Booklife - Digital Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer

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Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer

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Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer by Jeff VanderMeer

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In addition to the main book, there are a wealth of appendices picking up side topics. One of those chapters I found especially interesting dealt with the despair of not living up to expectations. Not only are many writers solitary folks, but many of us are also perfectionists who place our expectations too high.

This often leads to disappointment and disillusionment.

About Booklife - Digital Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer

A friend recently told me how proud I should be to have my work in books I can actually hold and show to people. Yet, I am not the success I feel I should be: I feel like I should be supporting myself with my writing, not through other work. Apparently, I am not alone in feeling frustrated, and VanderMeer's book provides some good ideas about how to transition to the sort of career I want.

This book gets at the core of essential questions and concerns of the modern writer. It is not only a good resource now but will likely continue to prove useful. Apr 02, Loren rated it really liked it Shelves: Everyone knows that a writer writes, but what does a published author do once the book comes out?

How do you ask other writers for help? How do you maintain an online presence without pissing people off -- or being so frightened of pissing people off that you mute yourself? How do you deal with envy of other writers' triumphs? How do you deal with failure -- or success? I found so much food for thought here that I was only able to read the book in small chunks, pausing in between to absorb and consider what I'd read and how it applied to my "booklife.

I mean, I understand the flurry of events and interviews after the initial publication, but what does a writer do after that first storm has passed? How long is it okay to send out review copies? How do you keep your book in print? Still, there was so much material here that I expect I will need to read it again when my next book comes out.

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These are lessons that might need to be studied over and again. I'm glad to have them all in one place. Apr 06, Catherine rated it really liked it Shelves: VanderMeer provides an interesting and useful perspective on writing as both a process and a business.

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He breaks down everything from public appearances to controlling your image to managing your life to ensure continued writing time and hopefully success into bite-sized chunks. What I liked most about it was that it encouraged me to think outside the dreaded "box" in terms of some projects I'd like to be working on.

It also got me thinking about how to restructure some of the ways that I'm ha VanderMeer provides an interesting and useful perspective on writing as both a process and a business. It also got me thinking about how to restructure some of the ways that I'm handling writing time and other demands on my creativity and energy so I found it a very helpful read. Granted, I'm also reading this book from the perspective of a writer and editor with three books out and one more on the way - I'm not sure what it would be like to read this as a writer just starting out.

I could see the wealth of detail as being either overwhelming or inspirational, perhaps some of both. There's so much in here that I think it would be possible for any two readers to have a different range of experiences out of it. Feb 07, Jacob Gillam rated it it was amazing. In Booklife, Vandermeer provides examples and rationales for effectively balancing publication, networking, and promotion for internet-age writers. He draws heavily from personal experience and his network of peers--publicists, editors, agents, and other authors--to inform his suggestions.

The book is not a feel-good text about writing-as-expression, nor does it romanticize the profession of a mid-list fiction writer. Instead, Booklife posits that writers in the internet age must approach the bu In Booklife, Vandermeer provides examples and rationales for effectively balancing publication, networking, and promotion for internet-age writers. Instead, Booklife posits that writers in the internet age must approach the business of writing with the same methodical and creative energies they would approach their fiction. Feb 25, Andrew Shaffer rated it really liked it.

A decent roadmap for publishing in the early 21st century. So much of the digital landscape the book covers has changed in the past 10 years since this book was published, however -- the rise of ebooks, the downfall of MySpace, the rise of Twitter, the downfall of Second Life -- rendering parts of the book already obsolete. Sep 14, Anthony rated it really liked it. After finishing Vandermeer's excellent Southern Reach trilogy I was excited to check out his guide to "strategies and survival tips for the 21st-century writer".

It's great, pragmatic, and straightforward, honest, and not afraid to get a little deep to. It is an up to date how to be a writer manual, that encompasses everythin After finishing Vandermeer's excellent Southern Reach trilogy I was excited to check out his guide to "strategies and survival tips for the 21st-century writer". It is an up to date how to be a writer manual, that encompasses everything from blogging to doing readings, podcasts, you name it. The best parts of the book are where Vandemeer simply let's you peak at the very strategies and documents he has used in his writing career, stuff like the PR plan he used for a book, and what a 5 year plan looks like for a writer.

These kinds of examples are rare, and honest, and helpful. This book is for a very narrow niche, it seems to me; writer's who have some traction, more so than the total beginner. And if you already have a few published books under your belt you have probably hopefully already figured this stuff out. But, if you are a writer somewhere in between naive greenhorn and jaded veteran this is perfect for you. It's just real nuts and bolts practical advice, on a career that is often treated as being too mystical to get practical about. Bottom line, if you are serious about making writing a career, buy this book.

That said, I thought the second half of the book which deals with less practical, more subjective stuff like revision, giving yerself permission to fail, the dangers of success etc. Dec 31, Tom Franklin rated it really liked it. How to survive and thrive after your book is sold to a publisher and takes on a life of its own. View all 8 comments.

