Tastes
I find that I have a narrow spectrum when it comes to reading material. Along with fiction I like non-fiction written by good writers– biographies by David McCollough are a fine example. I never read “celebrity autobiography” and consider the purchase of such a capital offense. The good thing about books is that you can get a feel for them by reading the first couple of pages (forget the blurbs on the cover). Hardly can ask to watch the first five minutes of a film before deciding to buy a ticket or not.
My favorite place to book shop is at Thrift Stores. You find lots of fine titles written before publishing standards eroded about thirty years ago; when “books” written by Pro Wrestlers began topping the NY Times best seller list.
And yet I have noticed that my taste in films is much wider than it is in books. As long as it is compelling I will watch anything–Science Fiction, Westerns, war films even though I read little of those genres (never at all the oaters). I tried to read Zane Grey once but I couldn’t get into it. My tolerance of cinema, however, does not include formula romance. I have successfully avoided everything co-starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, and I don’t believe I have ever watched an entire Julia Roberts movie.
I think this has much to do with films being much more costly to produce than books. Although there are a great many bombs coming out of Hollywood, there isn’t a proliferation of films produced by Kardashians. Nor is it easy to “self publish” a film of technical quality. Any fool with a phone can “shoot” a picture nowadays, but they tend to exist only at the lowest, least visited holes on YouTube.
Unfortunately, as with the aforementioned scholarly Wrestling tomes, there is an awful lot of crap out there that gets in the way of the good stuff.
Now, I am glad that people can produce and even market their own stuff. More power to all; yet I despair for the good writers who self publish. They get lost like single stars amongst all the galaxies in Hubble deep field photographs; frankly there are too many people who should not be self publishing doing so nowadays. This was all right for a while and many (like our own Diane), have moved up from that realm and have an actual publisher for their books. Personally, I tend to look for writers who actually have a publisher–which means I’d never look for me. For me, it means that the work is not only endorsed by the author.
I would like to see a system in which anyone who writes can be viewed on one level but must show improvement or at least genuine reader support before moving up to the next. Let’s say there are five levels, with the stuff from two to four endorsed by actual readers, writers, agents and publishers. If you get noticed you rise from the very bottom division that anyone can join to the fourth; at that time you will be “watched” by a panel of honest evaluators. And if you keep moving up through the third and second, other, increasingly harder to impress panels evaluate the work only–not you personally. The top division belongs to people (again, like Diane) who have “made it” in the sense that an actual publishing firm wants to take them on and will help edit and sell their work. (There once was a time, not so long ago, when all a writer had to do was write and others did the marketing.) It would be like the division system in English football. The better you do the higher you rise–or face relegation–winning a promotion still requires you to fight for it. Sadly this is another half baked idea of mine that, even if it could come true, would succumb to stupidity and corruption by and by.
This Week at the Top of the Standings
Yet this is not the same as saying there is no hope for writers. This week, as we do every week, five new premier division worthy works appeared. One by one of our most successful writers, two by first timers, another for a third and one with a quick second return.
Frederick K. Foote opened the week with his 86th site appearance on Monday. Jill’s Idiom Odyssey underscores Fred’s wonderful ear for speech. His characters always have their own way of communicating and this adds to the ever present clarity of his work.
We welcomed Arthur Pitchenik on Tuesday. His first site appearance is the proper presentation of the old idea of benefactors from “out there.” The Gift proves there is still plenty of room for excellence in well trod themes as long as the execution is proper.
Athena Vasquez is already three for three. The Freakshow is a vividly illustrated portrait of humanity that shows the tremendous similarities in people no matter how different they may appear on the surface. Athena writes with wit and is fearless.
Readers hoping to see something new from Nina Welch didn’t have long to wait after her debut last week. Good to Go is indicative of Nina’s apparent wide range, although her voice remains clearly her own–especially in this amazing epic told in just a few pages.
The Canal by Jill Craig is fantastic from start to finish and features one of the finest endings to a story as I’ve ever seen. You find yourself caring about the MC and fear for her as darkness falls.
I hope you have read or will read these things. This week, in particular, is one that shows the diverse nature of people and their conceptions. Not necessarily by race or gender–although those have sway–but mainly from creative mind to creative mind.
The Pet Department
The Frasier reboot caused me to remember Eddie the Jack Russell Terrier. Below are my favorite live action animal film and TV stars. Cameo walk ons are welcomed.
“Eddie”-Frasier
“Mr. Ed”
“Asta”-Thin Man Series
“Spot”- The Munsters
“Cat”-Breakfast at Tiffany’s
“Toonces”-Toonces the Driving Cat SNL
“Rabbit”- Monty Python Holy Grail (perhaps Satan’s pet)
“Audrey Junior”- The Little Shop of Horrors
“Arnold Ziffle” (Green Acres–sometimes I like him sometimes I’d rather he be bacon)
“Benji” (yes, adorable, sugary Benji, goddammit. First appeared on Petticoat Junction)
Leila
literally stories 
Interesting post. The idea of five levels of accomplishment is a good one but would be difficult to achieve even though I optimistically believe five honest evaluators could be found. Long live Mr. Ed. Of course of course.
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Oops
Chill was Francis the Mule
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Thank you David
Everyone wanted a Mr. Ed back in the sixties. Chill Wills (I think) did the voice.
Leila
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First of all, thank you for the kind mention, I don’t know about having ‘made it’ but I have to say that having a publisher to help with the marketing is really very good. I enjoyed self publishing but I do think that the extra layers of oversight improve things greatly. It would be excellent if readers were more involved in deciding what was publishable because when all is said and done, they are the ones who pay for the books. Unfortunately, you are right about the ultimate outcome of publishing everything in the hope that the cream will rise as this led to the downfall of Shortbread when rather unscrupulous writers came to see it as a free editing site and it was too difficult for them to keep up a decent standard. The publishing world is an odd one where the people who provide the goods are treated as disposable extras in many cases and dropped like a hot potato at the first sign that they are not bringing in the spondooliks. I am very lucky as my publishers is committed to his authors and the work.
