June, she approacheth! Which means BEA (BookExpo America), SHE approacheth! And attached to BEA we have bloggery-type thingys. Jeff over at The Reading Ape is organizing a Book Blogger Unconference, the goal being to have a small, conversation-driven event with a more "for us, by us" type of feel. Participants decide the panel topics (and run the panel topics, natch), resulting in an organic event with sure-to-be relevant shtuff happening. Also, the Unconference is free. So there's that. The Uncon is Monday, June 4th. If you want more info, check out the Uncon's website.
(Of course, the regular Book Blogger Conference will also be happening, if you want something bigger and more industry-focused with more presentation-style sessions. I just like the grass-roots feel of the Uncon myself. And the freeness. If you're going to a book blogger event to meet publishing types or just want something more formal, BBC is your jam.)
There's been a call for bloggers participating in the Uncon to talk about what kind of sessions they would like to see. I've been thinking about it all day and all I've really been able to come up with is how much I realllllyyy want some feta cheese right now. I'm easily distractible. In between cravings for feta cheese, I've had a few thoughts:
1. AUTHORS ARE ON TWITTER, EGADS! They've never been so accessible. Gone are the days of the unassailable hermit author (mostly, and only for authors who want to sell books and aren't already Stephen King). What does it mean for us to be able to talk to them so readily? Does it change how we review, knowing that they could yell at us (and some do)? Does it change how we feel about author intent, since we can, you know, ASK?
2. SPEAKING OF NEGATIVE REVIEWS, let's talk about that. We love the snark around here, but the recipients of that snark are dead and don't care. I don't know how scathing I'd be willing to be if the author was still alive and around with feelings and such. Where's the line between negative-hepful-for-readers and negative-just-being-an-ass-because-I-found-a-great-GIF?
3. DOLLA DOLLA BILLS YA'LL (Monetization) BUT- not necessarily a how-to sort of thing, but a WHY/WHY NOT sort of thing. Does it alienate readers when you monetize? Do people who monetize love books less than people who "are just doing it out of the love of literature" or whatnot? What are the ethical stuff people who monetize need to consider (like reviewing books from publishers who want to advertise with you, etc.)?
That's what I've got. If you have THOUGHTS about what would make a good session, stop over at the Uncon Prospective Sessions page and let them know. For shizzle.
It seems like we need a session on how to deal with all the drama that happens online...each week I seem to read at least one blog post about how some blogger has been attacked virtually over something he/she says, the kind of reviews he/she writes, etc. I hate to think that we might need some kind of session on manners online :/ Isn't that sad? We're much more of an influence on the book world as a group connected by similar goals that honors each other's differences than "a bunch of women" who "fight like cats." Can't you just hear the dismissals?
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas as well...I've only written a few negative reviews and it does feel weird...especially if you've had previous contact with the author :(
Ohh, I think that's a great idea! We could do a session on the fine line between counter-productive infighting and helpful conversation. It is funny that we even have to consider a panel of "how to have manners" but it's true! It's a new medium, book blogging, with new rules. I'd go to that panel.
DeleteI love all your ideas for Uncon sessions! Especially the one about writing negative reviews -- something I always agonize over.
ReplyDeleteI'm really hoping to go to the Uncon in June. I can't take the whole week off for work, so it seemed silly to pay all that money for the BBC when I wouldn't be able to go to BEA at all.
Those are great ideas! This is one of the few times I wish I didn't live in the Pacific Northwest.
ReplyDeleteEspecially the first one- authors on Twitter(and also in the blogging world). Last week historical author Kathleen Kent (The Heretic's Daughter, The Traitor's Wife) responded directly to my comment on her blog post and I just about wet my pants. My first experience with this was when YA author Bruce Coville followed me back on Twitter because he thought my bio was clever (so I will never admit to him that my husband came up with it), and I had to immediately brag to everyone even though we have had no contact since. Social media and blogging has introduced a whole new way of connecting with authors, and so far I love it. Of course, it makes it that much easier for them to make themselves look really stupid if they don't "do it right". There's a wealth of material to talk about there.
I like all of these ideas. I'm so unhappy with everything that is going on with BBC and BEA. I have never seen bloggers tear each other apart like I did today on Twitter over the press pass issue.
ReplyDeleteI am on the fence right now about which event to attend, but one of your ideas really crystallizes the difference for me between the BEA Blogger Con and the UnCon: BEA/BC has a panel on monetizing and it's called, "So You Want to Make Money?". Your proposed panel is (I think) more like, "Would Monetizing Be a Good Idea for You given Your Personal Blogging Goals?" There's a difference.
This is not to criticize the BEA BBC bloggers themselves (there is at least one on that panel I adore). I just feel like the kinds of questions I am seeing on the proposed panels at UnCon (yours and Jeff's) are more like what I expected from the BEA BBC.
These are all good ideas with room for lots of different perspectives and approaches. Should make for some interesting conversations!
ReplyDeleteI also really like Peppermint PhD's idea and your elaboration on it--how do we have discussions about prickly issues online without it turning into a fight?