Don't Always Judge a Book by its Cover

Do you judge a book by its cover? Don’t lie! I bet you do! It’s natural, we all do it. And publishers know this. But the publishing industry is becoming more and more involved with the marketing side of things and really wanting us to judge even if it has nothing to do with the book.

Let me explain further.

I was reading Scott Westerfeld’s blog http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/2010/04/from-russia-with-covers/ (surprise, surprise) and found it quite interesting what his publisher said to him. And I quote from Scott Westerfeld’s page:

Everyone in marketing says that the most important thing a cover can do is sell the book to someone who knows nothing about the novel. In other words, a cover is merely advertising space, and doesn’t need to be true to the text, just eye-catching.

And that is why the third cover release of his Russian Midnighters covers looks like they are about vampires. Observe:

Stupid “creating a new genre” BS

Anyway, so it got me thinking about what I could put on the cover for my journal. Seeing as it’s going to be a different theme every season and therefore a new cover, I would really have to think about what is eye catching, and whether I want to go with the approach of luring my audience in thinking my journal is something it is not.
Which I really feel uncomfortable doing…am I the only person who thinks this is wrong?

Without sounding too biased, I completely agree with Scott Westerfeld. He argued that a cover should connect with the reader AFTER they read the book. The cover should reveal little things about the book, but keep to the idea of what it’s about. For example, symbols that appear in the story, characters and what they look like (not blonde and blue eyed freaks when the character is clearly written to be a red head) which might appear fussy and a bit boring to the publisher, but I believe it will appeal to the audience more.

And being an anal person with my covers (seriously, I paid 15 dollars for a Margaret Atwood book I could easily have gotten for half the price because the cover was my favourite out the lot) I’ve done the leg work. The best covers out there are usually US covers. Sorry Australia! But we’re pussies when it comes to being controversial.
So it’s an overdone example, but we all understand it well so I’m just going to go with it. LIAR by JUSTINE LARBARLESTIER:
When the US first released the cover, there was a white girl on the cover. And the main character is very clearly written as a black African American girl. Shit hit the fan, publishers argued and it slipped through their fingers to the media and told that “people don’t buy books with black people on it”
So, it was exactly what Scott Westerfeld was saying above. Even though it’s not about a white girl, people will pick it up apparently over a black girl on the cover. So it was changed and, oh look, something way cool!
See, US has done it again. It reveals small things about the book in the cover without it being filled with spoilers! See, it’s not that hard to do, so why is it such a hard thing for publishers to do.

Oh and in case everyone forgot, this was Australia’s cover…

So, like, let’s not be controversial and be safe and put nobody on the cover and just have bloody writing. People will like that…and let’s not forget to use the worst colour ever to put on a book jacket, WHITE!
But I shouldn’t bag my country too much, sometimes they do get it right. For example, Nick Caves new release The Death of Bunny Munro. Australia were the only people I have personally found that used an actual person for their front cover. And ok, it was legs spread on a bed, but, ummm isn’t Bunny Munro some kind of womanizer who goes crazy after his wife committed suicide? And not an actual bunny like what every other publishers implied? Just saying…

So, again, I do agree with Scott Westerfeld. Why are we so afraid of covers? Why do we judge so much and why do publishers think they have to lie in order to appeal to our taste? People who read vampire books usually wouldn’t read Midnighters so if you want to keep readers reading and continue to try and get young adults reading, my advice to the publishers is not to deceive us, but to give it to us straight so we know what we are getting into. It’s always nice to know what a books potential can be before turning the pages to find something truly special.

Thoughtfully yours,

Jinx xx

The Chicken and the Egg Story

What makes writing original? Is it language or is it the story? What if it’s neither but once you combine the two together as something that you think is right, that’s what makes it original. Think about all the times you read a story and think ‘that reminds me of something’ do you mind? Or is it a nostalgic feeling?

