Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with literary

Small press. No, not THAT small.

256 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 11:47:42 -0800

As a writer trying to press into the next stage of my career, how can I emphasize in my publishing history that "small press" isn't always a euphemism for "vanity press"? Having recently completed the first draft of the manuscript for my debut full-length novel as well as a query package for a non-fiction book, I find myself about to embark on the quest for a literary agent. There is no shortage of general advice, guidance and hearsay on this subject available online, but I have a more specific problem.

It comes in the form of my publication history. I have had a couple of semi-regular paid freelance gigs writing for print lifestyle magazines. I've also made a few fiction sales to minor magazines, both print and online. No problem.

The problem is that I also wrote a novella. I thought it was pretty good, good enough to see print, but I also knew that novellas are a really hard sell. In fact, from an unknown writer, they're an impossible sell.

I lamented this fact (with no ulterior motive; I can be quite dense when it comes to business sense) to a friend of mine who was the proprietor of a successful local independent record label and events promotion company. He asked if he could read the manuscript.

Long story short, his label offered to publish the book, provided that I would come on board without charging a fee to help them make it happen. We signed a contract (which involved no financial risk or obligation on my part) and the label basically dumped some money in my lap and said "bring us a print run."

I then did all the things that someone self publishing with money from their own pocket would do and, in the end arranged for a small perfect bound print run of 500 copies. We had a launch event and I promoted the book online. The label sent me on a reading tour of Canada and the northeastern USA. The books were sold at these events, online, and were on the shelves in a few dozen, mostly independent, bookstores in the USA and Canada.

We ended up selling out completely and having to do a supplementary print run of 250 to meet demand. Eventually, that sold out in entirety as well. Both the label and myself ended up with a decent amount of money in our pockets. It was the first and last book they ever published and the label has since closed down shop.

Anyway, the problem is that there doesn't seem to be any elegant way to compress this nonstandard publication experience into a query letter. On the other hand, I think this is my most significant publishing experience and, when properly framed, reflects quite well on me as both a writer and as someone who is willing to work to promote my own work.

My goal is to:

1. Make it clear that this was not an instance of self-publishing or vanity press.

2. Maintain professionalism by not shoehorning too much autobiography into the query package (as I have done in this post).

3. Most importantly, not misrepresent (or look like I'm trying to misrepresent) this publication as something more than it was.

I fear that if I just list it as "Title of Work," Label, Year as though the label were a conventional publisher the agent or publisher may simply not have heard of, then I'm violating #3. On the other hand, if I do something like "Title of Work," Label (Small Press), Year then I'll be violation #1 unless I violate #2.

Am I overthinking this plate of beans?

What are the great patterning works of literature?

jason's_planet — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:39:25 -0800

What are the great patterning works of literature? In Book by Book, Michael Dirda presents a list of what he calls “patterning works” which he describes as books that “. . later authors regularly build on, allude to, work against.” and which he says “ . . . ought to lie at the heart of any structured reading program.” I'm not entirely satisfied with his list, although I have to say that I don't have a rich enough background in the history of literature to be able to refute his claims effectively. Perhaps some of you all might be able to help me. Here it is:

The Bible (Old and New Testament)
Bullfinch's Mythology (or any other accounts of the Greek, Roman and Norse myths)
Iliad
Odyssey
Plutarch, Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans
Dante, Inferno
The Arabian Nights
Thomas Malory, Le Morte D'Arthur
Shakespeare, especially the major works such as Hamlet, Henry IV, part one, King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Tempest
Cervantes, Don Quixote
Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
Jonathan Swift: Gulliver's Travels
Fairy Tales of Brothers Grimm
Any substantial collection of the world's major folktales
Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice
Lewis Carroll: Alice in Wonderland
Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

How would you change this list, if at all? Are there great patterning works that he's missed entirely? If so, what sort of influence did they have and on which authors? Are any of these works overrated and not as influential as he claims? Or is this actually a pretty good list, one that needs no change at all? As always, many thanks in advance.

P.S. If you know of any good folktale compilations, feel free to recommend them here. Thanks!

Nice set of wheels you got there—

whimsicalnymph — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:42:34 -0800

Is the use of meronym and synecdoche the same thing? If not, please illustrate. I am confused.

In space no one can here you scream, he wrote

fearfulsymmetry — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 08:41:29 -0800

What's the best literary equivalent of Alien/Aliens? Well obviously there's the Alan Dean Foster adaptations for a start... and the comics.

And I'm not limiting it to 'monster on a spaceship' or 'monsters on a planet + space marines' but anything that successfully merges Space Fiction/Opera and Horror.

I need famous drinks from famous books.