Sep 13, Borja Vargas rated it liked it Shelves: Es un texto algo soso y poco inspirado y, por eso, no demasiado inspirador. El enfoque se dirige a escritores semiprofesionales, o que pretenden serlo. Se queda en tierra de nadie, contando su experiencia propia sin profundizar y sin atreverse es de agradecer a universalizarse. Es una lectura agradable pero sin nada memorable. Y no hay que estar avergonzado de estos recursos; no de algunos, al menos. Jun 08, Rebecca rated it really liked it. A great resource for any writer!

Whether you're unsure how to publicize your work, need ways to bust writer's block, or simply looking for tips and tricks along the way, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer is your go-to reference! Jeff VanderMeer walks readers through his experiences and provides a guide for many aspects of the writing journey. From creating a goals list for each day, week, month, year, and even five years down the road, to discussing how to handle A great resource for any writer!

From creating a goals list for each day, week, month, year, and even five years down the road, to discussing how to handle PR, VanderMeer goes step-by-step through his strategies, offering encouragement along the way. This book can either be read section-by-section or cover-to-cover, and offers even the most seasoned of writers a new perspective on the age-old relationship with words. Dec 23, Kay rated it really liked it Shelves: Beginners with zero novels finished may find this book intimidating; its focus is mainly on what to do once you have a text to offer for publication, and how to create and manage your budding career.

However, VanderMeer has many intriguing thoughts about writing and writers, and gifts the reader with valuable insights into the actual process of publishing. The second half of the book is about your "Private Booklife" and more concerned with creativity, time-management, and the hurdles and pitfalls Beginners with zero novels finished may find this book intimidating; its focus is mainly on what to do once you have a text to offer for publication, and how to create and manage your budding career. The second half of the book is about your "Private Booklife" and more concerned with creativity, time-management, and the hurdles and pitfalls writers face.

It is not a guide to writing fiction, though the author provides a list of recommended works in case that is what you need. The appendices, mostly written by guest authors which I think was a smart move , go into detail on some of the previously discussed topics. Oct 25, Anthony Vicino rated it it was amazing.

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I didn't think I would enjoy this nearly as much as I did. There is a ton of useful information in here. Apr 04, John Kenny rated it it was amazing Shelves: Anyone with a genuine interest in writing, with a view to not only getting published but also making a career of it, if you might call it that, invariably reads one or more books on writing.

Most books on writing focus purely on the craft of writing, how to make your story the best it can be so it presumably has the best chance of gettin Anyone with a genuine interest in writing, with a view to not only getting published but also making a career of it, if you might call it that, invariably reads one or more books on writing. Most books on writing focus purely on the craft of writing, how to make your story the best it can be so it presumably has the best chance of getting published. What lends the book real value is the knowledge VanderMeer brings to bear on the modern realities of marketing yourself and networking to best advantage, knowledge gained the hard way over twenty-five years in writing, editing and publishing.

Booklife is divided into two main sections, one devoted to the public side of a writing career i. The public section discusses the development of strategies for building a career in writing, reviews most of the major platforms that can be used in making people aware of your existence Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, YouTube, etc. The private section discusses how best to ring fence and protect the time you spend writing, strategies for dealing with rejection, and approaches to keeping your work fresh and vital.

Because the fact is that VanderMeer is right. For anyone confused by the sheer vastness of avenues for marketing yourself and networking, this book is a must. For anyone struggling to make time for writing, this book is a must.

Jul 20, Book Calendar rated it really liked it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The author suggests you should have a blog, be part of social media, and participate in online activities.

The language is very clear and concise. We learn about what an agent does, the process of how a book goes from a submitted manuscript to a pub Booklife Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer by Jeff Vandermeer Booklife is about the process of becoming a better writer. We learn about what an agent does, the process of how a book goes from a submitted manuscript to a published book, how book public relations and marketing are done, and many other skills a writer needs to understand to succeed.

The book is not just about the public aspects of writing. It is also how about how to manage your time as a writer, keep healthy and focused, and have good relations with other writing professionals like librarians, booksellers, editors, and agents. I enjoyed reading the book. For those interested in learning what a writer does, or who are seeking a better understanding of how social media and new media changes a writing career this book would be a useful tool.

In order to get the full benefit of the book, I think it is necessary to take a little time to look at the blog as well, Booklife Now, http: Jeff Vandermeer includes many useful tools which are not in the book in the associated blog including a blogroll and numerous additional essays on writing. The main complaint I have about the book is that there is no index in the book. This made it hard to backtrack to find certain subjects. The layout of the book was excellent. It had wide paragraph breaks, bolded headings, and many bullet pointed suggestion lists. Jeff Vandermeer invited a variety of guest writers for the appendices.

