At the Lit conference, we had a great conversation about one of the most controversial topics in my vocabulary: technology...and how it impacts the publishing industry. Regina Taylor, a Golden Globe actress and playwright, shared her love for books...real books...old books...the smell... the cover... the broken binding. She loves them all and does not discriminate from shape, size, or color. Every book has it's beauty.
As a writer and reader, she watched as book stores began to close, publishing agencies went out of business, and the world of books and publishing was forever changing.
Those glory days of just going to the library, browsing through the aisles, inhaling the smell of books are now being replaced with Kindles, Ipads, and Samsung tablets. Tradition replaced with technology and the traditional publishing industry at a loss. It is now harder for new authors to get published because publishers want to know the book is going to sell otherwise many can't afford to take the chance. Also, the author needs to have a good following on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. It seems ridiculous to people like me, but that is the world we are evolving into... cyber fame.
When Regina spoke about these topics, she presented as more on the traditional side, but the panelists and herself knew that one has to conform to these norms. It may not be a whole life on Twitter, but for book promotion and connecting with readers-it may just be a helpful tool.
It is a "Catch 22" because it may limit the traditional publishers, but there are options to self publish, Amazon, E-book, or even Blog a Book. The doors have opened for writers to have different options. A person may feel more comfortable doing an E-book than going down the traditional publishing route. A writers personality, budget, comfort, and time can all play a role in the decision making process. With all these publishing options, the competition of selling may increase as everyone has an opportunity. But everyone deserves an opportunity. What do you think?
As for myself, it's controversial because my first thought is the children. When I am traveling and I visit schools, internet cafes, homes, stores, restaurants-my eyes are constantly viewing the opposite of what they want to passionately see. I want to see children reading books, reading the backs of items in a store/family business, children speaking with tourists at each opportunity, collaborative classrooms with passionate teachers, and family dynamic focused on education. It's quite an ideal vision, but it is possible and education will improve in underprivileged countries.
But will it improve with technology? Will it improve when I travel and I see 95 percent of children on facebook or youtube not engaging in any kind of learning. Will it improve when I am sitting on a train seeing everyone stare down at their phone kids, adults, mothers, working class, and men. Is this right for our children of the world and education and is this right for the industry of books and publishing?
With my vision distorted by technology, I have disappeared from facebook for three years and social networking is not in my time schedule nor does it fit my interests. Although, as a few of the panelists(authors, book critics, and readers) mentioned, it's a social trend that we can't just ignore otherwise....we will be left behind. Just like lovely Regina, I'm in love with books and yes I still order hardcover books on Amazon. Never read an e-book, but doesn't anyone get tired of staring at screens? That is my thought process as I am always on the computer or researching/writing something on my phone.
As a writer who has interest in turning into an author, I am told that social networking is a piece of publishing, but not a requirement for every publisher. I am also told, "Priscilla you need to get in the game." The thing with entering into cyberspace is that it is a insincere space that does not promote true interpersonal interaction. It is not beneficial to human behavior and I witness it's negative presence around the globe. It can be educational, but what percent is using it for those purposes?
The main point I would like to drive home is that technology is a preference and I believe I can become an Author without conforming to social norms. It's truly about advocacy for people and believing in their abilities to communicate without technology. When I gave up social networking, I did it for a reason and I want to keep reminding myself of humanity and what it stands for in my theory and life defined. Technology will consume one and continue to decrease our interpersonal interaction. In ten years, what will be left?
Ebooks, Hardcover books, pamphlets, Newsletters...JUST READ
As a writer and reader, she watched as book stores began to close, publishing agencies went out of business, and the world of books and publishing was forever changing.
Those glory days of just going to the library, browsing through the aisles, inhaling the smell of books are now being replaced with Kindles, Ipads, and Samsung tablets. Tradition replaced with technology and the traditional publishing industry at a loss. It is now harder for new authors to get published because publishers want to know the book is going to sell otherwise many can't afford to take the chance. Also, the author needs to have a good following on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. It seems ridiculous to people like me, but that is the world we are evolving into... cyber fame.
When Regina spoke about these topics, she presented as more on the traditional side, but the panelists and herself knew that one has to conform to these norms. It may not be a whole life on Twitter, but for book promotion and connecting with readers-it may just be a helpful tool.
It is a "Catch 22" because it may limit the traditional publishers, but there are options to self publish, Amazon, E-book, or even Blog a Book. The doors have opened for writers to have different options. A person may feel more comfortable doing an E-book than going down the traditional publishing route. A writers personality, budget, comfort, and time can all play a role in the decision making process. With all these publishing options, the competition of selling may increase as everyone has an opportunity. But everyone deserves an opportunity. What do you think?
As for myself, it's controversial because my first thought is the children. When I am traveling and I visit schools, internet cafes, homes, stores, restaurants-my eyes are constantly viewing the opposite of what they want to passionately see. I want to see children reading books, reading the backs of items in a store/family business, children speaking with tourists at each opportunity, collaborative classrooms with passionate teachers, and family dynamic focused on education. It's quite an ideal vision, but it is possible and education will improve in underprivileged countries.
But will it improve with technology? Will it improve when I travel and I see 95 percent of children on facebook or youtube not engaging in any kind of learning. Will it improve when I am sitting on a train seeing everyone stare down at their phone kids, adults, mothers, working class, and men. Is this right for our children of the world and education and is this right for the industry of books and publishing?
With my vision distorted by technology, I have disappeared from facebook for three years and social networking is not in my time schedule nor does it fit my interests. Although, as a few of the panelists(authors, book critics, and readers) mentioned, it's a social trend that we can't just ignore otherwise....we will be left behind. Just like lovely Regina, I'm in love with books and yes I still order hardcover books on Amazon. Never read an e-book, but doesn't anyone get tired of staring at screens? That is my thought process as I am always on the computer or researching/writing something on my phone.
As a writer who has interest in turning into an author, I am told that social networking is a piece of publishing, but not a requirement for every publisher. I am also told, "Priscilla you need to get in the game." The thing with entering into cyberspace is that it is a insincere space that does not promote true interpersonal interaction. It is not beneficial to human behavior and I witness it's negative presence around the globe. It can be educational, but what percent is using it for those purposes?
The main point I would like to drive home is that technology is a preference and I believe I can become an Author without conforming to social norms. It's truly about advocacy for people and believing in their abilities to communicate without technology. When I gave up social networking, I did it for a reason and I want to keep reminding myself of humanity and what it stands for in my theory and life defined. Technology will consume one and continue to decrease our interpersonal interaction. In ten years, what will be left?
Ebooks, Hardcover books, pamphlets, Newsletters...JUST READ
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