Sully — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:16:33 -0800

I need famous drinks from famous books. Kind of like how Holden Caulfield always drank Tom Collinses in Catcher in the Rye. Or how the Famous Five always had Tea with their scones. Thanks!

I need an antidote for Caliban.

duckus — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:13:54 -0800

I just finished John Fowles, The Collector, and I need it's opposite. Spoiler inside. The Collector made me mad. Really, really mad. He got away with it. And he was creepy .. and I hated him and I loved her.

So .. what's a good read where the Woman is victimized but kicks ass in the end? Like .. serious, fist-pumping hardcore booty? Hopefully, in a non-sexual fashion ..cos that's not really my thing. It doesn't have to be violent .. think Ingrid Bergman at the end of Gaslight, or the dressing down of the lothario in The Group.

I guess I'm looking for the literary equivalent of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All genres are okay, but I'm picky about sci-fi ..

Looking to engage the mind and have some fun

watercarrier — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:23:18 -0800

Really cool freeware word games? I'd like to find some very cool freeware downloadable - not online - word games that challenge, entertain and are fun - age group - adult. Nice graphics and maybe some music would be nice. Tried google-fu but that turned up a lot of confusion and really would like to try asking those that know about the genre here on meta.

I want to be a book when I grow up.

anoirmarie — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:12:22 -0800

Can the hive mind help me by suggesting some good, but simple, literary costume ideas for halloween? I need a really good literary costume for tomorrow night. I'm pretty short on cash and time, so please keep your suggestions simple, in other words I will not be purchasing any victorian gowns, or stitching together a lavish costume in the next 24 hours. I'm hoping for something humorous, but tragic would be alright as well. Also, I refuse to dress up as a sexy librarian. Thanks.

Maintaining a NYC college's undergraduate literary blog

omnigut — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:10:21 -0800

Deep breath: I am the online editor for a New York college's undergraduate literary journal's blog, and a complete beginner. I'm wondering about increasing net-presence, keeping the site timely, and making it vibrant. Very open to ideas. Hive mind? The website is here. We've been up for about three long days.

At the moment we have about six people posting a week (once a day), with the invitation for more people in our program to post. The three major aims of the blog are to advertise the program, advertise the talents of its students (the same thing as the first), and to give us lowly students a bigger audience.

But how do I go about increasing the traffic to our blog? I know there are many websites out there that list blogs, literary blogs, websites etc, but don't know how to get on their blogroll, or how to excite NY's literary community. I know there are people you can hire to do that, or robots, but not sure of the ethics of that kind of thing. Might be wrong about those anyway.

Here are our current ideas:
1) Organize a competition for poetry and flash fiction. We'll get reputable judges to decide on the winner, and give cash. How much would get people to submit; would $100 bucks do?
2) We'll play recordings of authors/poets reading their work, mainly published authors, but also students who want to read and discuss their work (comments).
3) We have an expensive hairdresser who is going to interview people on camera while giving them haircuts (hopefully big names), which we'll then edit into two or three minute videos.
4) I'd like to get our name out there amongst the web-community of New York. How do I do that?
5) We'll be keeping track of events, and making a calendar of stuff we recommend and are going to/reviewing.
5) Any other suggestions? Thanks!

The phenomenology of text

0bvious — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:21:33 -0800

The phenomenology / ontology of text: has anyone examined this issue directly in philosophical, literary and/or critical terms? I am interested in the experience and perception of text, both within readership and on an abstract (more holistic level perhaps) as the archetypical mediator and virtual-archive of human culture. I wish to explore it via its mediums (e.g. book, computer screen), its modes (e.g. semiotics, translation) and its means (e.g. poetry, fiction, encryption).

I came at this problem through Heidegger (most specifically in his re-appropriation of the term 'techné'), looking at text as a technology.

I have since come upon the writings of D.C. Greetham and a couple of other bits and pieces.

I feel that this is an area not much covered by the critical fields, especially in these times of ever encompassing digital/web-based mediums. I'm interested in following through some of this to a PhD proposal.

What paths should I be taking?

Your help, as always, is much appreciated.

Good examples of exemplary creative nonfiction?

ageispolis — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 12:28:55 -0800

What are your favourite pieces of creative nonfiction? I want to be exposed to a wide variety of 'CNF' and am interested in the stories you have come across, whether it be a publication like your friendly local independent weekly or the New Yorker. So if you can recall any of your favourite articles/essays/stories that fit within the broad genre of creative nonfiction, I would like to read them.

Can you recommend a literary agent or attorney?

Anonymous — Tue, 13 May 2008 16:40:41 -0800

Can you recommend a literary agent or attorney? I'm in the US. Someone at a big-name talent agency is interested in one of my books, and I own the TV and film rights. I don't want to handle the discussion myself. Can you recommend an agent or attorney to help me, starting immediately? If they know how to use their e-mail, that would be especially good.

