03-05-2014, 03:57 AM | #1 |
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just because you have written a book does not make you an author
edited
Last edited by moonshot; 03-17-2014 at 10:21 AM. |
03-05-2014, 04:15 AM | #2 |
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03-05-2014, 06:13 AM | #3 | ||
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Seriously?
Tell that to these folks: http://www.simonteakettle.com/famousauthors.htm Quote:
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http://www.google.com/url?q=http://w...hcaj_wlFgC-AMA A book is a book whether published on papyrus, dead tree pulp, or digital and an author is an author regardless of how the book is published. And for most of history books have been published by their authors. It is only in recent centuries that printers took control of the process away from the creator, an aberration that looks to be ending. Like it or not, the indie publishing revolution is first and foremost about authors retaining control of their creation. Denigrating the books or the creators isn't going to stop that from happening. Last edited by fjtorres; 03-05-2014 at 06:28 AM. |
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03-05-2014, 07:17 AM | #4 | |
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This page:
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http://www.examiner.com/article/30-f...-by-publishers which contains some amazing statements from rejecting publishers I also think that having written a book makes you an author. Being published in hard back makes you an author who has been published in hardback. I don't know if you are fair or unfair but respectfully, I think your statement suggests a fairly narrow scope of perception as to what constitutes an author. I suspect your viewpoint has a limited shelf life also. Did you post that request on Mobile Reads? I wouldn't have thought the self-recommendations you describe would have been permitted. |
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03-05-2014, 07:22 AM | #5 | |
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But side-stepping an argument about definitions, ISTM that what you're really asking is "How can I find GOOD books?" and my answer would be: Same way(s) as always - reviews, favourite authors, trusted friends with a similar taste etc, and same as always, sometimes you'll end up with ones you don't enjoy. C'est la vie. |
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03-05-2014, 09:23 AM | #6 |
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Lots of people can sing but they are not all 'singers'.
Does someone who has written a story and put it in their desk draw deserve the title is author? I think a line needs to be drawn in the sand so that we know who are the real authors. Just because its easy to upload your written word, so that it can be downloaded to another machine does not make you an author, any more than me buying a stethoscope allows me to be called a doctor. Last edited by moonshot; 03-05-2014 at 09:26 AM. |
03-05-2014, 09:23 AM | #7 | |
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An author is someone who writes books. That's not an opinion, just a definition. There are no special qualifications to become an author. It would be absurd to say "Here is a book that was not written by an author," or to ask "Was this book written by an author?" To ask "Who write this book?" or "Who is the author of this book?" is to ask the same question. Of course, that doesn't mean that the book is a good book or that you will enjoy the book. Even bad books are written by authors. Bad artists are still artists, bad bakers are still bakers, bad janitors are still janitors. You asked for book recommendations, and people recommended their own book. That only demonstrates that authors would like you to read their books, and surely that doesn't strike you as a surprise!
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The great thing about drawing lines in the sand is that it is so easy to erase it. Who decides who is a "real" author? Do I decide? Do you? Does some committee decide for us? All I really care about is whether or not I enjoy a book. I don't need to have some committee pick my books any more than I need to have my food cut up for me. Last edited by QuantumIguana; 03-05-2014 at 09:36 AM. |
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03-05-2014, 09:28 AM | #8 |
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A "singer" is someone who sings. A "professional singer" is someone who makes a living from singing. There are plenty of people who sing in the bath: they are singers but not professional singers.
Same with authors. An author is simply someone who writes, and says nothing about how good they are, or whether or not they make a living from it. To claim that someone who writes a book is not an author is ludicrous. Last edited by HarryT; 03-05-2014 at 09:37 AM. |
03-05-2014, 09:32 AM | #9 |
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The is just another spin on the tired "volcano of crap" / "lemon market" meme the traditionalists have been floating around for the past few months.
As if the distribution process used to get the book to market had anything to say about the content of the book. |
03-05-2014, 09:52 AM | #10 | |
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Then you must have asked that question on another forum. We don't allow spam or spammers on this site. (Also, I see you have NEVER posted in the Recommendations forum. In fact, you have never posted outside of the General Discussion Forum.) Last edited by Dr. Drib; 03-05-2014 at 09:55 AM. |
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03-05-2014, 09:58 AM | #11 |
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@fjtorresIt does have something to say about what some people think will sell, but that is all. I agree with your statement.
"During his entire lifetime, Herman Melville's timeless classic, Moby Dick, sold only 3,715 copies." Which probably means a publisher would have made a business mistake in publishing it. Publishing is a business. It is not the keeper of all that is good and proper in writing. It is a means to make profit by putting out what they think will sell. |
03-05-2014, 10:06 AM | #12 | |
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I understand what you're saying though. You want the word "author" to be a title that carries some weight behind it, like "lawyer" or (the not nearly as good) "doctor". Unfortunately, the word "author" isn't that. It's not a guarantee that the person with that title has some level of schooling or writing experience, and it doesn't need to. - Ninjalawyer, professional author Last edited by Ninjalawyer; 03-05-2014 at 10:08 AM. |
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03-05-2014, 10:16 AM | #13 | |
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E.E. Smith PHD? (Publish initally in pulp magazines) H. P Lovecraft? (DItto) Robert E. Howard? (DItto) Henry Kuttner and Cathine L. Moore? The Doc Savage and The Shadow novels? (The vast majority have never seen hardback publication.) (and on...and on...) Last edited by Greg Anos; 03-05-2014 at 10:20 AM. |
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03-05-2014, 10:37 AM | #14 |
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It sounds like you want people to be certified as an author before they can use the title.
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03-05-2014, 10:49 AM | #15 |
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Interesting discussion.
Hard back books represent a small proportion of book sales. So does a 'true author' have to been professionally published but not sell in best-seller quantities? If a HB author had a hit, does their credibility plummet? |
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