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Curious things ... writers and readers

26 February 2008

In thinking about writers and writing, I'm often struck by how interesting some writers are, and how fickle readers can be. The 2007 Diagram Prize for the Oddest Book Title, presented by UK magazine The Bookseller, might, though, go some way towards negating my comment about readers' fickleness.

Curious writers

Haven't heard of the Oddest Book Title Award? Well, (she says, gleefully), you're in for some fun! I suggest that the curiosity factor of publishing isn't dead. That curiosity factor is what makes publishing what it is. We might have odd writers, but we have odd readers too. While I suggest that you go to The Bookseller's website, I'll give you a sneak-peek at some of the short-listed titles:

My favourite of these, I Was Tortured By The Pygmy Love Queen is actually about a soldier who gets taken prisoner by a lost tribe of pygmies that have a Queen, a gigantic specimen of a woman, who tortures him - apparently erotically. How odd! Isn't that brilliant? I am really pleased that there is still space in the becoming-overly-corporatised world of publishing that books like this are still being produced, and still being read. Of course, awards like this probably do help the books' sales.

Curious readers

Stephen Matchett's most recent offering in the last Weekend Australian, Self-made man's man, which talked about the upcoming presence of Ian McEwan at the Adelaide Writer's Week, spiked my thoughts about the curiosity of writers and readers. In particular, Matchett writes, 'Among all the aggrieved and oppressed authors fashionable for who they are rather than what they write, Ian McEwan will look like a leper at the Adelaide Festival's writers week. For a start he is a bloke, even worse he is British, and his themes of class, masculine identity and sex gone wrong are redolent of D.H. Lawrence, whose work was not a huge hit in book club land last time I looked' (Review, page 40).

Matchett's opening paragraph highlights one of those issues that underlie some folks' uneasiness with events like writers weeks: they are (apparently) driven by 'book club land'. In other words, those groups that are, for the most part, comprised of women. Groups that can never get enough of chats with authors about 'how they write' and 'why they wrote X'. Groups of people who place writers on pedestals (deservedly or not), and who are more often swayed by marketing than some of us care to admit. There are some great book clubs out there, true; but more frequently than not book club members are not critical readers, and they are rarely writers. Matchett's subtext here is that because McEwan is a bloke, these female-driven clubs, that are presumably more taken with feminist works (or, at the very least, works not targeted at men), clubs that are not always taken with intelligent literature, should (nay, might very well) freeze him out of the auditorium.

The remainder of the article talks about how well McEwan writes for men. In an age where we have generations of boys growing up feeling like everything they do is a transgression, it is vital that there are writers out there that write for blokes.

What do you think?


Writers Week, or Readers Week?

18 February 2008

Coming up in Adelaide pretty soon is Writers Week. Right now the Fringe is kicking off, as is the Festival of Arts, and Writers Week will come to life in the first week of March. It's great for the town and for fans of particular authors, and it's great for lots of aspiring artists, but in all the time I've lived in a capital city, I've never been to any Writers Week function.

This might seem odd for a writer and a publisher. But in all honesty, while I admire the drive behind such festivals and events, I have always hated Writers Week. It isn't really a week for writers: it's a week for readers. Both Foss and I have always stated that it would be far better named Readers Week.

Picture this. You pick up a writers week program and scan all of the events. Most of them are writers talking about their books. When you walk past the Writers/Readers Week events, you notice that about ninety per cent of the audience are middle-aged doctors' wives, dressed in draping clothes, with scarves and earrings, and bedecked with Writers/Readers Week bags and merchandise. All of them are clutching the latest Bryce Courtenay book, and babbling over a glass of cheap wine about how brilliant the characterisation is. As you walk past, you shake your head in bemusement and wonder what they'd think of the characterisation in a book like Martin Chuzzlewit, or whether they even know that someone like Dickens wrote a book with such a title.

It is probably very negative of me to talk about this premier event in such a way. After all, readers need their events; writers and publishers need publicity; and if it can all happen at once then so much the better. Maybe if such festivals were renamed to what they are (Readers Week), I would find the entire situation less annoying, and far less hypocritical. As a writer myself, I very often dislike sitting in a room listening to a (what I might consider to be mediocre) writer bang on about the hows, whys, and wherefores. I don't need to know that, because I have my own style that works, and I daresay a million other writers are sitting in the same boat.

