Comments on: The responsibility of writers http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/ Reflections of a working writer and reader Sat, 19 May 2012 08:23:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Shohel http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-115819 Shohel Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:49:50 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-115819 A writer should have some responsibility but the limitation should be considerable. A limit having no logic does not accepted at any time. However, thanks for sharing such nice article and your point of view regarding the matter. I appreciate it leaving no room to doubt. A writer should have some responsibility but the limitation should be considerable. A limit having no logic does not accepted at any time. However, thanks for sharing such nice article and your point of view regarding the matter. I appreciate it leaving no room to doubt.

]]> By: David http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-115743 David Sat, 16 Apr 2011 21:33:19 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-115743 Thanks for the link, I am thinking seriously to write fiction, I hope it will help me to decide. Thanks for the link, I am thinking seriously to write fiction, I hope it will help me to decide.

]]> By: write my essay http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-115740 write my essay Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:28:43 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-115740 Yes, I do agree with you. A writer should have the responsibility what he has been writing. It often found that a writer write something controversial for which the people got some unclear idea about the matter Yes, I do agree with you. A writer should have the responsibility what he has been writing. It often found that a writer write something controversial for which the people got some unclear idea about the matter

]]> By: Paul http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-42825 Paul Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:38:30 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-42825 John. I think I probably misinterpreted the following:- "To tell a story is to say: this is the important story. It is to reduce the spread and simultaneity of everything to something linear, a path." I am also guilty of jumping on a personal hobby-horse. What I was trying to get at - rather badly - was the question that was left unanswered in Susan Sontag's essay. So much time is devoted to debating the future of "electronic" books/comic books/interactive books; yet the "book-trade" seem to accept the stranglehold of supermarkets, excessive discounting, the decline in bookshops, extravagant advances and the death of midlist books. I don't know much about the publishing industry, but it feels to me, to be curiously outdated and out-of touch. It concentrates on existing market demographics, rather than trying to shape and extend that market. Do they individually (or better still, collectively) carry out any market research? Do they market, the idea of reading, as opposed to individual books? Do they sponsor reading groups, in schools and workplaces? Do they collectively lobby for change? Do they try to forecast, and even influence trends? What about product placement (of reading) with public transport and holiday company advertising. It seems curious to me that "Richard and Judy" have done far more to influence reading habits and the size of the overall market, than the book trade itself. The one aspect of publishing that is extremely commercial is the industry that encourages people to write. But then the writer comes up against the Literary Agent, who moans about the size of their slush pile, but does nothing to influence it. Few of them have websites, they rarely update their entries in the Writers and Artists Year Book, all reserve the right to consider virtually every genre and they rarely give feedback - though that might actually improve the quality of submissions and reduce the size of the slushpile. Please delete this, if it is ouside the spirit of your blog, or if you feel it is just the ill-informed ramblings of a disillusioned, unpublished writer. <strong>jb says</strong>: On the contrary, I agree with most of what you say, Paul. The publishing industry is not about selling books. It is about selling commodities, selling 'product'. Generally speaking it is not interested in the future but in short-term gains. Careers are made and destroyed by being aligned with a best-seller or a series of might-have-beens. There has to be a big new shiny thing (title) every week or so to keep the shareholders happy. John. I think I probably misinterpreted the following:-
“To tell a story is to say: this is the important story. It is to reduce the spread and simultaneity of everything to something linear, a path.”

I am also guilty of jumping on a personal hobby-horse.

What I was trying to get at – rather badly – was the question that was left unanswered in Susan Sontag’s essay. So much time is devoted to debating the future of “electronic” books/comic books/interactive books; yet the “book-trade” seem to accept the stranglehold of supermarkets, excessive discounting, the decline in bookshops, extravagant advances and the death of midlist books.

I don’t know much about the publishing industry, but it feels to me, to be curiously outdated and out-of touch. It concentrates on existing market demographics, rather than trying to shape and extend that market. Do they individually (or better still, collectively) carry out any market research? Do they market, the idea of reading, as opposed to individual books? Do they sponsor reading groups, in schools and workplaces? Do they collectively lobby for change? Do they try to forecast, and even influence trends? What about product placement (of reading) with public transport and holiday company advertising.

It seems curious to me that “Richard and Judy” have done far more to influence reading habits and the size of the overall market, than the book trade itself.

The one aspect of publishing that is extremely commercial is the industry that encourages people to write. But then the writer comes up against the Literary Agent, who moans about the size of their slush pile, but does nothing to influence it. Few of them have websites, they rarely update their entries in the Writers and Artists Year Book, all reserve the right to consider virtually every genre and they rarely give feedback – though that might actually improve the quality of submissions and reduce the size of the slushpile.

Please delete this, if it is ouside the spirit of your blog, or if you feel it is just the ill-informed ramblings of a disillusioned, unpublished writer.

jb says: On the contrary, I agree with most of what you say, Paul. The publishing industry is not about selling books. It is about selling commodities, selling ‘product’. Generally speaking it is not interested in the future but in short-term gains. Careers are made and destroyed by being aligned with a best-seller or a series of might-have-beens. There has to be a big new shiny thing (title) every week or so to keep the shareholders happy.