A horse is a horse of course of course and no-one can talk to a horse of course – wanders off singing quietly so as to not frighten the neighbours.
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Thank you Diane!
Your insights improve this post! I have never understood why writers are the least respected artists. In film they are considered unimportant even though they create the stories!
Leila
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Self published “Vernonia Trilogy” mostly written in the 1990s about three fictional people from real town in Oregon USA chosen because it rhymes with Caledonia with Draft2Digital. Hate the program that constructs the book, but I’m told it gets easier. Never did the tax work required to get paid the theoretical penneys it would earn. Worst part – although digital copies can be had around the world, no paper versions unless I overpay for a vanity version.
Bridgehouse of London published story collection “Weird Science” (same name as the movie and other books). I can’t understand the sales chart and am not sure anyone other than myself has purchased any. Got an advance which was pillaged by Payenemy.
Proof of the subjectivity about stories – “Catcher In The Rye” is considered a classic by tastemakers.
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With KDP it is now fairly easy to produce print on demand hard copy both paperback and hardback. The hardbacks are relatively expensive but they are surprisingly well produced. The biggest benefit is that there is no requirement to have stock.
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Thanks for the suggestion Diane. If I’m ever willing to make another story collection I’ll check it out. I may have heard of KDP previously.
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Hello Doug and thank you,
I set up a PayPal account a long, long time ago, when young and foolish and still able to support false hope. I wonder if it still exists?
Leila
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I could go through my hatred for Paypal, mostly about their reluctance to let loose of a meager balance without ounces of flesh and many road blocks. but I have a new dislike. Submitted a smart car story about AI to an Icelandic publisher I won’t name (how many can there be? I did it to get a rare Iceland credit). After 199 days of waiting, I didn’t see me in Iceland publisher future, so I withdrew it and released to Short Humour and DougIR, and it was quickly published. Iceland pub send an acceptance in a few days thereafter with (irony alert) - we were drowned in AI generated stories. They can’t publish it because it is now a reprint.
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Iceland? Actually a brilliant name to discourage immigration. Then again billions have chosen Hell, according to some.
Leila
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Me too: I enjoy a wide spectrum of films and find more readable books in second-hand stores. Though I’d have to qualify that: thankfully, there are no Kardashian movies, but I still feel bitter about the succession of appalling Elvis films that girlfriends dragged me to in my mid-teens; and there are precious few short story collections to be found in either second-hand or high street bookstores. The print mags from which the likes of Scott Fitzgerald and other short story writers made a good living have largely disappeared. Thankfully, there are many online short story mags (Long Live LS!) but they dont make money for their authors or their editors. Thankfully too, I’m a pensioner.
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Hi Mick
Thank you!
I was at the Seattle World’s Fair on a day that Elvis was shooting a film there. I was not quite three so blissfully unaware.
I once found a box of National Geographics from the 1930’s at a St. Vincent de Paul thrift store sometime in the 1980’s. It was one of their dollar ninety nine mystery boxes. Interesting reading and even more interesting ads. Also found a bunch of Amazing Stories Magazines circa WWII the same way. The entire “Antiques and collectables” yuppy industry has made such finds impossible anymore.
Leila
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I had not realized that you are a youth (relatively) until your comment.
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A fine post as always. In total agreement about celebrity autobiographies. It reminded me of Stewart Lee’s masterful put down of the genre is well worth a watch: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1ir64q
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Thank you Paul
I will check it out, now
Leila
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Hi Leila,
An interesting post.
Not sure whether the publishing industry has evolved or went the other way.
I think as soon as there was interest shown in Reality ‘Stars’ and their witterings, the relationship between writer and publisher would always be open to ridicule.
At one time quality was 90% of the criteria, with that ten percent of luck and good timing that we all need. Now-a-days, a lot of the time, all you need is a set of pecs, anxiety due to your pecs not being the way you want them and a stint on ‘Love Island’ to secure a book deal!!
I enjoyed thinking on the animals. I came up with:
Clarence the lion – ‘Daktari’ (Sp??)
SPG the hamster – ‘The Young Ones’
Sam the dog – ‘Lethal Weapon’
Peety the headless budgie – ‘Dumb And Dumber’
Mr Bigglesworth the cat – ‘Austin Power’s’ movies.
Agadees (Sp??) the horse – ‘Frasier’
Gary the horse – Reverend Jim’s pet in ‘Taxi’
Toby the cricket – ‘The Big Bang’
The Geko – ‘Frasier’
Baby the parakeet – ‘Frasier’
Skippy, Flipper, Cheetah and Champion can all fuck off as I found them all very irritating!!
Excellent as always.
Hugh
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Thank you Hugh
I remember Clarence the Cross Eyed Lion from Daktari!
In the sixties a local veterinarian had a full grown male Lion living at his clinic/farm. Doubt even a vet could do that now–then again I think I would have questioned the wisdom if I was one of his kids.
I forgot the Married With Children Dog, whose name eludes me.
Leila
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Had to look it up.
The Great Buck Bundy
LA
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Buck!!
I can’t believe I forgot the legend that was Buck!!!!
Hugh
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And I forgot:
Jerry-Lee the German Shepherd – K9
Rodney the Guinea Pig – Doctor Dolittle
Hercules the horse – Steptoe and Son.
Hugh
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Rodney the Guinea Pig was great.
I also liked the Dog alien in Men In Black.
Leila
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Frank!
I think.
Hugh
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