Hi, Kate!

I just discovered an exciting magic secret about Facebook that doesn't involve Farmville.

Doing research for an idea for a novel I have, I tracked down a few high school classmates. The class numbered over 150, and I connected with less than a dozen, but friending just exploded into a chatty little get-together that we could not have had by phone email, or in-person.

Ah, to meet with those you know and chat amiably, no matter how you're dressed. And, the best part is, you don't have to bring the 19th casserole on the picnic table. Nothing approaching the Royal Wedding Gift Failure: 1700 guests, 1700 toasters.

It's the kind of wide-open get-together not possible at a reunion or house party.

One thing that really illuminates the very best of Facebook, however, is a heartening check-in by one of the class wallflowers.

She's able to jump in, reply at will, share in a conversation among a small clot of people. She's awake, alive, and obviously smiling, as I never saw her in class.

No cliques, no factions, everyone has time to deliberate on their message and at least get that the best way they can, without a comedian's sense of high-gear brain processing.

Not a sitcom... just chat among friends who maybe never realized what kind of friends they could be.

--Dave

Craigslist: The World's #1 Slush Pile

This will be brief.

After goofing with Craigslist for a few months, I'm seeing what literary agents go through, and how--in the process of hunting for the diamonds--they could skip right by a few.

By my estimate, approximately 19 out of 20 of those who post something for sale on Craigslist don't know what they're doing. (I could be estimating low.)

They don't know how to market. their material or themselves.

Spelling and grammar and punctuation are way off the beam. Few come close, or nail those little devilish details.

Don't get me started on replies. Same thing. In equal proportion.

I wish it were not so. I feel for those who are giving it a try and wonder why their transaction dies in the ditch.

Now imagine whole pages of this stuff, herds of it, in your inbox.

These agents have to somehow spot something professional and enticing and throat-grabbing out of all that text and whatever else got thrown at them. I see many actually asking not to send checks, cash, money orders, lovely parting gifts, and consolation prizes. Wow. They do not sound like they're kidding.

I'm glad I'm not an agent.I'm only a published author who wants to do it again, and make a wildly commercial success out of all his future jottings, this time in the fray.

I don't think I have the harder of the two jobs.

--Dave

Restate Of The Union Address

I've been asked to restate my opinion on the current state of affairs between agents and prospective authors. As a bonus, I'll expand my comments, for the reason you'll read, shortly.

If there were some way to enhance the current wheezy and mechanical system of connecting agents and authors, I'm not only in favor, I'd be one to dive right in. Actually, I am.

As much as I don't want to come off as some desperate clinging author wanna-be (as so easily happens) I do not doubt the agents who face the daily slush avalanche would prefer to find a way to reply in some sensitive and human way, if they only had the time or could see through the surface of a less-than-stellar query.

Time does not allow much room for agents to appear as people to those they reject. Panic and anxiety and trying-too-hard rookie game play prevents authors from coming across as the next best-selling savvy and personable book club personality, so the hurly-burly comes from both sides.

Recently I swapped communications with an agent I'll call the Divine Miss M, who had a spam email disaster. I composed a brief note, with a suggestion of a preventative. We've connected, at least a little, maybe only to find some sympathy from each other for a few moments. I don't know if she'll wind up as my agent, but considering the many rejections I received and the horrific query letters that provoked them, those few very human messages stand out as just a little taste of how those who need each other in this industry will connect and form a superhero team to attack that bestseller list and conquer the summit. (I'm starting to see why I may have been rejected all those times. Maybe I should author comic books?) 

Could the answer be in the world of writer conferences, where people meet people, instead of text versus text? I know some agents do their shopping there exclusively, and they get the chance to see if the face behind the hot elevator pitch is as much of a potential media star as the book they present. (Nice package, there.) That's something that rarely has an opportunity to show itself in a query letter.

Maybe authors can post a brief YouTube pitch, and just send the link off to likely agents? Many, however, not only will not open attachments, they don't often state in what form they can use additional material requested, and virtually none will click on a link. There is some form of startled-bunny business model going around, and as a long-time techie, I wish I could allay their concerns. It's really not that bad out there, agents.

This will be worked out, in part, I'm sure. Already, sharp authors are approaching readers in ways never before attempted, forced in large part by the impersonal disconnect of ebooks. The first copy of THE KNUCKLEBOOK was an ebook, in .pdf format, swapped via email between me and my publisher, Ivan R. Dee. Not living in Chicago, I found that convenient, and so did Ivan, I'm sure; the whole book came together and saw publication in a matter of a few months--light speed for the industry.

I find agents who are otherwise respectable, who expressly ask for snail-mail queries. I have a big heart for all humans, even those in a time warp, so I'd be heartened to see those agents at least embrace email in part, if not entirely.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I'm mulling how to hand out copies of my QR code so fans with smartphones can zip right to this blog. I have at least one YouTube video up relating to my knuckleball how-to book, and I've emailed personal notes with a one-of-a-kind autograph to a couple of readers. The all-new concept of electronically signing a page in an ebook is cool. I'm also about to set up video chat, so I can get facetime with readers no matter where I am or where they are. Why not?

The point is: All that's necessary.

People connecting with people.

With imagination, this can be done in exciting ways as never before.

I'm looking forward to hearing your comments, and ideas.

--AOL AIM: schoolzone1331.

Y R QR Codes On The QT?

The only problem I see with most authors failing to embrace many useful technologies is that they are not aware of them, which is too bad, because most are simple to handle, and there is plenty of help to be had to implement them.

Here's one that is easy enough to create, and the crazy costly expensive techie stuff is on the reader's end.

I'm talking about a QR code.

Here's mine:

You barely have to know what this does, just go online and find "how to create a QR code of your website URL address", and one like this is approximately a minute away.

This is cool to people with smartphones, and all you need to do is attach it to email or print correspondence or stationery (either email or paper).

What they'd do with this is aim their phone camera at it, and it'll trigger the phone to go to this blog. Yours will send them to yours, or your website.

Sort of like a barcode, and when someone finds it that simple to find your online stuff via their phone, well, isn't that the coolest?

--Dave

Osama Publicity

Anyone who's gotten a taste of OTHERS can see that the death of Osama bin Laden could provoke interest in what the manuscript details.

Imagine how things may develop if nobody knew how he was killed. Furthermore, what if this should happen to many more terrorists, vicious dictators, drug cartel leaders, right down to local violent criminals?

Ones remaining would have much more to fear, because they would have no idea who their peacekeeping enemies would be.

Innocent citizens around the world would be unnerved, not knowing who is protecting them.

Peace being a human concept, however, it's imperfect, even in an imaginary-yet-plausible world.

How would this affect anyone who would reveal who these good-guy terrorists are, and how would peace and violence affect individuals on a personal basis if this came to fruition?

OTHERS examines the question at length, in multiple layers, using the kind of psychology and rational thinking found in our daily lives.

I know what you're thinking: Sounds like common sense, which sometimes isn't exactly common.

True. That's why this revolves around a precocious overachiever, someone who would have little reason to get involved, and unlike most of history's violent perpetrators, this main character happens to be female.

We'll see how this all plays out.

Intrigued? Drop me a note.