]]> By: Paul http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-42726 Paul Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:44:18 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-42726 Susan Sontag's essay was thought provoking, not only in its assertions, but also for what she left unsaid. She draws us into a debate on the future of the novel in relation to other media, by asserting largely, that it is unique and should remain true to its tradition. Yet at the same time she seemed to hint that change is inevitable - or am I reading it wrongly? The novel is destined to become increasingly isolated from other arts/entertainment forms, simply because it demands a commitment of time (in a seemingly time-poor society). Television, at its best produces thought provoking programmes that stay in the viewer's mind, but the bulk of it's content is about immediate entertainment, with the option to switch over if you don't like what you see. Film and theatre are almost always, social events, that ask only a couple of hours of our time, but a novel asks for many hours spent in isolation with only the book for company. I agree with so much that she says, in terms of the author's duty to produce a strong and engaging linear plot, but can't the novel also borrow from film and television, in terms of multiple viewpoints, parallel story-lines, flash-backs and rapid scene changes? She seemed to be saying - No. Or have I misunderstood? Whatever else, it was a very well written and engaging piece, and makes a refreshing change from the debate about whether the future of novels is on the ipod, or in comic books. <strong>jb says</strong>: Hi Paul. Thanks for that. I believe that the novel does borrow from other art forms in exactly the ways you suggest. And I'm not sure where you feel that Sontag differs. In its relatively short history, the novel has changed considerably but mainly in relation to economising on the readers time. Dickens, much as I love him, would be encouraged to edit his narratives more stringently, were he writing today. And though the novel does, as you point out, require a commitment in time, we have become quite adept at putting down a long narrative from time to time, returning to real life to do the business, and then going back to the novel again. Susan Sontag’s essay was thought provoking, not only in its assertions, but also for what she left unsaid. She draws us into a debate on the future of the novel in relation to other media, by asserting largely, that it is unique and should remain true to its tradition. Yet at the same time she seemed to hint that change is inevitable – or am I reading it wrongly?
The novel is destined to become increasingly isolated from other arts/entertainment forms, simply because it demands a commitment of time (in a seemingly time-poor society).
Television, at its best produces thought provoking programmes that stay in the viewer’s mind, but the bulk of it’s content is about immediate entertainment, with the option to switch over if you don’t like what you see.
Film and theatre are almost always, social events, that ask only a couple of hours of our time, but a novel asks for many hours spent in isolation with only the book for company.
I agree with so much that she says, in terms of the author’s duty to produce a strong and engaging linear plot, but can’t the novel also borrow from film and television, in terms of multiple viewpoints, parallel story-lines, flash-backs and rapid scene changes? She seemed to be saying – No. Or have I misunderstood? Whatever else, it was a very well written and engaging piece, and makes a refreshing change from the debate about whether the future of novels is on the ipod, or in comic books.

jb says: Hi Paul. Thanks for that. I believe that the novel does borrow from other art forms in exactly the ways you suggest. And I’m not sure where you feel that Sontag differs. In its relatively short history, the novel has changed considerably but mainly in relation to economising on the readers time. Dickens, much as I love him, would be encouraged to edit his narratives more stringently, were he writing today.
And though the novel does, as you point out, require a commitment in time, we have become quite adept at putting down a long narrative from time to time, returning to real life to do the business, and then going back to the novel again.

]]> By: writersgroupblog http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-42366 writersgroupblog Thu, 22 Mar 2007 04:19:06 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-42366 I just wrote something about this topic. I have to take a look at that article. By the way, John, I don't comment much but I think your blog is just great. I've found so many interesting things here, I keep coming back for more! <strong>jb says</strong>: It's good to know that you're lurking there in the background. Oh, and you'll love the Sontag essay. I just wrote something about this topic. I have to take a look at that article.

By the way, John, I don’t comment much but I think your blog is just great. I’ve found so many interesting things here, I keep coming back for more!

jb says: It’s good to know that you’re lurking there in the background. Oh, and you’ll love the Sontag essay.

]]> By: Bookmarked! March 21st http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-41647 Bookmarked! March 21st Wed, 21 Mar 2007 13:43:52 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-41647 [...] next is what John Baker calls essential reading for anyone who seriously wants to write fiction. It’s the full text of an essay by Susan [...] [...] next is what John Baker calls essential reading for anyone who seriously wants to write fiction. It’s the full text of an essay by Susan [...]

]]> By: Robert http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/comment-page-1/#comment-41025 Robert Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:02:19 +0000 http://johnbakersblog.co.uk/the-responsibility-of-writers/#comment-41025 Worse still than "spiritual complacency or self-congratulation," writing about literature can become a substitute for writing literature, a kind of artistic consolation prize. Still, looks like the kind of gritty down-to-earth stuff that only comes from a working writer observing her own process. Thanks for passing it on. <strong>jb says</strong>: It's good to see you enjoyed it, Robert. One of the last things she wrote, by all accounts. What a great thing to leave behind. Worse still than “spiritual complacency or self-congratulation,” writing about literature can become a substitute for writing literature, a kind of artistic consolation prize. Still, looks like the kind of gritty down-to-earth stuff that only comes from a working writer observing her own process. Thanks for passing it on.

jb says: It’s good to see you enjoyed it, Robert. One of the last things she wrote, by all accounts. What a great thing to leave behind.

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