Why So Many Newby Writers Without a Device

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

That emoticon is hypnotic. I've been watching it for several minutes now.

Now all we have to do to help rule the world is to get Alex to add that emoticon to the list and make it one of the always shown ones.

I'm going to take over MR one emoticon at a time.

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by amo

Umm, not that I know anything, but... if I was an author (which I ain't) I'd create me a second profile with my real name (or pen name, if that was different), and promote my book under that, and continue to participate in discussions under my screen name which I use for all kinds of other online activities where my RL identity is irrelevant. My opinions on how my Kobo runs have very little to do with whether I can write a good novel (the only relevance would be that my posts show how well I can use language).

And I'd not list a device (or maybe say something like the aforementioned "yes") because, as a reader, I'd be leery of an author who has a device really different from mine.

If I were writing for a living, rather than the odd bit of sloganeering and poetry now and again, I would use that to justify buying every shiny ereader that looked tempting. Instead I am forced to be practical. Note that since I don't write for a living I do get to write and speak almost entirely in compound or run on sentences.

[Pinecone]

Originally Posted by Native

As an author without a dedicated reading device, I thought Neil's post was a legitimate perception leading to honest soul-searching. But I think the analogy of selling cars though you don't use them, is off the mark. I'm not selling cars, I'm selling excursions, and to me the vehicle is less meaningful than the sights along the way. Neil and others in this thread have reminded me to appreciate the smooth ride though, and for that, thanks. I know there's a lot goes on under the surface. That's probably the way it is with most of us.

Agreed.

[readingcureall]

No e reader when your selling on them does sound odd. I know I have a kindle but I (sorry) never use it I use my iphone or ipod way more to read my kindle books. I am also not selling anything . But I like how tiny they are so when I am at the park with and they settle at the sand box for a few min I can whip out my iphone and read a quick chapter. Plus they have the back light. Nice for a mom like me who never stops.
What you said about offending the market your targeting is very true. I think if I found out some of the new authors I found via kindle app made a comment like that it would kinda turn me off after I just bought their kindle book.

[neilmarr]

I am not attempting 'damage control', Anamaradoll. I feel no need for it and stand by my OP -- though I do agree with JSWolf that this thread is becoming 'silly' and is all-but redundant now that everyone has had ample time for his or her say.

There's one last thing I would like to address, though, and that is your tongue-in-cheek suggestion that we should discriminate against the 'homeless' who choose not to list their location.

If you, as I do, regularly visit the 'which one should I buy?' thread to see if you can offer any worthwhile suggestions, you may have noticed that I've posted there often how difficult it is to offer advice without some idea of a country location. Some devices are more effective in some parts of the world than others in terms of wi-fi capability, geographical restrictions on sales, ready customer service and device repair under warranty, etc, etc.

Though I respect the wish for anonymity on this forum, the very few and very basic questions listed by our founding fathers are there for good reason.

On devices, for instance, I very, very often give away books, and those who request them sometimes do not list their preferred digital format. In these cases, a quick check of one of their forum posts to see what device they use saves me and them having to swap an extra email for clarification (which because of time zone differences can hold up delivery). If they use a Kindle, I send Mobi edition, ePub for a Sony user, etc. Immediately and with no need for a second exchange of emails to hold things up.

Listing a geographical location (USA, UK, Continental Europe, Australia, etc) isn't exactly a home address) and requesting currently favoured device or android or PC is hardly an invasion of privacy on a forum dedicated to ebook reading.

I bow to majority opinion, but I feel this is sheer common sense.

Now, let's quit the personal sniping, eh, mate? It doesn't belong at MR.

Best wishes. Neil

[DreamWriter]

There have been several issues brought up in this thread that I'd like to comment on.

First, I certainly hope that I'm not considered to be one of the "spammers" here. I read MobileRead posts every day, but I don't post very often because I usually don't have anything new or particularly interesting to contribute. By the time I read a post, it's usually already been said and I don't want to sound like a parrot. I do chime in when I think I have information that may be useful. It's my way of paying back what I've been given. This community has been very helpful to me.

I'm not big on "chit-chat" or debate, though—either in real-life or online forums. I tend to be an introvert. So I steer clear of joining in those discussions here for the most part. But just because I'm not contributing doesn't mean I'm not reading (and enjoying) what others have written. Maybe some of the so-called "spammers" are the same way?

I do list my e-reading device in my profile. I came to MobileRead for several reasons, mainly (1) to learn more about Kindle (which I love!) and other devices, (2) to get tips on e-book formatting, and (3) to promote my husband's book. I restrict comments regarding his book to the "Author Self-Promotions" area. I also have a two-line mention in my signature and his book cover is my avatar, which is permissible according to forum guidelines. I truly hope that no one is offended by that.