Which books are most representative of each city?

reenum — Tue, 06 May 2008 22:21:37 -0800

What one book will allow others to gain the truest insight into the soul of each city or region Inspired by this recent Metafilter post and blatantly stealing the idea (and some text) from this AskMe post, I have decided to try and read a book about all of the major cities in the United States and the world. I've seen AskMe's in the past about various cities, such as London and New York.

So: which single book from each city is most revealing of the lifestyle, customs, struggles, and spirit of that nation? I lived in San Francisco a while back, and I would recommend any of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City' books to get a true idea of life in the City.

Please help me understand this obscure science fiction story

Mr. Justice — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:56:54 -0800

Question about obscure science fiction short story, "Allegory," by William T. Powers, which was reprinted in Groff Conklin's 13 GREAT STORIES OF SCIENCE FICTION. The question is: what is this story an allegory of? To put it another way, is there some real-world or historical event that this story is a comment on? I am not quite so naive as not to understand that the story is *generally* an allegory about someone whose religion or ideology is resistant to scientific/technological progress, and as a consequence finds their continuing adjustment to reality to be quite painful. Nonetheless I wonder if there is some more concrete allegorical correspondence. The conclusion of the story is particularly puzzling (in my opinion societies do not generally involuntarily confine their smartest citizens, although I am open to the possibility that I am just misunderstanding the story).

This story has haunted me ever since I first read it as a teenager. I have pondered over it and I am still haunted by the title.

Creative Writing Musts in Aix & Paris?

annabellee — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:35:54 -0800

Help me create a literary tour of both Aix-en-Provence and Paris. I'm looking for a slew of places, activities, pastimes, even readings with which to enrich a group of teenage creative writing students this summer.

From the touristy (we'll certainly have coffee and write in our journals at Les Deux Magots) to the lesser known, I welcome all suggestions. Even quiet or provocative spaces for writing would be splendid.

I know Aix's literary draws are fewer, but I'm looking for good recommendations for both cities.

Should I send them the manuscript?

arnicae — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:08:48 -0800

An agent is interested in my book but says that they only have an "optional" contract- authors can sign it or not, given their preference. Should I give them my book? Last fall I sold a piece to one of NPR's national programs and got some follow-up interest. I did a few tv and radio interviews and got a few calls from book agents, interested in knowing if I wanted to write a book. I liked one of them- she was friendly and supportive and alright with me having other priorities on my time. She works for a small, recently founded literary house and sent me books similar to my proposed book whose sale they had managed.

She has been very supportive as I've written the book and has already critiqued (helpfully) the first half. I recently finished the book and they said that they're going to an international book fair this week and think they can sell the ms- they've got momentum from several recent sales.

I asked about a contract and they sent me a form letter via email that hadn't been personalized for me- in the header it said [author name and address] and the salutation read: Dear [author]:

It is intended to be signed by *me* should I choose- nowhere in it is the literary agent supposed to sign, and it deals with my responsibilities to the agency- if they sell the book, they get 15%.

Still, I don't have anything with *their* signature with their responsibilities to me, and I have to admit, I'm a little concerned about intellectual property and such. I'm not sure if I'm worried about nothing, but as a long-time writer with my first opportunity to become an author, I'm a little anxious.

Am I worried about nothing? Is this typical? And is there anyway to safeguard my book? I've heard of printing it out and mailing it to myself and storing it sealed, but I've also heard that that is total bunk.

Any advice from authors or literary agents out there? If it matters, I'm in California, the agency is in New York.

How to find an obscure literary term

miss-lapin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:58:32 -0800

Years ago when I took a classical mythology course, my professor used a literary term for a being who can travel between planes of being at will. (To tell you how long ago it was she used the crow, the bird not the character, in the film by the same name as an example.) I've searched through my notebooks, hunted through reference books, and asked friends but I can't find it. Does anyone know what this term is? If not, any tips on how I can finally find this term and move on to my next obsessive quest?

PoetryNerdFilter

lucia__is__dada — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:21:49 -0800

I need poetry related anecdotes. I'll be speaking at a poetry book launch. I'm doing the obvious poem reading, give a short review and I'd love to add a literary anecdote.

Preferably if there's a poet or a book launch involved. Or both.

You know Fernando Pessoa, right? I'm also interested if you have funny/surprising/ odd stories about this type of 9-5 office workers who apparently lead an unpoetic, unadventurous life (in the romantic sense, I guess) but have a rich inner world inside them. The anti-Byrons, so to speak.