These sorts of issues that rise when you write a story are called Intertextuality. And no, it’s not plagiarism, it’s simply a statement of truth, that no idea in writing is ever original, it always comes from something else, but does it make it original if we change some things around? Make it a new story? Pick things out to make it our own? Or are we all a bunch of copy cats? Its quite depressing, I find, when you read something and think ‘oh that was so my idea!’ or even ‘gosh, why didn’t I think of that!?’ and worse ‘I think I’ve read something like this before…’ but then again I find it kind of nice because it makes me think I’m on the right track, it helps with my writing skills, and helps me throw ideas around easily. It’s kind of like recycling writing, taking out things that you want and making some use of it in your own way.

The reason why I am pointing this out to you is because I found it a really helpful exercise today in writing class when we had a lecture about it. I was always so depressed about my ideas coming from other ideas from movies I’ve seen or TV programmes etc but really…everyone does it! And it’s lovely, don’t you think? I like it, because I know people do it all the time. Even with a whole genre. A writer once said to me that the reason a book is slotted into a genre is not because the story sounds like another, but because it follows the structure of that genre. I remember Tory telling me that she felt that her genre Fantasy was ruined because once you know the structure; you can’t read it, because you know it so you can guess what happens. I felt the same way about Young Adult books when Penni Russon said “young adult books are easy, because they’re all about identity and belonging” gee, thanks!
But now I see it! I get it, because Intertextuality has a name and a structure of its own to it. It’s still difficult to write, no doubt about that, because it’s still writing, but it’s still interesting and original all the same! It’s so nice to say that, that I can still be original in my own way.
There are three different ways you can go about Intertextuality:
Collage
Found text
Recycling as writing
The first one is the one I used in the exercise, and it’s taking fragments from unrelated authors to create new meaning. Placing it in new situations and combining works by myself, and existing texts. Here is my piece:

The cigarette snapped between her fingers as she tossed is away violently. She said
“Many of the disappearances were actually suicides” it took them almost half an hour to reach the spot that she had indicated, having had, at various points, to drive over piles of debris. As they were heading toward the site of the shooting, he said
“You never know. Here, look at me. I’m not doing too badly. I signed up, had my ten years and here I am. Not bad” she said
“You were prepared to commit murder?”
“Yes”
“You are prepared to commit suicide?”
“No” they got out of the car once they reached the site. He put his hands in his pockets and grinned slowly
“Well here we are. I told you, that if we met again it would be here”
“I never expected you would be right” she said. Neither of them felt like talking, and fifteen minutes passed in silence as they took in their surroundings. Hundreds of dead bodies lined up, some piled on top of each other. And the smell.
“Watch where you step!” a man shouted at them from a far. She was right to call her husband here. She knew they still existed.

And if you were wondering, I used the following books:

Earth is Room Enough - Asimov
Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
The Shape of Water – Andrea Camilleri

Did you notice? I bet you didn’t!

Try doing this yourself just to throw around ideas! I feel very in the mood to write, I’m not as depressed about it anymore. That lecture was really inspiring. It was lovely to feel like writing!

Inspiringly yours,

Jinx xx

PANIC

Hi guys!
I really need to throw around some possible titles for my Publishing Company as well as the title for my new Journal.
Remember, it is a Quarterly Journal publishing Fiction and Non-Fiction work for Young Adults. My publishing company is a niche market and I guess if you want to narrow it down is a lot like the publishing company, Express Media!

Would be greatly appreciated if you would help me

Gratefully Yours,

Jinx xx

Cursive Scripts Doing Nice Things

I was reading Pips new post on Meet Me at Mike(http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/2010/03/nice-things-to-do.html) and thought it was just lovely that she wrote a list of all the nice things she likes to do. And it made me think of all the things I like doing that are nice.
This is my list:

I. Read a really enchanting book
II. Cuddle Ben
III. Talk to friends about anything and everything
IV. Sit in class with a hot drink and have awesome literary discussions
V. Drink soup without a spoon from a bowl
VI. Wear dresses
VII. Drinking wine with my family
VIII. Weekend breakfast with family
IX. Discovering a new author
X. Exploring the city with someone special
XI. Driving to Sunbury
XII. Cooking, but never cleaning up
XIII. Drinking coffee from a foam cup or my Wuthering Heights mug
XIV. Eating mashed potato
XV. Sitting by an open fire
XVI. Working on Sunday
XVII. Wearing scarves
XVIII. Eating strawberry clouds

And I’m sure there is more, I just can’t think of them right now.
What is your list?

