Bookstores are losing their charm

ccarver30 · May 27, 2007

which totally sucks. I used to love going in to bookstores and spending time looking at any and every thing... now all I feel is- why can't that be me on that shelf?

I think I need to remember how I felt when I finished the novel- I didn't care what happened afterward- I only cared that I was DONE...

Anyone else feel this way?

scarletpeaches · May 27, 2007

Bookshops only lose their charm for me when I'm a bit strapped for cash!

No, really, I understand. You want to be up there, but...see, I've always loved bookshops and libraries, so while I long to be 'on the shelf' in a literary sense as well as romantically (

) I don't feel jealous of the authors who are.

In other walks of life I might feel jealous...well, envious...of someone's success or fame, but when it comes to writing, I love the written word too much to begrudge success to anyone else (as long as they're a good writer of course). As I said in an email to someone earlier this evening, "It's the one thing I can say without hesitation I love."

I'll stop now, before I really start gushing about it.

ccarver30 · May 27, 2007

I think I just need to get back to the basics, ya know?

I see your WIP is moving along nicely.

scarletpeaches · May 27, 2007

Probably because I'm on chapter four, or as I call it, "The murder chapter." It's fun to kill people (on paper of course).

But back on topic...what about taking your notebook and sitting for a while in one of those cafes attached to bookstores? I love those, and cinemas (although I don't write in the cinema) for their atmosphere of creativity. You're surrounded by other people's creativity in book form and it really encourages me to work hard to join them in their publication success.

So even though you're 'off' bookshops at the minute, they could be exactly the right place for you to hang out.

Scrawler · May 27, 2007

I use bookstores to harvest info: Checking new releases for agent names.

ccarver30 · May 29, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
Probably because I'm on chapter four, or as I call it, "The murder chapter." It's fun to kill people (on paper of course).

But back on topic...what about taking your notebook and sitting for a while in one of those cafes attached to bookstores? I love those, and cinemas (although I don't write in the cinema) for their atmosphere of creativity. You're surrounded by other people's creativity in book form and it really encourages me to work hard to join them in their publication success.

So even though you're 'off' bookshops at the minute, they could be exactly the right place for you to hang out.

Good idea, N!

CaroGirl · May 29, 2007

While I'm thrilled that authors continue to write wonderful books for me to read, I do get a pang of jealousy that I haven't managed to get there myself. It's only a small pang, mind you, and it's brief. I still love bookstores and libraries.

Story: I went the bookstore the other day to 'help' a friend of mine choose some novels to read while she waits out the end of her pregnancy. She bought FIVE brand new novels, told me she couldn't possibly read them all at once, and lent three of them to ME to read first! Yippee! I came home with three new books and didn't spend a penny.

ccarver30 · May 29, 2007

WOO HOO!

Toothpaste · May 29, 2007

I like the atmosphere in bookstores, even if I don't buy anything. But I have to admit whenever I go to the kids' section I go through all the MG books and if there is a picture of a ship on the cover I pick it up and read the blurb, just to make sure someone's not written my story first! lol!

MidnightMuse · May 29, 2007

I dunno, wandering around a bookstore does hit me with pangs of jealousy sometimes. Then I talk myself into the "it's only a matter of time" frame of mind. Then that gives way to noticing all the authors I'm hoping to be shelved with, which morph into feelings of inadequacy, which turns into blind panic and a complete loss of confidence wherein I purchase a book to read, convince myself I can write just as well as this, and the cycle repeats

ccarver30 · May 29, 2007

MidnightMuse said:
I dunno, wandering around a bookstore does hit me with pangs of jealousy sometimes. Then I talk myself into the "it's only a matter of time" frame of mind. Then that gives way to noticing all the authors I'm hoping to be shelved with, which morph into feelings of inadequacy, which turns into blind panic and a complete loss of confidence wherein I purchase a book to read, convince myself I can write just as well as this, and the cycle repeats

I say, "That will be ME someday..."

FloVoyager · May 30, 2007

I love the smells, the feel of quality paper, the promise of a new book--although I do get a little envious at times, wondering when it will be my turn.

tombookpub · Jun 2, 2007

Move over book stores...

With the emergence of on-line newspapers, magazines, etc. in rejent years, the sales of hard-copies are on the decline. The book market is soon to follow this lead for a number of reasons, IMO.

janetbellinger · Jun 3, 2007

I love bookstores. I have so much to learn from reading other authors. although I understand what you're saying though about wanting to be up there too.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 3, 2007

Books

tombookpub said:
With the emergence of on-line newspapers, magazines, etc. in rejent years, the sales of hard-copies are on the decline. The book market is soon to follow this lead for a number of reasons, IMO.

Actually, it's the other way around. Hardcovers are doing wonderfully. It's the sale of paperbacks that's on the decline.

blacbird · Jun 3, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
Actually, it's the other way around. Hardcovers are doing wonderfully. It's the sale of paperbacks that's on the decline.

True of small mass-market paperbacks, I understand. Does it apply to trade paperbacks as well? Aren't a lot of publishers moving initial publication into the trade paperback format, rather than hardcover, to save costs?

caw

Jamesaritchie · Jun 3, 2007

blacbird said:
True of small mass-market paperbacks, I understand. Does it apply to trade paperbacks as well? Aren't a lot of publishers moving initial publication into the trade paperback format, rather than hardcover, to save costs?

caw

Not to save costs really, but more to try to find a cure for declining paperback sales. The thinking of those I know in the industry is that a fair share of mass market paperbacks will be going into e-format, while hardcovers will still retain the keep books forever crowd, and trade paperbacks will (Hopefully) grab all those in between.

But, really, I'm not sure anyone has a clue. Not too long ago, hardcovers were in trouble, and mass market paperbacks were selling in the millions. The way it looks to me is simply that publishers are trying to cover all the bases so they can move in whatever direction the market takes them.

Publishers tend to listen to those in marketing, and those in marketing tend to be people who say seven things a day, and each of the seven contradicts the other six. Or this is how it sounds to me.

Christine N. · Jun 3, 2007

I see quite a few YA lines, like Aladdin MIX, releasing in trade paperback first, with no hardcover. Probably because kids can't afford hardcover, and can buy more titles with less money that way.

I can't say it's a total trend, though.

Bookstores are losing their charm

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

scarletpeaches

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

scarletpeaches

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

CaroGirl

Living the dream

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

Toothpaste

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

FloVoyager

Will write for chocolate

tombookpub

Nonfiction writer

janetbellinger

Jamesaritchie

blacbird

Jamesaritchie

Christine N.

haz a shiny new book cover