Books: Booklife

Booklife by Jeff Vandermeer
My Verdict: Keep on Desk

Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer by Jeff Vandermeer is a great resource for understanding how technology has changed the public's view of an author. Vandermeer states, “The perfect writer exists between imagination and discipline.” This is completely true and if you need a guideline for how to discipline yourself, this is your book.

The book is divided into two sections: Public and Private.

Public deals with issues like social media, options for your own web platform, networking, PR, dealing with Editors, Agents, and Publishers.

Private is more about understanding what you need as a writer and finding a balance between what the public needs from you, and what you need for yourself.

He goes through a number of Internet platforms, but states that above all you must choose your own level of involvement. If you try for too much you can’t keep up, if you are not consistent people will lose interest, if you are aggressive or nonresponsive you might turn off viewers. Yet, at the same time, you are able to reach out to many people through the internet - often those you wouldn't see at conferences or book signings. You can even guest blog for people that are outside your normal audience in order to gather more followers. Above all: only do what you are comfortable with.

The main advice that he really lays down: be the same person online that you are offline. Otherwise, when people meet you in the real world, the effect can be jarring/upsetting.

Also, networking isn't just about you telling other people what you've been working on, you have to go out there and listen to what others are saying and see if you can help them out.

This is not a book you read cover to cover in a few days. At most read a chapter a day so that you can really digest and think about the topics he discusses. Each section requires you to make an opinion on the subject, and, if a lot of this is new to you (or challenging your preconceptions) it will require your time and effort. It’s also a great book to pick up every couple weeks and skim for advice.

Vandermeer advocates persistence, imagination, discipline, and gives you permission to fail. No one can be perfect, but you can always strive to be better.

Your homework: write up a list of Career and Creative Goals, both short term and long term (plus dates to finish them by). Make sure to include: 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years down the road.

Rating Scale: Keep on Desk, Own It, Read It, Skim It, Don’t Bother