In other news the submissions have opened for our new journal Cursive Scripts, send your work to this email:
cursivescripts@gmail.com

Make sure you follow the criteria below!

Submissions end 20 April, 2010. Mark it in your planners!
Work must be between 500-3000 words
We take anything! Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry etc but remember nothing nasty or racist. We are nice people and we want nice things, please!
We aren’t going to pay you, but you do get sent a copy of the finished product, so that is nice!

Good luck, looking forward to reading them

Nicely yours,

Jinx xx

How To Disappoint a Young Adult Reader

Yesterday I stayed at uni to see a Young Adult author, Penni Russon (The Indigo Girls, Undine trilogy etc) to discuss Young Adult writing and how she got into this profession. I was terribly excited to be talking about a genre I adore; however, I came out of the two hour lecture feeling quite upset and even angry at this woman.
She was very useful in telling her story of how she became an author - making it sound very easy falling into it with the help of her best friend being an editor - and also discussing the balancing of her two kids, her hubby and work (which she didn’t really call work). I found this all very interesting because I have often worried whether I will be able to get over my stressful behaviour. BUT, her attitude was all wrong.

I don’t want to be the type of writer that thinks their audience is “simple minded”. Yes, you heard me! She called Young Adults simple minded, which is why she finds the writing so easy because “young adults like reading the same shit over and over again”.

I was so insulted.
Being a Young Adult myself I felt compelled to stand up and yell “hey lady, I’m a young adult and I think I’m pretty damn sophisticated!” Alas, I let it slide and continued listening, hoping she would redeem herself by saying how wonderful the whole experience is and even how touching her fans can be. But no, the more I listened to her the more confused and angry I became. She bad mouthed other authors like Stephenie Meyer, saying how crap Twilight was and ok, I get it, it wasn’t the best stories out there but HELLO! SILLY WOMAN! Look at what it’s done to Young Adults who don’t read. It transformed a genre, created a whole new way of marketing for Publishers and bloody hell, it got people to read! Isn’t that supposed to be, I don’t know, the MAIN goal for YA authors??

She then proceeded to talk about Scott Westerfeld (oh hell, no!) and, fortunately enough praised and praised and praised his work. Good girl, but did you forget that all the things you praised him for (creating something different for Young Adult readers to look for in stories and their life, to think of new ideas and create confidence in others) that those are the type of things “simple minded” people wouldn’t pick up on? If we’re so simple minded, we wouldn’t be able to read such “masterpieces”.

I was really upset that writers can have such an ego attitude. I know I haven’t met many authors before, but I just didn’t expect any of them to be so cocky! I’m sure she is a good writer, and she speaks well, she was funny and interesting etc, but her immaturity to bag half the audience sitting there really hurt me. I don’t really care all that much whether it was a joke. I hate those jokes, because every joke has some truth to it and why would you say it in the first place, if you didn’t mean it deep down?

Penni Russon, I actually feel sorry for you. I feel sorry that you think your audience is like this! We like reading, we enjoy a challenge and we like to think about deep and meaningful things so don’t patronise us, please! We are smart people!
Please don’t let me turn into that writer, people! I know I will be more into the publishing side but I still have to edit work, write my own stuff on the side, plus see and feel your feelings as my own if I’m going to be publishing for you, the YA world.

I think we’re pretty awesome and deserve a chance!

Proudly yours,

Jinx xx

Update: Watch this space for opportunities to submit pieces for a new Journal my classmates and I are creating for our Major Assingment. Nothing too huge, but an experience for everyone to get involved in. Our journal is called Cursive Scripts and we welcome anything and everything, so long as there is no racism or anything illegal (Defamation etc)

Ta!

