Comments on: Why You Don’t Need to Query

By: The Novelist as Essayist: Thoughts on Turning Fiction into Non- « Dennis Cass Wants You To Be More Awesome

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:30:25 +0000

[...] a great way to test out material, build audience, and mark territory. As I mentioned in post about author Jason Bradbury and his model robot, there is no need to [...]

By: denniscass

denniscass — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:29:09 +0000

@mapelba: I really like this. It reminds me of a story I read about an author who was leaving copies of his book across the country and seeing what serendipity brings.

Drop me a note about what happens at the art festival and we’ll do a post about it on DCWYTBMA.

Good luck!

By: mapelba

mapelba — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 05:34:48 +0000

Okay then, tell me what you think. Please.

My art is going to be in an art festival this spring. I make my art by cutting up the pages of my novel and making pictures from the shapes. You can read snippets and phrases of scenes this way.

If you buy a picture, you get a password to the website, and with your password you can read the chapter used to make your picture. If you really like the chapter, you can go to Amazon’s create space.com and buy the book through print-on-demand.

Work?

Well, I haven’t quite figured out how to make an agent take notice…

By: denniscass

denniscass — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:20:21 +0000

Building on what Kat said, there is also something to be said for having the vid not be directly about Mr. Bradbury.

For those of us who feel uncomfortable with self-promotion, this is a great strategy. Make videos about other people that make you look good. Voila!

By: Lars

Lars — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:40:08 +0000

I see this as an extension of the “show don’t tell” mantra. Sure, you can write a query letter that makes Nathan Bransford all tingly. But it’s cooler if you demonstrate that you are ready, willing and able to promote your book, and that your book is promotable. I have a feeling this sort of “something extra” will be a basic requirement sooner than later. Plus it opens up so many more potential channels for success. Querying is a one-to-one deal. Who knows how your cool video, blog, site, experiment, etc. will reach the powers that be? Or the powers that be’s assistant’s best friend’s cousin, who forwarded the link.

By: Kat

Kat — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:25:41 +0000

What I love about this example the most is that Bradbury didn’t have to take up some activity that was “not him.” He found a model-maker and videoed his first view of it. He seemed pretty comfortable both taking a video and being in front of a camera.

It really is an amazing model, though. I can’t believe it’s plastic and resin!