. I give Mary much of the credit for launching me as a writer back in the late 1980s. Honestly, I didn't know too much about the industry then. In fact, after The Green Classroom was published, in my enthusiasm I sent her a second manuscript for a book that was entirely unsuited for Pembroke Publishers (first rule of trying to get published - target your publisher wisely and don't waste peoples' time; okay, that was two rules). But Mary kindly passed the manuscript on to Kids Can Press and the rest, well, is pretty much history as Kids Can has published most of my books since. I had a few cards from Kids Can in the stack and you can see how the logo has changed. Also in the stack is a card from my beloved editor at Kids Can, and wonderful writer in her own right, Valerie Wyatt. (Her's is the Two Can Communications card, a company she started with her husband.) There's also a card from Linda Weigl at Weigl Educational Publishers where I did some of my first educational writing. Interestingly, there were no cards from McGraw-Hill Ryerson, whose educational division I wrote for for years. But perhaps it's not too surprising as our interactions were largely over the Internet. Other publishers are represented too. Some I've written for (Greystone, Orca and OwlKids*) and some I just had conversations with (Rocky Mountain Books and Tradewind). To round it off, a few cards from friends and colleagues I've worked with over the years.

Clearly I didn't give a lot of thought to composition of this collage, but the exercise did take me on a journey through my 25 years of writing history (I still can't quite get my head around that!).

*I've been meaning to write about a great four-book series (Sizing Up Winter, Sorting Through Spring, etc.) on math in nature that OwlKids released over the past two years. They're written by Lizann Flatt and are a fabulous resource for elementary-aged children. I helped out in a small way by writing the teacher's guides that went with the books. They're free and available by pdf. Here's one.)

Reset

John Steinbeck wrote, "Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." If you replace the word ideas with "blogs" or "websites" or "Twitter accounts" you will realize the dilemma I've been in for the last year or so. I am slightly overloaded with social media and it has pretty much stifled me to complete inaction. The time away has been good, but I'm ready to jump back in so I'm re-setting and re-activating my online presence in, I hope, a slightly more strategic way.

Part of the dilemma is that I have a pretty partitioned life. I have the side of me that writes books for children, the part of me that writes books for adults, the part of me that writes for museums and interpretive centres, the part of me that is passionate about all things Tofino and west coast history, the part of me that has a small publishing company with an amazing friend and artist, Marion Syme, the part of me that dabbles in art (you probably don't know that person yet). Okay, you get the picture. O v e r e x t e n d e d.

So, I'm determined to get this house (er, houses; and virtual at that) in order so that I can continue with blogging and posting and tweeting without getting hung up with whether I'm posting in the right place. Some blogs I am just going to ditch - without anyone ever really knowing - but others I'm going keep active. It's probably silly to think I need to partition everything off so much. I am who I am. To some people, I'm a writer of science books for children, to others I know a little bit about the history of the west coast, to others I'm a bit publisher. It doesn't really matter. I'm all of those things. So let's get back at it. But first, just so we have a record of where everything is at present, here's the list. Amalgamations probably coming soon (but this site will stay active). My primary website. Postelsia Press, the little publishing house I run with Marion Syme. For all things Long Beach, visit here and for all things Tofino, check out The Heart of Tofino. My primary Twitter feed will be Tough City Writer and you can find me on Instagram under the handle, you guessed it, toughcitywriter.

Realities of Writing

The very talented artist Patricia Storms put up a great post on her blog that got me thinking.

People have a lot of assumptions about writers and illustrators and we're not doing ourselves any favours by not addressing them head on. So, for the curious, here are some realities about trying to make your living as a writer. (I can't speak for being an illustrator, but there are many similarities.)

1. Yes, getting published is very exciting and something that so many people strive for, but it does not mean we are rich. [See below.]

2. On average, writers receive royalties anywhere from 5% (for a picture book, for instance, since royalties are split with the illustrator) to 10%. Let's do the math. If the book costs $10, the author is actually receiving between 50 cents and $1. [See 1.]

3. Very few writers actually receive the "six figure advances" you sometimes hear about. Some receive $0. Others a few hundred or a few thousand. This varies, of course, but it is not "free money." These are "advances against royalties." In theory the publisher is advancing you monies they project that the book will safely recoup. Once it is published the writer makes $0 until that royalty advance is paid out. [See 1.]

