Comments on: All the Great Lights http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/ Mormon Arts and Culture Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:30:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Laura Craner http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33674 Laura Craner Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:29:59 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33674 MoJo- I was referring the missionary story genre. To my mind this is one of the most popular genres in LDS fiction and it is interesting because it includes memoirs (_The Other Side of Heaven_), plays (_Fires of the Mind_), poetry (I can't think of any specific examples off the top of my head; there are probably more than I can count!), and fiction (my favorite is _Angel of the Danube_ by Alan Rex Mitchell). It is an important genre because it is one area where LDS writers are not simply copying/building on a mainstream literary tradition but we are creating our own. My question about "enriching" the genre was market minded. In submitting my manuscript to publishers (I'm currently writing for the national market, so this may be different in the LDS market) they all want to know how my book fits into the market and if it does anything noteworthy. How is my book different than all the others? What books are like my book and how does my book improve on and connect with those other works? Those are the kind of questions I had in mind. These popped in to my brain because Shawn mentioned "independent publishing"--meaning that this work would need some level of marketing and those question are all important when it comes to marketing a book. Does that make sense? MoJo-
I was referring the missionary story genre. To my mind this is one of the most popular genres in LDS fiction and it is interesting because it includes memoirs (_The Other Side of Heaven_), plays (_Fires of the Mind_), poetry (I can’t think of any specific examples off the top of my head; there are probably more than I can count!), and fiction (my favorite is _Angel of the Danube_ by Alan Rex Mitchell). It is an important genre because it is one area where LDS writers are not simply copying/building on a mainstream literary tradition but we are creating our own.

My question about “enriching” the genre was market minded. In submitting my manuscript to publishers (I’m currently writing for the national market, so this may be different in the LDS market) they all want to know how my book fits into the market and if it does anything noteworthy. How is my book different than all the others? What books are like my book and how does my book improve on and connect with those other works? Those are the kind of questions I had in mind. These popped in to my brain because Shawn mentioned “independent publishing”–meaning that this work would need some level of marketing and those question are all important when it comes to marketing a book.

Does that make sense?

]]> By: MoJo http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33673 MoJo Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:06:14 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33673 Laura, I'm curious. When you say, <blockquote>it did make me wonder what your stories offer to enrich the genre.</blockquote> what genre are you talking about? And what do you mean by "enrich"? Laura, I’m curious. When you say,

it did make me wonder what your stories offer to enrich the genre.

what genre are you talking about? And what do you mean by “enrich”?

]]> By: Laura Craner http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33671 Laura Craner Fri, 07 Nov 2008 04:16:42 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33671 Nice work. Makes me want to read more. Although, as someone who hasn't served a mission (and therefore cannot fall back on my own experiences to lend your story immediacy and importance to my reading brain), it did make me wonder what your stories offer to enrich the genre. Like I said though, I want to read more. I like the narrator who consciously is trying to do the right thing but subconsciously undermines himself. That I can relate to! Nice work. Makes me want to read more. Although, as someone who hasn’t served a mission (and therefore cannot fall back on my own experiences to lend your story immediacy and importance to my reading brain), it did make me wonder what your stories offer to enrich the genre. Like I said though, I want to read more. I like the narrator who consciously is trying to do the right thing but subconsciously undermines himself. That I can relate to!

]]> By: William Morris http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33666 William Morris Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:47:01 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33666 I suppose that the financial outlay that publishers make mark a work as something that might be worth reading (or at least worth selling), but I don't know that the editorial process at any of the LDS/Mormon publishers inspire confidence in me. So I don't see why, when it comes to this type of fiction (which is not supported in the market much at all), self-publishing shouldn't be an honorable, or even the most honorable, route. Shawn has won several awards for his work. And what's more I have read his work and he has edited my work. I'd trust him as an editor as much as anyone in the world of Mormon letters. Now, of course, I have that experience with him and his work and that makes a lot of difference. But the field is so small that I think that's pretty much all any of us have to go on: the individual or individuals behind the publication (whether electronic or in print) of a work. I suppose that the financial outlay that publishers make mark a work as something that might be worth reading (or at least worth selling), but I don’t know that the editorial process at any of the LDS/Mormon publishers inspire confidence in me. So I don’t see why, when it comes to this type of fiction (which is not supported in the market much at all), self-publishing shouldn’t be an honorable, or even the most honorable, route.

Shawn has won several awards for his work. And what’s more I have read his work and he has edited my work. I’d trust him as an editor as much as anyone in the world of Mormon letters.