Writers Weeks need to be for writers. They need to be full of intense workshops, odd challenges, innovative things to bring the writers out and engage with different styles, genres, situations. They need to be geared for all writers, with basic workshops at one end of the scale and really challenging and exhaustive workshops for advanced writers at the other end. They need to be priced effectively (that is to say, cheaply) and they need to be facilitated by dynamic people, writers of all kinds from the technical to the farcical: not teachers, but people who are engaging with the art in their daily grind, whatever that might be.

Do you have a comment? What do you think of Writers' Weeks?

Send us your comments and we'll put them up here on the web as part of an open debate. Is Writers Week really Readers Week? Do you enjoy it? What would make these events better?


Micro fiction is the new Black

4 February 2008

Some people have been wondering why we are producing flash fiction postcards as our first major project. Well, the answer is that we like odd-ball projects, things that get readers interested, items that get people who like to collect arty things interested. The second answer is that micro fiction is the New Black, where writing is concerned.

While there will always be a demand for books, novels, and other such things, flash fiction is so appealing. It is short, it is not time-consuming. If it's well written it can deliver a complex story, but in less space and less time. It has less space in which to build characters or place or time, and so is more demanding on a writer's skill.

Micro fiction is also appealing to the independent publisher. If you want to promote a range of new or emerging writers, it's hard, time-consuming, and expensive to produce a novel by ten of them. But you can produce ten works by ten writers if they're micro works, and have a project that's great to work on, and great to produce - and far more immediate. You could almost call it Literature for the A.D.D. Age!

Anyway, we love micro fiction, short short stories, flash fiction. Whatever you want to call it, it's a little bomb. You just never know which way it's going to explode.

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Oh, you're an editor? Uh... great! What do you do?

28 January 2008

If you're an editor, the following situation is likely to be familiar:

'Nice to meet you, Sally. What do you do?'

Sally coughs politely. 'I'm an editor, actually.'

A slightly clouded expression passes the greeter's face, just briefly; the smile returns very quickly. 'Brilliant! So you, uh, have a lot of experience in newspapers?' | OR | 'Great! It must be awesome to edit videos!' | OR | 'Wow, I bet it gets boring having to fix punctuation, right?'

No matter how long you've been in the business of editing, you are likely to always come across this type of reaction. The simple fact is that nobody knows what an editor is, much less what an editor actually does. The most common reaction is the editors-work-on-newspapers one. It's not surprising, really. Everyone knows that when you write to a newspaper you write to 'The Editor', and everyone knows that 'the editor' is the Head Honcho, the Boss, the manager.

The editors-of-videos reaction is becoming more common, as more people gain the skills of video editing at home. It pre-supposes a bit of glamour, and is off the mark largely because of the medium. However, it isn't too far off: in the simplest terms, a video editor pieces the video together. A book editor can do much the same thing by taking a manuscript (instead of a stack of recordings) and shaping it appropriately; instead of the director, a book editor works with an author in a collaborative process.

The editors-just-do-punctuation reaction tends to view editors as glorified (but failed) teachers; people who wish they could just mark other peoples' work all day long, because that would make them happy. These people tend to think of libraries, english teachers, sappy girls in the playground. Yes, editors do fix puncutation - but that is just one of the very minor things that they do.

What do editors actually do, then? Some people are moving away from the word 'editor' and into other terms, including 'knowledge manager', 'document developer', 'project manager', 'communications professional', and so on. Each of these terms has its own problems, and none of them - except, perhaps, 'project manager' - comes close to encompassing the entire job.