Ready for Routine

Apologies for a very late entry to this blog!

I have realised that it might be quite difficult during the holidays to contribute my thoughts to this blog as I seem to get caught up and become a bit busy. I never really found time to sit down and discuss some thoughts that I care dearly about. Sure, I thought about them in my head, but never had the time to tell you guys about it!
So instead, I have decided to change things around a bit on this blog. I will still keep this blog going because I think it really benefits my writing and course choice in general, but it will be focusing on other things book related, and only be running around the time that my classes run.

For the few people who read this, I’m guessing this won’t really affect you too dramatically but I just thought it would be impolite to change things without giving a reason why. Besides, the reason is actually quite exciting anyway.

My intention is now to use this blog to publish extracts from my writing classes, very rarely some book reviews, some issues that pop up in the news, but mostly to focus on proposals, suggestions and updates on the progress towards my new publishing journal I am starting up.

Yes, you read correctly, I am actually doing it.

My proposal isn’t finished so all I can really reveal is that it’s a Quarterly Journal (published 4 times in a year – summer, autumn, winter, spring) focusing on Fiction and Non-Fiction for YA. But I still need to do loads of research before I can finalize funding and help from others.

I would greatly appreciate your comments, ideas, suggestions etc on what I should do to the journal. Otherwise, I will keep you posted about everything that’s running through my mind on anything book related! I’m back at uni now, so back to routine and organisation.

Hope you’re all enjoying your literary lives. Make sure you find a chance to visit The Wheelers Centre now that it is open.

I am so proud to say that Melbourne is the city of literature, so I can always find an excuse to go there for a play!

Excitably yours,

Jinx xx

"I'm Gonna" Meet you at Mike's

I was reading through the paper before I headed off to work and I came across the SUNDAY ROAST section in the Sunday magazine. Kate Ritchie was talking about impulse buys and what you can do when the two ugly words “I’m gonna” come out of your mouth. As I’m reading this article I think to myself
“Oh sure I’ve done that before, but I haven’t actually gone out to buy the stuff”
It seems my laziness has saved me from buying those rollerblades I wanted to get ever since watching Whip It for example; or even saved me even more amounts of money on gym shorts and tops when I half decided to join a gym.

However…

Walking into work 20 minutes later, the beautiful Ash comes to me with Meet Me At Mike’s, a craft book by Pip Lincolne and while sitting there flicking through and letting my mind wander - as there were no customers in the store - it happened. I uttered those two words “I’m gonna…” and ended with “…teach myself to sew and knit”

But look what my inspiration is! Seriously, isn’t he just adorkable?!
What drew me to this book even more was the amount of cute things you can do. I’ve been meaning to make a scrapbook to put all the tickets and photos I collect so they’re not hanging around my room collecting dust. But now I want to do it even more because you can knit and sew notebook covers. How suave would that look?! I might even do it for my writing journal this year for uni!

But wait…

Like all “I’m gonna” thoughts, they never last long. I figure in some cases it’s inevitable that I won’t actually take up rollerblading, or I wont actually buy those gym clothes and join up and maybe perhaps won’t end up making Zing the cat. However, my main point to this post is not only to perhaps write down my current “I’m gonna” just to capture it and see how long it lasts, but to also make a point, like in all my posts, that reading about something can not only educate you, bring you happiness, let you escape from something or even just to have a laugh or cry. Reading is powerful because it can inspire.

I figured with the rollerblades I’d have to ride with someone and none of my friends own them anymore so the dream soon died. I hate people looking at me and so the gym idea died even quicker. But knitting is a hobbie I can do by myself and with people. It’s something for myself, but something I can do for others (a Zing cat anyone?) and more importantly, it’s a cheaper option to go. I’ve got the chopsticks…I only need the wool!

Unless I go all out and buy a sewing machine…I think its time for a visit to my nanas house

You can check out Pip at her blog:
http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/

and/or her store:
63 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

I plan to make a trip there in the very near future

Inspiringly yours,

Jinx xx