4. Other than a few free copies (about 10, say) writers have to buy their own books. Yes, we get them at the same discount as a bookseller (40% off retail), but we don't have an endless supply of our own books without forking over cash.

5. When people demand cheap books [or cheap anything, frankly] someone is getting screwed. Like those big box discounts? It's because big box stores demand a very hefty discount (perhaps as much as 55%) while the "mom and pop" bookstore down the street can only get 40%. Writers, illustrators and publishers are also making less. [See 2. This means we might only make 30 cents for each sale! Whoopee! See 1.]

6. Writers often have to pay for things you might assume a publisher would cover. This includes purchasing photographs, paying for illustrations (maps, for instance), creating a website, organizing a tour, etc.

7. More and more, writers and illustrators are expected to take on publicity and marketing themselves. Very few books and authors get "tours" and big budget marketing plans. I have received a whopping total of $100 for travel over my 20 years as a published writer. (From publishers that is. I have received support from programs such as the Canadian Book Centre's Book Week and other festivals.)

8. Most writers and illustrators have to do other work to continue. While I have been a full-time writer and editor for many years, I work on many different things — textbooks, interpretive centre media, government documents, and the like. I love the variety, but it's not an easy go. Like Patricia, I have often had thoughts of throwing in the towel to become a waitress. I published my first book in 1991 and have published over 30 books. [See 1.]

Self-Promo for Writers

Today, with all of the social media options available and with marketing budgets shrinking at publishing houses, marketing is falling more and more to writers. This is likely overkill for most of us, but author Jenny Blake has shared her spreadsheet for self-promo. Almost exhausting to look at (and think about), but certainly lots of ideas and options for every writer, self-published or not.

New Rules for Writers

Having just submitted a manuscript that has been about five years in the making—two and a bit intensely so—this was a refreshing read and timely arrival in my IN box. (Thanks greg b.)

These "rules" totally go against every prescription for writing success you'll hear as a young writer from all quarters: the conformity-driven MFA system, the publishing industry's hype-machine, successful writers who act either like prima donnas or untouchable mystics, the marketing experts who seek to impose advertising rules on the writing product. Overpaid editors, illiterate agents, arrogant gatekeepers, and stupid reviewers want you to bargain away your soul for a pittance -- the bids in the market escalate downward, a reverse auction where you compete with the lowest of the low to be acknowledged as an entity that counts.

Aiming for the lowest of the low...

Aldana's Order of Canada

Congratulations to Patsy Aldana, publisher of Groundwood Books, on being named a member of the Order of Canada.

On Writing a Novel . . .

Oh my goodness . . .



Funny (in a pathetic kind of way).

[Via Bookninja}

Making a Book

When I visit children I find they are often quite confused over how a book is actually put together. They can understand the writing and the illustration part, but the physical part of putting the books together is a bit of a mystery. The younger children, in particular, think that I put together each book. Although this is a more "old-fashioned" type of printing, this video provides a glimpse into some of the steps. I love the offset, letterpress look so it was fun to see how the Field Notes booklets are put together.

Wings: Making the Field Notes 2010 Fall Edition from Coudal Partners on Vimeo.

Marketing 101

Would it be too wrong to steal this idea? (I guess I should actually finish the book first...).

The Future of Publishing?

You may have already seen this, but it is very clever. (I have a long list of posts to get up soon. Yes, soon!)

Orca Books

Here's an update on a great Canadian (and British Columbian) publisher surviving in these tenuous times. Long ago I published a book with Orca. It's still one of my favourites, but is sadly long out of print.

Sell One, Give One Away

Awesome Book Tour from Dallas Clayton on Vimeo.

So what do you think of this? In an era when book publishing is in such flux, it's an interesting story of someone finding a new way. Of course self-publishing is not new, but he's also created what looks like (I haven't seen it) a great book that is well produced and, obviously, one that has struck a chord.