The Macquarie Concise Australian Dictionary 3rd Edition defines an editor thus: 'someone who edits written material for publication', so there is little help there. But it goes on to state: 'someone who is responsible for the content and sometimes the policy of the publications of a publishing house'. To get a real sense of what an editor does, one must go to specialised texts, such as the AGPS Style Manual, or the Australian Editing Handbook. The Style Manual asserts that 'Editors work with the publishing client and the authors to ensure that a publication's focus, structure, expression, style and format support its purpose and will suit its probable range of readers'. The Handbook provides a summary of tasks, too long to list, but the list includes structure and sequence of a manuscript; tailoring language to the readers; correcting faults; watching for legal issues; suggesting improvements; managing schedules, materials, budgets, and people; marking up a manuscript for typesetters; briefs designers and illustrators; prepares and follows up on everything; maintains records; and so on. The Canberra Society of Editors has a great resource that explains what editors do. You can find it at www.editorscanberra.org/checklist.pdf.

Although editors in different jobs work slightly differently, the core tasks are really the same. Many of these jobs come down to project management issues, albeit focused and specialised project management. This is a very long way from your average vision of thin-lipped matrons who control grammar with an iron rod, and who spend their lives in dusty archives striving to keep language and styles from evolving.


Manuscript Development

22 January 2008

Yay! We finally have prices for manuscript development up here. It's taken a while, but we think we've finalised it. If you have any queries about our manuscript development services, or have questions about how we can help you develop your writing, please email us.

You can access our Manuscript Development service prices here.


Why being 'green' isn't a just 'hippie' thing

21 January 2008

We - that is, Foss and I (the proprietors of the brascoe here) - grew up in the western district of Victoria. It's a beautiful area, with rolling hills of not much except one species of grass, and a lot of dust. Not many people would know it, but it took just three years from the introduction of cattle for lots of the area, particularly around Coleraine, to have been irreparably damaged. In more recent times, the advent of superphosphate spreading has killed a big proportion of the insect life. Don't see any of those beautiful butterflies any more? That's not really surprising. But in such a strong, stubborn farming community, any comment about the environment is a poofter thing, and any attempt at bringing in sustainable practices is laughed off as being a 'greenie' thing to do, that these people are 'bloody hippies' and 'tree huggers', and are instantly discredited.

When you live in an a metropolitan environment, it's easy to see these types of attitudes as being the exception. In fact, you might find that it is the rule. Australians, generally speaking, tend to deride anything that could possibly help the environment, labelling it 'green', 'hippie', 'tree-hugging', and so on. Thankfully, this is starting to change, but it takes a long time and a lot of publicly credible people to start the ball rolling.

Publishing has not been a blameless industry, environment-wise. It has not been a lengthy practise to use 100% recycled stocks; many publishers - especially large publishers - print a huge run and then, if it's not sold, pulp the left-overs; and the printing processes themselves area also terrible. There is a printer here in Adelaide, whom we prefer to use, that is the only printer in the country to have a plate-developer that doesn't generate an obscene amount of caustic water. At some point when we've finalised discussions about the prints for our next project, I'll tell you all who this is.

I've always felt that it is really important for all workplaces have environmental policies: from the type of paper that is used, to what is done with scraps, from the type of electricity they buy, the travel that they endorse, the products they use in all their processes. It is important because each individual who makes a conscious choice to use sustainable processes is one less person that is bush-bashing their way through life. For every workplace that consciously makes environmentally aware decisions, that is a group of people whose everyday working life is supporting greater sustainability.

It is often the case, too, where sustainable processes save money. Using less lighting - say, in an office where nobody uses the library or storeroom much, so the light is off unless it's needed - results in lower electricity costs. Or the use of daylight globes that have an extraordinary long life. Using recycled paper may cost the same as plantation or virgin forest paper; but re-using scrap paper for notes and internal memos and documents can save hundreds of dollars on paper costs per year - especially in a large organisation.

Sustainable practices aren't just for greenies or hippies. They are ways of increasing the use of everything that you purchase, and of thereby reducing the cost (monetary and environmentally) of everything that you do.


If it's yellow let it mellow...

14 January 2008

We were recently sent a link to a great article about brascoes and water conservation - thanks, Hayley! It was so good, in fact, that we wanted to share it with the rest of you. Titled If It's Brown Flush It Down. If It's Yellow, Let It Mellow, the article talks about the huge amount of water used when you flush the toilet every time you go, and one way of disciplining yourself and your housemates (or family, or friends) to save more water. You can read it here.