Now, of course, I have that experience with him and his work and that makes a lot of difference. But the field is so small that I think that’s pretty much all any of us have to go on: the individual or individuals behind the publication (whether electronic or in print) of a work.

]]> By: MoJo http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33661 MoJo Thu, 06 Nov 2008 00:15:23 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33661 <blockquote>On the independent publishing question. I have a friend who has only ever “self” published and he has had a great career in writing.</blockquote> Bradly, name and link?

On the independent publishing question. I have a friend who has only ever “self” published and he has had a great career in writing.

Bradly, name and link?

]]> By: Bradly Baird http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33660 Bradly Baird Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:49:03 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33660 I should add that I am a slight synaesthetic - I feel a literal physical response and my visual cortex erupts with colors, personality, and imagery when stimulated by words and visual characters - and so the effects of the writing was probably magnified in my case. Again, interesting stuff. I should add that I am a slight synaesthetic – I feel a literal physical response and my visual cortex erupts with colors, personality, and imagery when stimulated by words and visual characters – and so the effects of the writing was probably magnified in my case. Again, interesting stuff.

]]> By: Bradly Baird http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33659 Bradly Baird Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:42:54 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33659 SP: not unpleasant, just overwhelming. Missions are challenging things, accompanied by extraordinary emotions and experiences. The waves of memory came back in a flood! On the independent publishing question. I have a friend who has only ever "self" published and he has had a great career in writing. Granted, he spends ALOT of his time marketing himself, but he prefers the freedom to represent his art in his own way. SP: not unpleasant, just overwhelming. Missions are challenging things, accompanied by extraordinary emotions and experiences. The waves of memory came back in a flood!

On the independent publishing question. I have a friend who has only ever “self” published and he has had a great career in writing. Granted, he spends ALOT of his time marketing himself, but he prefers the freedom to represent his art in his own way.

]]> By: S.P. Bailey http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33657 S.P. Bailey Wed, 05 Nov 2008 07:13:16 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33657 Bradly: I hope having those feelings brought back wasn't entirely unpleasant! A few other former missionaries have said the same thing. It is odd. I agree. Patricia: Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Wm.: The old pink Missionary Guide was comedy gold in a lot of ways. Particularly the role-playing stuff. MoJo: I like "Independent Publishing." And you make a good point: the comparison with independent film works for me. Chuck: Thanks! I'm glad you loved the stories. The note that posed the question about self-publishing, I mean Independent Publishing, may have been confusing. (I don't think it is shameful or pathetic at all by the way...) Bradly: I hope having those feelings brought back wasn’t entirely unpleasant! A few other former missionaries have said the same thing. It is odd. I agree.

Patricia: Thanks. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

Wm.: The old pink Missionary Guide was comedy gold in a lot of ways. Particularly the role-playing stuff.

MoJo: I like “Independent Publishing.” And you make a good point: the comparison with independent film works for me.

Chuck: Thanks! I’m glad you loved the stories. The note that posed the question about self-publishing, I mean Independent Publishing, may have been confusing. (I don’t think it is shameful or pathetic at all by the way…)

]]> By: MoJo http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33653 MoJo Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:23:36 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33653 <blockquote>I genuinely can’t process how behind the times someone has to be to wonder about this.</blockquote> Actually, it's an extremely valid question. It's becoming less stigmatized, but it's going to be a long time before there is no stigma attached at all. He's right to be concerned about it and the only way you figure out which way you want to go is by knowing how it's perceived (perception == truth) and drawing up a list of pros and cons for yourself and accepting the risks associated with whichever path you choose. For me, the *only* downside of independent publishing was that I'd only have to work harder to get my name out there.

I genuinely can’t process how behind the times someone has to be to wonder about this.

Actually, it’s an extremely valid question. It’s becoming less stigmatized, but it’s going to be a long time before there is no stigma attached at all.

He’s right to be concerned about it and the only way you figure out which way you want to go is by knowing how it’s perceived (perception == truth) and drawing up a list of pros and cons for yourself and accepting the risks associated with whichever path you choose.

For me, the *only* downside of independent publishing was that I’d only have to work harder to get my name out there.

]]> By: Chuck http://www.motleyvision.org/2008/all-the-great-lights/comment-page-1/#comment-33652 Chuck Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:16:10 +0000 http://www.motleyvision.org/?p=950#comment-33652 Oh, geez. And now I realized it's the author himself asking the question! Ignore me, folks. Apologies. Oh, geez. And now I realized it’s the author himself asking the question! Ignore me, folks. Apologies.

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