Support for BC Bookworld

Four times a year I look forward to a new edition of BC Bookworld. Each issue profiles BC authors, illustrators and publishers, including self-published authors. It is an invaluable resource and a wonderful way to profile all things literary about BC. The magazine is available free through bookstores and on the BC ferries as well, so it is sure to get into peoples' hands and, no doubt, helps put new writers in readers' hot little hands. You can also subscribe to BC Bookworld for the very reasonable price of $25. Given the latest round of funding cuts BC Bookworld's future is a bit shaky. Please take a minute to read this letter and consider supporting BC Bookworld.

Dear Friend,

For more than twenty years, Alan Twigg and David Lester have produced B.C. BookWorld, Canada?s most-read independent publication about books. It?s an educational newspaper that serves 100,000 people per issue, via more than 900 distribution outlets around the province.

With the onset of the Olympics, the B.C. provincial government has suddenly withdrawn all its annual support, terminating a 22-year partnership with the non-profit society that sponsors B.C. BookWorld. The news came in a brisk phone call in October, without any explanation, and no paper trail, with less than one month?s notice.

Similar calls were made, on the same day, to the B.C. book publishers? association and the B.C. magazine publishers? association.

The future of B.C. BookWorld is now in jeopardy.

If you value and enjoy B.C. BookWorld, I invite you to help preserve and embolden this essential publication by sending a Supportive Subscription cheque of $25 to:

Pacific BookWorld News Society
3516 West 13th Avenue
Vancouver, B.C.
V6R 2S3

In return, B.C. BookWorld will be mailed to your home or office address throughout 2010.

Please act now. As legendary Canadian publisher Jack McClelland put it, ?In all sincerity, let me say that I have never encountered a book journal as engaging as B.C. BookWorld.?


Sent on behalf of Pacific BookWorld News Society; publisher Howard White (president), historian Jean Barman, Simon Fraser University chief librarian Lynn Copeland, Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing director Rowland Lorimer, Association of Book Publishers of British Columbia executive director Margaret Reynolds, author Andreas Schroeder, bookseller Don Stewart, Vancouver Public Library chief librarian Paul Whitney. In conjunction with the Coalition for the Defence of Writing and Publishing in British Columbia.

Canadian Materials Goes Weekly

Canadian Materials is now publishing weekly, which is great news for all those wanting to keep up on the latest on Canadian books for kids. This week look for interviews with Larry Verstraete, Eva Wiseman, and Marty Chan as well as 23 book reviews. (This is a great magazine, but I sure wish they'd come up with a new, more inspired, name!)

Finally the Bride, Not the Bridesmaid

After years of many other honours, my colleauges at YES Mag have finally been awarded the Periodical of the Year by the Association of Educational Publishers! This is much deserved honour for a very hard working crew.

More on Violence...

Book Ninja has waded in with his thoughts on the topic. I think a lot of this, as with many (most?) things in the world, depends on the individual. Some kids seem to be able to handle "bad things" or violence more than others. It's all in your definition of violence, too. Some people would consider an animal dying to be violent. Me? I would consider that the "cycle of life" (to quote The Lion King), but would be sensitive to my little readers ears and emotional state. At this juncture, bear with me as I begin, yet again, my not-so-private rant about how this is another situation where knowledgeable librarians, teachers, and booksellers (and parents, yes, but very few are kids' lit fanatics) are SO CRITICAL to putting the right book in the right child's hand, at the right time in their life. To continue with the violence metaphor — well-stocked and STAFFED libraries and bookstores staffed with knowledgeable sales people — are worth fighting for.

More Violence in Books?

Not enough violence in kids' books? What do you think?

Advice for Aspiring Writers

As usual, Editorial Anonymous's blog is full of great advice (and much hilarity). If you are an aspiring writer, or even a published one, this blog is required reading. EA is posting a very useful series called "Definitions for the Perplexed" where you can read about publishing terms such as C,M,Y,K or proofs or BookScan. Here's the most recent post, but make sure you scroll down to see the posts over the past few weeks. While you're there, make sure you check out EA's list of Things Not To Send in Slush Ever Again in the margin.

Also courtesy of EA is news of an virtual cat fight over the news that several agents twittered on why they were rejecting manuscripts. Follow the links, but if you want to cut to the chase, here are some of the Twitter posts. (From Chico Writer's Group.) Regardless of how you feel about the ethics, there is a lot of good advice in those tweets.

How Does Your Paper Get Pulped?

I'm all for alternative papers, but this is a new one.