This is well worth reading. Jeff Vandermere has a blog at http: He has written many fantasy novels including Finch and edited a variety of anthologies including Steampunk which he co-edited with his wife, Ann Vandermeer Sep 27, Alex Telander rated it it was amazing Shelves: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st-Century Writer.

Booklife has a little something for every type of writer. The book is divided into two parts: Public Booklife, which covers how to present both yourself and your work as a writer, how best to organize and carry out successful signings and book tours, and — most importantly — creating and managing your goals so you can really make it as a writer. The second part, Private Booklife, covers some of the mechanics of writing, how important feedback is — and not just from friends and family, and using some of the lessons from the first part of the book in different and constructive ways to make your writing the best it can be.

For more book reviews and exclusive author interviews, go to BookBanter. Dec 23, Shedrick Pittman-Hassett rated it it was amazing. Some even detail the ins and outs of publishing. But what sets Booklife apart from these other books is its focus on the writing life. It is decidedly not a how-to book, but more of a written coach on the creation and maintenance of, for lack of a better term, your Booklife. The first third of the book focuses on your public life as an author: The second third of the book discusses your private life as an author: The final third of the book is made up of the appendices, which are mostly essays by various experts and experienced folks that reinforce the topics covered in the main portion of the book.

VanderMeer emphasizes repeatedly the need to strike a balance between the public and private Booklife—and to err in favor of the private. This sense of moderation and balance is a through-line for the book. It is also important to note that most of the advice given in the book boils down to common sense approaches to dealing with people. Your Booklife, despite the many hours spent alone churning out words, is a collaborative effort requiring the support of a network of people—treat them shabbily at your peril.

For both novice and experienced writers, Booklife is highly inspirational, thought-provokingly humane, and highly recommended. Jun 18, Kate Padilla rated it it was amazing. From my experience there are two levels of books written about writing. The first is to establish the writer within himself, the second is to establish the writer within the community.

Level one is neither better nor worse than level two, it simply reflects the comfort that the writer has with her craft. Keeping this in mind, Booklife: Strategies and Survival Tips for the 21st Century Writer is a level two book.

Reward Yourself

It does assume an expertise from the writer. It is meant more to gently guide the wr From my experience there are two levels of books written about writing. It is meant more to gently guide the writer into something more, rather than show the writer the realm of personal possibility. This is why the subtitle is added: A writer, by career definition, not only writes but knows about herself because of her writing. Just as a poet is only able to define himself as such because he knows he writes poetry, a writer is able to define herself because she knows what she writes.

A poet can define himself as a writer, to be sure, but a plumber will not call himself a writer because he can make a to-do list at the beginning of the day. Mar 24, Cameron James rated it liked it. This book is an important read for anyone that is trying to manage or achieve a professional career in writing. The public section covers everything you need to know about PR — how to interact on social media, how to manage public appearances, and general guidelines to keep in mind when managing the public side of your writing business.

The private section discusses how to strike a healthy balance f This book is an important read for anyone that is trying to manage or achieve a professional career in writing. The key thing to remember, though, is that this is a book of guidelines, not rules. In fact, this book is out of date as far as social media technology is concerned — and Vandermeer acknowledges that very early in the book.

Read the rest of my review on my blog: Jan 19, Dan Varrette rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is a comprehensive look at writing and publishing, both on the creative side and on the promotional side. I particularly liked how VanderMeer wrote parts of it in a way that protects it somewhat from obsolescence concerning the ever-changing Internet.

Despite being published in , this book still holds up well in terms of relevancy. The book covers everything, and VanderMeer speaks plainly about the issues. He gives us no gimmicks and doesn't hide from us the difficulties and struggles o This is a comprehensive look at writing and publishing, both on the creative side and on the promotional side. He gives us no gimmicks and doesn't hide from us the difficulties and struggles of a life in publishing.

At the same time, he offers great advice on how to weather the storm, both physically and mentally. I'd recommend this to writers based simply on the first part of the book, which deals with marketing one's publications. Although I imagine much of this may be the focus for revisions in any updated editions, the information here is relevant, and much of it is timeless at its core. The overall subject matter is balanced cleverly between the two aspects of a writer's life public and private , and it should serve most writers well in helping them get the most out of their work.

I think everyone will get something valuable out of this book. Mar 16, Johnny rated it it was amazing. With my first novel coming out in September, I have been looking for a solid resource for how to traverse the seemingly infinite avenues for its promotion. Finding the right balance between new media and classic ways of book promotion seems increasingly more daunting, although the ability to reach an audience that much more in reach.

Whether you have a book with a traditional publisher or self-publishing, it clearly goes over the various options out there to a writer. It is not With my first novel coming out in September, I have been looking for a solid resource for how to traverse the seemingly infinite avenues for its promotion. It is not a book that is going to explain to you how to set up a Facebook book page, but more a book about time management and finding which not all methods of book promotion work for you.

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