In Australia, water conservation is an enormous issue. Our country is the driest continent on earth; yet we use more water than we need to, in many areas of our lives. For example, When people go camping they are often surprised about how little water they really need to do the dishes. Unfortunately, this little gem of wisdom rarely translates back to the house. Where you could feasibly do your dishes in an enamel bowl's worth of water, you fill your sink to capacity when you don't need to. It's all a matter of perspective.

The article also highlights another huge waste: toilet paper! This is a big issue of ours. We support only 100% recycled toilet paper, and always avoid most of the major companies (I won't name names!), whose environmental records are just awful. But, even if you do use a major brand, you can save on dunny paper by simply folding instead of scrunching. Changing habits like this can start with a single step. I know - I've done it myself! Maybe the best thing about this article that Hayley emailed through is that if you do what she suggests, you'll start to realise just how much toilet paper you actually use.

If you have an interesting, toilet-related article you've found on the web, please share it with us. We love all sorts of brascoe-related things. Click here to send us your link.


Time Management Part Two

7 January 2008

--> New to this? You might want to read Part One first.

Managing your own time can actually be easy, once you've got the hang of your lists, and once you start keeping an eye on your time and how you use it. The thing that typically gets in the way of effective time management, particularly when you work regularly with other members of a team, is how other people use their time.

Managing people is as much a part of effective time management as anything else. Although lots of people like to think about 'people management' as being something that managers do, it is in fact something that everybody does to some extent. Let me give you an example. If Julie X works in a small office, and she has responsibility for keeping the organisation's document records, then she needs to interact with everybody else in that organisation. Sometimes Julie X needs to obtain information or copies of documentation from other members, so she sends out email requests in order to gain these.

So far so good. But this can go one of three ways: the first, and ideal, is that Julie receives what she needs by the time she requests it; the second is that she doesn't receive it but follows them up; the third is that she doesn't, but due to her large, forward-marching workload, she forgets to follow them up.

Being able to manage her own time means that Julie not only has to issue deadlines for receiving copy, but that she needs to leave a note for herself about this action: what she did, when she did it, to whom she sent it. Ideally, she would set a reminder for herself two days before her requested deadline, to remind people about her request. Whether she reminds people in person, over the phone, or by email doesn't really matter. What does matter is that she is really nice to these people and doesn't sound like a nag. You can already see how her people skills are becoming very important here. Let's hope that she leaves a note to herself that she did remind people, when, and in what method.

If, during this round of reminders, Julie found out that John has been snowed under with work for a conference, she might be able to suggest an alternative submission date. John would probably be very grateful that his deadline could be extended. If, however, Julie doesn't receive some material on the required date, she can make a note of this in her journal, and put in place a system of follow-ups that would ensure that she does get them in good time.

This example is simple, and extremely common. If Julie didn't follow people up, if she didn't have a system for journalling the actions she's taken on this job, then she wouldn't be absolutely sure what she's done and what she hasn't. By keeping effective records, and managing her own deadlines by reference to those that she works with, Julie could more reasonably escalate her requests if deadlines became pressing. She also has more recourse to chatting with management about how her team could work more effectively.

When you have a team that you work with, managing your own time for your own work is important; but managing your own time for the team's benefit is even more important - as is being able to manage those that you work with. It often takes time and trial and error to establish a system that seems to work with your team's personalities and methods, but this faltering start will show you how to avoid problems later on. It will also help you to get a greater hold on the management of your time and tasks.

Send us your experiences!

If you have experience in a really busy team, and have known the benefits of good time and people management (or the pitfalls of poor time and people management!), we'd love to hear about it.
Send us your stories to help us build a resource that can help others.


Flash Fiction Series for 2008

21 December 2007

There are so many little fiction publications out there in the world at the moment, that we thought we'd test the waters with our own little offering. We are putting together a series of flash fiction postcards. These will be cheap little pieces that feature brilliant works of fiction, with (hopefully!) gorgeous artwork on the front. We are aiming to assemble a whole little collection of them, and to distribute them far and wide.