You'd probably be surprised at how many authors write using a pseudonym. There are valid reasons for doing so. I have a made-up user name here for privacy reasons, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

[amo]

[QUOTE=DreamWriter;1684493]

I read MobileRead posts every day, but I don't post very often because I usually don't have anything new or particularly interesting to contribute.
I'm not big on "chit-chat" or debate, though—either in real-life or online forums. I tend to be an introvert. So I steer clear of joining in those discussions here for the most part. But just because I'm not contributing doesn't mean I'm not reading (and enjoying) what others have written.

I know lots of people like that. Nothing wrong with it that I can see.

I do list my e-reading device in my profile. I came to MobileRead for several reasons, mainly (1) to learn more about Kindle (which I love!) and other devices, (2) to get tips on e-book formatting, and (3) to promote my husband's book. I restrict comments regarding his book to the "Author Self-Promotions" area. I also have a two-line mention in my signature and his book cover is my avatar, which is permissible according to forum guidelines. I truly hope that no one is offended by that.

Looks good to me; I find your advertising reasonably subtle. And if you're sticking to forum rules, nobody should be offended.

You'd probably be surprised at how many authors write using a pseudonym. There are valid reasons for doing so.

Yup, it's a time-honoured practise. Can you say "Mark Twain"?

[corona]

Gosh -- this really matters? I'm tempted to change my device to "none."

[Jack Silkstone]

Guys I'm going to throw in a few thoughts as a writer because they seem to be copping a bit of a hiding here.

Yeah I won't lie, I did join MR as a means to promote my book by interacting with readers, getting feedback and generally building awareness. As a writer in a world in which the big publishers are dying I would be insane not to. E-books are the way of the future. Problem is, as many of you have outlined, there's a whole bunch of self promoters writing junk and spamming the world. However, as most of you have mentioned, these people are easy to spot. More than often their writing is terrible and forums like this are full of people who can see that.

Anyway I look forward to criticism and engagement, because that's what I came here for.

[neilmarr]

No criticism from me, Jack. It does, of course, make perfect sense to target an e-book reading community when promoting an ebook. And I'd guess that many authors signing up to MobileRead who don't currently own a device will probably be tempted to do so later through interaction and enthusiasm shown here, or have at least seen their own ebook presented in digital form on a device or android or whatever which might turn them onto the concept of e-reading.

It's good to know, though, that the author of an ebook actually reads ebooks him/herself on a forum dedicated to ebook-reading where the facility for self-promotion is freely offered with no strings attached in hopes that s/he'll actually join in discussions and not confine activities to book promotion.

I for one would not buy a print book from someone who did not read books at all ... and many authors, as you know, openly (sometimes even proudly) admit to that. It's something I can't overlook and do frown upon, as I'm pretty sure you and others here would.

It's hard to believe that I might ever buy an expensive coffee machine on the advice and recommendation of someone who apparently prefers tea and has never tasted coffee. I'd never buy a fine wine on the advice and recommendation of a teetotal salesman or a tent from a dealer who has never experienced a weekend under canvas. Their recommendation is worse than merely useless.

OK, an ebook might be offered free or for peanuts, but it does come at a cost ... the investment of several hours' precious recreational reading time. So I appreciate hearing that a print author reads books (as I do) and that an ebook author reads ebooks (as I do). That grain of knowledge works wonders on my confidence in what's on offer. Also mention of e-reading in some form when a promoting author signs up for MR fosters a feeling that a new member who is also plugging a book may become part of the general community here and take an active interest in several other areas rather confining posts merely promotional sections.

My intention in opening this thread was not to create a squabble, by the way, but to encourage debate. I hope you realise that. My OP was posed as a question, criticism was implied by the very next poster (Harry T) and, I must admit, I -- rightly or wrongly -- jumped in to agree with Harry's more blunt approach.

As in pretty well everything, though, I hold flexible views and am wide open to the influence of alternative opinion. Dogmatism is in my vocabulary but not in my code.

Luck with the work, Jack, and very best wishes. Neil

[amo]

Originally Posted by neilmarr

I for one would not buy a print book from someone who did not read books at all ... and many authors, as you know, openly (sometimes even proudly) admit to that.

Seriously? Wow, that's crazy. I'd agree with you on not wanting to buy from them. That's like a painter who never sets foot in an art gallery.

But, having said that, I think an ebook author who lists "no device" for their ebook reading isn't the same as a pbook author who doesn't read, period, but more like an author who doesn't nail themselves down to only buying their pbooks from Amazon, or to only reading hardcovers or only paperbacks. Not listing a specific ebook reading device doesn't mean they don't do any ebook reading (although, granted, it's a good indication that that's the case, but it's not guaranteed- as some have mentioned, they just can't afford a reader of their own; but they might borrow them or whatever).

[anamardoll]

I've never heard of an author who doesn't read ANY books EVER, so I call preemptive straw-man on that.

However, if I honestly saw someone say that, instead of thinking, "I won't buy their book," I'd think, "I wonder why they don't."

