Buzz
by John Wolf
With the equinox comes howling at the moon. Maybe that's the mood I'm in, being kindred with the wolves. Recently the authors of the self-publishing ilk have been stirred from buy-outs of small company's by the major publishing houses, a circling of the wagons, a run to Dad for protection; why all the concern? The good thing is that there is concern. Those that cherish the written word and seek to communicate unfettered by those that want to rule us. It’s a healthy thing. I think we all can appreciate the business driven world of turning ink on page to bound volumes that stand the test of time on shelves everywhere, boasting of our immortality – well, those with swelled egos and narcissus complexes.
When I reflect on the many emails and e-articles generated by this recent emotion, I am thankful to be part of a community that is still alive and has the courage to discuss, in an open forum, how they feel. This is one of the few places on earth that can be done. What I think we learned is we are in a 10% world, whether we like it or not. We are boxed into a predefined space of value, but we want to do more.
Authors are respected, revered, and well-regarded, but rarely paid proportional to the revenues they generate. We are word farmers. Only through soaring numbers of sales, like hula-hoops, can we reap the rewards. We are forever bound to our tiny corner of a room, working into the depth of night, pounding out on mechanical or electronic keyboards the stories of our lives, hoping beyond hope that the world will be touched by what we have to say. Here is the rub. It’s not what we have to say, but how it was said. It’s all about clarity. The readers are charter members of wordsmiths incorporated. They dance in schizophrenic gyrations of rage at the misused word, the battered sentence structure, and the clichéd phrase. They strike back with a vengeance. We become torn between what we want to express and how they want it expressed. Is it really our story? No, I think not. The writer is one with the reader, like teacher and being taught, two distinct words, but bound together somehow.
Be there no doubt that there is a movement a foot. The pikes are gathering by the lake in the light of a new moon. The hoods that commercial publishing places over the eyes of authors will be ripped off and dashed to the ground. Those that relish a free press, a way to express themselves, regardless of channeled commercialism, will place their words on pages of their own choice. Self-publishing has opened a door and brought with it, fresh air. We that carry the pen and not the sword still have to bear the responsibility of clear thinking, unwavering plot logic, and hearty characters to represent our inner thoughts, and that can be done with grace (and of course, the skill and cunning of a good editor).
So, when you look at the harvest moon this fall, and think how fragile a thing it is to be able to express meaningful thought in the written word, give out the howl of your life. Scar some neighbors, because you are in the pack, the brotherhood of authors.
John's latest novel is set in India - a modern day mystery
Entitled: "Of Beryl and Alabaster"
Thanks to all the Fox & Quill readers... John Wolf
