Comments for Holt Uncensored - Pat Holt on Books, the Book Industry and the Revolution

Comment on REMEMBERING PAT CODY by Nora Cody

Nora Cody — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:40:18 +0000

Thank you, Pat, for this lovely tribute. You have captured her spirit better than most.

Comment on The Ten Mistakes by mountainh2o

mountainh2o — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:59:05 +0000

Great piece! I too write, and and will use these 10 tips constructively. A writer friend of mine turned me on to this.

Writing cleanly, with punch, and still easy to read is an art. I have been working on it for thirty years. I put it on paper, then revise my work a dozen times before I like it. I look for anything that seems jumbled, so that it is smooth and the story, “keeps going”. I agree with you on not wanting them to stop and think about what you said.

Thanks for sure! I have a full length novel on this site.

http://www.digeststorycom

Comment on LITERARY CON ARTIST TAKEN SERIOUSLY by eugenegs

eugenegs — Sun, 23 May 2010 05:09:34 +0000

Cant wait for Part III !!

I heard Shields at the copyright 2010 conference and was turned off in principle – but I like that you are giving him a hearing (reading) in toto – and by the time you are finished I may go buy the book so that I can see for myself.

Ths issue that engages me is the concept and experience of reality — so easy to play around with and probe with words – all of which begs the question – it is or it isnt – and if it is, even if uncertain to our eye, show some respect!

Gene Schwartz

Comment on ‘SCROTIE MCBOOGERBALLS’ ELEVATES DAVID SHIELDS’ CAREER AT KNOPF by eugenegs

eugenegs — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:31:27 +0000

How can you leave us in such suspense?!

What a pleasure to have your sharp eye cast on this work. The author appeared at a recent forum and was roundly applauded. I was frankly appalled but figured I’m out of step with the army. My reading time being limited as it is these days – I will rely on you to curate — unless Part 2 propels me to get the book.

Thanks for your voice -

Gene Schwartz

Comment on THE DIY AUTHOR RETURNETH (AGAIN) by Pat Holt

Pat Holt — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 16:48:57 +0000

Hi Stephen,
I think and hope I told you – egad was it 3 months ago, so sorry for all this time passing — that I would like to devote a column to your question, and this just to say that I do plan, after finishing next ones, to deal with it at length. It’s absolutely the pivotal question every serious writer needs to ask and of course there are not easy answers. In any case please accept my apology for not being in touch with you sooner, unless in my postmenopausal shot-through memory, I did! If you have any updated thoughts, send to me directly at holtpat@earthlink.net. More soon, and thank you.

Comment on THE DIY AUTHOR RETURNS by Pat Holt

Pat Holt — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:50:33 +0000

Ack. I worry about that kind of talk, especially from an editor who should know better. Holt the publisher (no relation to me) has been a breath of fresh air not exactly as “a mid-list driven house that published mainly serious literature” but rather a serious house with a commitment to good writing. The idea of an imprint “positioning” itself like a brand of athletic shoes and being “front and center” of (my guess) a pack of droolers that will compete each other into paying extravagant advances pressures serious writers to make their work more commercial. Good books deserve to be published because they are good. The job of the rest of us is to spread the word about what makes them good.

Comment on THE DIY AUTHOR RETURNETH (AGAIN) by Basil Sands

Basil Sands — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:30:53 +0000

Good article. Seth and JC, and a few others inspired me to do the same and the trip has been fantastic. Four novels into it and I am believing that entering the publishing world via podcasting audio books and giving away free or cheap e-books will soon become the way for any author to break into making a living at this gig.

Comment on THE DIY AUTHOR RETURNETH (AGAIN) by ravenwest

ravenwest — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:33:28 +0000

That might be the case, but I have all my books on Smashwords for the very low price of $1.99 and have only sold 4. I suppose the new digital format might be the way to go, but e-books and e-book readers have been out there for over ten years and after staring at a computer screen all day, the last thing I want to do is take another electronic device to bed!

I also believe that people who read hard copy actually READ hard copy and aren’t just skimming through the text while being distracted by everything else. If it’s all about the $$, then maybe I’m just being unrealistic in my deep feeling that when I put so much time, effort and soul into every word, I would hope that the reader spends at least a bit of concentrated time reading.

Comment on The Ten Mistakes by Writer’s block busters « this space is mine

Writer’s block busters « this space is mine — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:37:09 +0000

[...] if you haven’t already done so, and start exchanging/critiquing/etc. Keep an eye out for problems that might need repair, but don’t edit so much that you strip the meaning out of your [...]

Comment on THE DIY AUTHOR RETURNS by jane rosenthal

jane rosenthal — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:33:51 +0000

Hey Pat, What’s your take on Holt’s news today that the Da Vinci Code editor is leaving Random House to lead H.Holt? Holt’s comment went something like this: We used to be a mid-list driven house that published mainly serious literature. Now we are re-positioning ourselves to be front and center.
Front and center of what?
Jane R.