For instance, I bought a book last year written by an author who -- I'll bet -- has not read very many books! The book was "I am Nujood, Age 10, Divorced" and it was a biography by a young, poor girl in Yemen who was married at age 10 and had the courage to demand a divorce from the authorities.

Her book was written with the help of another author, of course, if only because I think Nujood probably doesn't speak English fluently, but I have no idea (and don't really care) how much of the narration was Nujood's and how much was her aid's. The story is wonderful and touching and I don't care how many books either of them has read. Nor would I expect Nujood to have read many books at all in her short life so far, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have an incredible true story to tell.

So, having said that, IF there was a hypothetical author who didn't read books, I'd merely wonder why, but I wouldn't write their book off as an "oh, I obviously won't read THAT." Then again, I try not to make snap decisions about people based on something they wrote on an internet forum.

[Nancy Fulda]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Isn't it obvious? It's because most of them don't give a damn about becoming a useful member of this community. They're just spammers after a bit of free advertising.

I hate to say it, but I agree. Drive-by posting is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to push a book. (IMO, it's also one of the least effective, but that's a topic for another day.)

I wonder whether it's a kind of newbie error, like having typos in a manuscript? Everyone tells authors "Promote! Promote! You've got to promote your book or it will never sell!" And if you're a new author, and if you've never tried to sell a book before, it might not be easy to tell when you've crossed the line.

[neilmarr]

Sorry to have to answer your ill-informed 'straw man' accusation, Anamardoll. Simply Google 'authors who admit to not reading books' and you will find many.

The very first listing there, in fact, is about the renowned Umberto Eco who openly states in a Guardian piece: "I'm a writer, not a reader." There are others, Of course, I have read Eco. But after reading what he has said here and there, I will never do so again.

I believe it to be an outright insult to intelligent readers and to other writers to say that the only merit and inspiration Eco and the likes sees in literature is in their own.

But that is a side-issue in the subject under discussion. Neil

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I've never heard of an author who doesn't read ANY books EVER, so I call preemptive straw-man on that.

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Sorry to have to answer your ill-informed 'straw man' accusation, Anamardoll. Simply Google 'authors who admit to not reading books' and you will find many.

The very first listing there, in fact, is about the renowned Umberto Eco who openly states in a Guardian piece: "I'm a writer, not a reader." There are others, Of course, I have read Eco. But after reading what he has said here and there, I will never do so again.

Neil, his quote has NOTHING to do with not reading books.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011...ter-not-reader

Umberto Eco: There are more books in the world than hours in which to read them. We are thus deeply influenced by books we haven't read, that we haven't had the time to read. Who has actually read Finnegans Wake – I mean from beginning to end? Who has read the Bible properly, from Genesis to the Apocalypse?

And yet I've a fairly accurate notion of what I haven't read. I have to admit that I only read War and Peace when I was 40. But I knew the basics before then. The Mahabharata – I've never read that, despite owning three editions in different languages. Who has actually read the Kama Sutra? And yet everyone talks about it, and some practise it too. So we can see that the world is full of books that we haven't read, but that we know pretty well.

And yet when we eventually pick them up, we find they are already familiar. How is that? First, there's the esoteric explanation – there are these waves that somehow travel from the book to you – to which I don't subscribe. Second, perhaps it's not true that you've never opened the book; over the years you're bound to have moved it from place to place, and may have flicked through it and forgotten that you've done so. Third, over the years you've read lots of books that have mentioned this one and so made it seem familiar.

Jean-Claude Carrière: There are books on our shelves we haven't read and doubtless never will, that each of us has probably put to one side in the belief that we will read them later on, perhaps even in another life. The terrible grief of the dying as they realise their last hour is upon them and they still haven't read Proust.

UE: When people ask whether I've read this or that book, I've found that a safe answer is, "You know, I don't read, I write." That shuts them up. Although some of the questions come up time and time again: "Have you read Thackeray's novel Vanity Fair?" I ended up giving in and trying to read it, on three different occasions. But I found it terribly dull.

He's saying that (a) he hasn't finished Vanity Fair despite trying on three separate times (I'm willing to bet a lot of people haven't, and if he's trying to finish it then he is reading it, he's just not finishing it.) and (b) that great works disseminate through our culture and that there's no ONE "oh, you haven't read X? Then you're not qualified to write," measuring-stick book.

The quote isn't about "not reading", it's about dodging "gotcha" questions.

He very clearly is saying that he does read frequently -- he's read War and Peace, for goodness's sake, and he also mentions reading many other books that flow ideas from other classics into out cultural consciousness. I don't see how anyone can interpret that quote to remotely mean that the author in question doesn't love to read.

(I also note from Wikipedia that his most famous book is a literary deconstruction of other works -- hard to write something like that if you don't read books!)

[moderation note: this post was edited by moderation and by anamardoll to comply with our guidelines and may not reflect what was later posted in response the original post.]