I know this may be a stretch but, who knows, you might even have heard of a poet who loved running. Who is he/she?

help me find a reference

daveyt — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:10:42 -0800

Please help me reference a literary quote? "god=love=money=shit"*. Where did I read that? In what book?? Driving me crazy and to be honest, and its far too long winded to explain, but remembering this might get me laid. (Which almost justifies the askmefi joining cost I reckon...)

* might have been written as "god equals love equals money equals shit" but my memory has played tricks on me for far too long now to accurately recall.

Great adventures? Please guide the way!

ClanvidHorse — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:46:37 -0800

I need me some literary adventure stories! Yeehar! So I've realised that I particularly enjoy adventure stories that have a literary slant. Books like If On a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino, The Name of The Rose by Umberto Eco and just about anything by Jim Dodge are among the most enjoyable books that I have ever read.

These books seem to combine elements of the page turner with a wee bit (or a big bit) of cleverness to create a satisfying reading experience that in the end I am sad to finish the book and want to start again. Any recommendations for books that manage to marry a page-turning ripping yarn with great writing and great, original ideas are most welcome.

Go Hive!

Help me find a fable about selfishness?

mr. remy — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:54:35 -0800

[Literary archetype filter] I'm looking for short moral tales / folk stories / fables with themes of selfishness and pig-headedness. Specifically, I need stories about somebody who focuses so intently on X that they don't realize they're alone and screwed until too late. I'm finishing the edit of a young adult manuscript that is significantly improved by little epigrammatic chapter headings that symbolically crystallize the action of each chapter. Sort of a story-in-the-story.

Unfortunately, the work that I've until now used for the epigrams is not in the public domain, and the (potential) publisher has asked me to find a substitution. The suggestion of Aesop's "Ant and the Grasshopper" has been made, but it is too common and simplistic.

What I need is a story about some character behaving bullishly in pursuit of a private goal, in spite of well-intended advice from others. Determined to go-it-alone. Until ... s/he realizes they are alone and it's too late, and there's a big bad punishment or consequence. The most important part of the story is the 'oh shit' moment.

Folk stories - from any tradition - get bonus points. And, for reasons I'm not gonna bother with here, stories with amphibians in them get double-extra points. Links? Thoughts?

Who are some literary figures who either 1) had a knack for words or 2) who analyzed other people's words?

Java_Man — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:28:08 -0800

Who are some literary figures who either 1) had a knack for words or 2) who analyzed other people's words?

Mejore Mi Castellano

andrew cooke — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 11:28:43 -0800

I need to read something in Spanish. I want excellent writing, with involving plots, and it must be in print. Good detective fiction perhaps? I am English, moved to S America 5 or 6 years ago, and speak Spanish fairly well. However, I am now working from home for an English-speaking company and, without day-to-day practice, my Spanish is getting noticeably worse. To compensate I have started to read Spanish fiction (including translations from other languages). My problem is that it is difficult to find books which: (1) I have not already read (so recent is good); (2) are in print; (3) are well written; (4) are involving.

The last of these (involving) is critical - I find it much easier to read in English, so if the book doesn't suck me in I get frustrated and dump it. Because of this, I thought I would try crime fiction which (I thought) has a reputation for blending quality writing with engrossing plots. However, I have had mixed results: Sciascia (One Way or Another) was excellent - subtle, angry, balanced, clear; Mankell (Insp. Wallander; Firewalls) was a disaster (how can the author of a book with such clumsy plotting and heavy-handed editorial voice - "later Wallander would realise he had made a deadly mistake, but for now...." - have a good reputation?)

Maybe I have high standards - favourite authors include De Lillo, Greene, Didion, Auster, Markson, and Chandler (who would be an excellent suggestion if I hadn't already read most).

PS Local Chilean writers are a plus - I have tried Diaz Eterovic, which was OK, but not great (and also Fuguet and Contreras).

Babe Ex Machina

Firas — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 19:29:22 -0800

So a common subplot in a lot of movies is that the protagonist has a dull life and suddenly a romantic partner sweeps in and changes EVERYTHING. It spans genres from The Mask to Stranger Than Fiction (and of course the romantic comedy / chick flick industry would go broke without it.) I guess Cinderalla is the archetypal story here. I'm sort of curious about what larger connections there are to this thematic convention—like has anyone written about it, maybe focused more on Cinderalla and gender studies or psychology etc. (My only real thought on the general convention so far is that I think it's a bit of a conceit. Like when Trent Reznor goes "help me become somebody else"—if person X is miserable in every regard and person Y is totally spectacular I have no idea why person Y would fall for X and waste time on filling X's life with rainbows and honey.)

An olive without a pimento

kuujjuarapik — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 12:08:25 -0800

When an olive is missing it's pimento, some famous literary person (possibly Dorothy Parker) said that a little mischievous creature was responsible. What was the name of this creature?