| The Reality TV of Books. | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: The Reality TV of Books. Tue Feb 17, 2009 5:11 am | |
| Ok so we all know Americal Idol, X factor etc. but often i've heard people say, where is the book equivalent?
Well, between Amazon's Breakthrough Novel Competition, Harper Collin's Authonomy and now youwriteon.com (a uk arts council sponsored site) - i wonder what are people's thoughts on these?
I've heard lots about the Amazon competition with both complaints and compliments about every bit of the system. Some thought the rating was amazing, others felt they're books weren't even reviewed cause details were wrong about their book reviews.
Others in regards to voting, felt that everything was strategic - so others could get to the top? while more deserving manu were ignored?
And what happens to the winners?
What do you think?
Is it a good idea or bad idea?
and do you know of other programs/comps like these? | |
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ReNu Lois Lane has nothing on ReNu
Number of posts : 382 Location : Between the pages of a good book Job/hobbies : Working journalist, aspiring novelist, history buff, collector of vintage fountain pens and war medals. Registration date : 2009-02-08
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:25 am | |
| I'm not sure whether it would be a good idea or not. Imagine the writer-equivalent of that girl Tatiana screaming when she's knocked out...! I like youwriteon and Authonomy. I haven't joined either yet as I think I need more material.
I've participated in writing competitions at school and college. You're given a topic/theme, and an hour in which you should produce an essay or short story (even poem, depending on the competition). Harsh actually - some people work well with some themes, while some themes are unsuitable for them.
Awards given to already published works (right from Whitbread's to Triple Smarties to the Booker) are fine, but writing and reality competitions don't go hand in hand. It's not like singing. You can write better on certain days, in certain moods, under some circumstances, and with inspiration. Singing, or even acting, isn't as dependent on so many factors as writing is. Also, a popular novel and a novel that gets critical acclaim need not be the same. As per the Breakthrough Novel Award, would public voting (in this case, restricted to Amazon customers) work for books? I think it was Penguin's editors who read the manuscripts. I agree with the complainers (is that even a word?). There's no way Penguin editors could have read every one of those few thousands of manuscripts.
Just to clarify, I'm not against competitions. If the idea is just to encourage new talent, I'm all for it. | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Sat May 02, 2009 9:39 am | |
| I've heard some things about the authonomy site, and I've had a good look at it today. I think I'm going to join. It gives me free things to read and when I've done enough work on my book, I *might* consider putting it on there. | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Sat May 02, 2009 9:53 am | |
| I heard some stuff too Dae (not very positive) - supposedly (and harper don't sue me) the person had actually previously submitted to Harper before. that being said that probably doesn't break the rules or anything.
i noticed lately though these websites are popping up everywhere | |
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daeonica Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 369 Age : 33 Location : Scotland Job/hobbies : on my gap year! Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Sat May 02, 2009 9:59 am | |
| - emilycross wrote:
- - supposedly (and harper don't sue me) the person had actually previously submitted to Harper before. that being said that probably doesn't break the rules or anything.
What person? | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Sat May 02, 2009 10:05 am | |
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Clare C.G Fleshing out those Characters
Number of posts : 55 Age : 37 Location : The Strange World Of My Brain Job/hobbies : Shop Assistant/writer Humor : being cat food to an ID crisis tiger is not on my To-Do list! Registration date : 2009-03-07
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Sun May 10, 2009 4:50 am | |
| We need a talent reality show for writers. Why can't writers enter Britain (or America or whatever part of the world your from) Got Talent? (Ok, we can't perform in front of the Queen, but tell me someone gets my point) | |
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emilycross The Boss of the Board
Number of posts : 1170 Age : 37 Registration date : 2009-02-05
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Sun May 10, 2009 5:14 am | |
| I actually found a blog post about this - there actually have been five pilots of a version of reality tv, but some haven't aired/gone past first episode. guess writing isn't as thrilling as watching someone simg | |
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Novel-Goddess Editor of the Board
Number of posts : 505 Age : 30 Location : Everywhere. Job/hobbies : I write stuff. Humor : My entire life is one of those "you had to be there" jokes. Registration date : 2009-02-07
| Subject: Re: The Reality TV of Books. Sun May 24, 2009 9:07 pm | |
| Yeah, watching people writing isn't very interesting the majority of the time. Although maybe for the "talk about it" sections of the show, the authors could talk out their plot snags, or something? I dunno. Thing is, the reality of writing is a lot of long hours sitting in a chair. Not a lot of yelling, and no fistfights as far as I know. I mean, if you don't count the fights that characters get in sometimes while you're trying to work through plot tangles. | |
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