Why postcards? Well, we both really like postcards. We have interesting, funky, weird, and brilliant postcards everywhere: in our study, in the bathroom, on the wall down the stairs. Not only are good postcards a great way of distributing art, they are talking points, they make great gifts, they are brilliant as bookmarks. They can be read and passed on. They can be collected, framed, blu-tacked. We thought that it was about time that someone offered both art and literature in the one very simple little package. Hence, the flash-fiction postcard.

We are keen to get all types of strange, well-written flash works for this series, and we are hoping to release a minimum of one postcard per month. It's a big dream, but one we're really sure of - so hopefully writers throughout Australia will send us their pieces and blow us away with their work.

Artists are also encouraged to get out there and become part of this project. If you (or your mate) produces quality work, get on their case and nag them to submit their stuff to us. We all know that nobody likes a nagger - but it's in a good cause. They'll understand.

If you're interested, but have queries, do please email us. Bring on 2008 - and the new wave of small fiction publishing!


The Brascoe used to be Pie in the Sky

1 December 2007

You may be thinking that some of the material we have promoted thus far is similar to Pie in the Sky Press dot com. Well, that's because we've changed our name and moved to a new domain.

Why the change? Why indeed. We wanted something amusing, something a bit more Aussie. If you're not sure how 'brascoe' is more Aussie, then you need to think hard about old Australian slang: 'brascoe' is a slang word for 'toilet'. We are going to have a lot of fun with our toilet-and-Aussie-slang theme, so stay tuned for lots of goodies and interesting opportunities!


Time Management Part One

30 November 2007

In my other job as a publications officer for another organisation, I have an extremely busy time of things. I only work there a few days a week, but there are always a bazillion jobs to get done. Just the other day I counted seventy jobs on my task-list, at least sixty of which could be deemed urgent (or apparently needing to be done by Christmas). The problem, in working in a small organisation with concurrent priorities, is working out levels of importance. If one asks a colleague how important a job is, the answer is invariably that 'it's urgent', or 'it was due yesterday'. So how to make sense of this mess?

The first thing that I would say to this is: keep a check on your time management as the first step of sorting out your messy corporate life. The second thing is to try and keep a hold on the way others view their time management and how you relate to it: but that's for another blog.

It was a great day when I realised that Microsoft Outlook can be one of your best friends in managing your time, if you use it to its full advantage. Some of these advantages include:

Customising your task list is the first job you need to do. To do this, set it to 'simple view' so that all your tasks are in a list. Right-click on the fields across the top and select 'field chooser...'. From here you can create new fields, or select other default fields that may not be showing. To select them, drag them up to the fields bar. In my task list I show the default 'subject', 'total work', 'actual work', 'date due', 'status', and '% completed' fields. The custom fields I've added to this include 'requested by', and two fields that indicate a) whether my designer needs to be involved, and b) how long it will take him - which I get him to double-check. Then you need to fill in your task list as completely as possible, breaking large jobs up into discrete tasks.

Moving across to the journal, create a new journal entry. In the subject, type 'TASK'; in the category, type in the name of the job; I always precede the name with the status in capital letters, e.g.: 'IN PROGRESS | newsletter'. Set the journal entry type to 'task'. Doing all of these things makes your item easy to find again later.

Keeping notes is always important, particularly if you are often asked to provide up updates for managers or clients. The way I manage my notes is to write general notes in the journal, and specific task notes (such as what was completed when) in the task itself.

Keeping track of time - this is where things get important! The journal allows you to time how long it takes you to do a particular job, and this is VITAL. Whenever you start a task, open the journal and click 'start timer'. This will run in the background until you pause it before saving the task. When you have finished the task, put the time it took you (from the journal) into your task list on under 'actual work'. This will give you a working knowledge of how long you think a job will take, and how long it will actually take you.

Of course, doing this has many benefits: you can demonstrate to your employer or client how long things take you, and know that the time is accurate. It also allows you to incorporate the time taken with interruptions and so on (you can even journal them if you want to!) so that the final time shows the true time it took you to do a task, taking into consideration your working environment.

The next time management blog will focus on how to try and manage time when other people don't seem to be able to manage theirs. Stay tuned!


Go to part two -->