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I saw the weather report for Joburg today. 27!! I think your toes must be nice and toasty now, although the nights are so cold.

I've had a love/hate relationship with Vodacom lately. On my pre-paid phone, I've made out like a bandit with free airtime, but on my contract number I've been fighting the whole year over accounts that seem exorbitant to me. We're at an impasse now on that one. I'm also glad the weather is changing - I am a southern hemisphere kind of a gal. No winter lover am I. Good luck

Sounds cool, especially for my grandkids, do you have a link?

Oh yikes! I put the link on the title of this post, but I forgot to put another link in the body of the email. I'll do so now. But in the meantime, here goes.http://www.fantasybooks.co.za/

I love the story line about the opening of the library. You have skillfully summarized the days events and I wish I had such a skill.

I hope that in five years' time the books will show that they've been thumbed through and well-used, i.e. it mustn't be a white elephant.

@Anonymous - Thanks@Jenny - You are so right. In addition to it being used, one of my biggest concerns was that the library is sustainable and when the computers and audio-visuals get old /break down they get fixed, and more books are constantly being brought in.

Thank you so much for sharing the story of this library and the lovely photographs! So glad that you keep us updated and connected!Best, Kyrawww.BlackThreadsinKidsLit.blogspot.com

Hi DamariaAs always, thanks for giving Miss Behave a mention. The first event was great fun. Here are some pics. I hope to meet many more new fans at the other events.Camille

I love this part of postings - it really said a lot. You can't be shy to get yourself out there and make a name for yourself. One really needs to remember it is all about promoting yourself. And if you are shy, find ways of promoting yourself that you don't have to deal with the public directly. Thanks for this. I look forward to the rest of the parts - E :)

They won't take off very quickly unless they tell me what I'm supposed to be seeing! My PC is up to date with all plug-ins and I see nothing.

For NF, this should work well.
Smoking Gun has a TV show and has been a successful website for years.

But to be a successful promotional tool for fiction, I can see having to create a script, hire actors, get music...and for the vast majority of writers' advances, that won't be feasable. The publishers will do this for Chriton or King--the very people who really won't need the additional publicity. Does the next Harry Potter book really need more exposure?

So for most people, this will be an out-of-pocket expense.

My son will love the Bone video. There has been some talk on some of the boards about creating book trailers. It's an interesting concept, and I'll keep watching to see how it takes off.

I'm not sure I'm getting this. Is this an advertisement for books, sort of like music videos were an advertisement for music in the beginning?

I watched the Meg Cabot one where she describes what a typical day is like for her. She actually didn't spend as much time writing during her "typical day" as I expected! (Still more than I do, though. I know. Pitiful.)

Like a book-trailer, only better.

It's refreshing to see that I'm not completely off base in terms of shifts in thought in the industry and general book world!

But hey, I mentioned the venerable Miss Snark, so I couldn't have been too off, right?

Thanks for all you do!
~Dawn

So, it's advertising. Anything else? Amy I missing something?

I'm new to your site so wasn't aroujnd when you first introduced this concept... and have searched the VidLit site for some kind of About page, but can't find one. So I am dying to know: What is Vidlit?

It does seem rather odd that the VidLit site doesn't bother to explain itself anywhere (or if it does, it's well hidden).

But anyway, fear not. For all those who are confused like me, follow the link from d.m. papuga's comment above, which explains all.

I heart you Miss Snark, but I don't understand how this is a reflection of "vidlit going to be hot." I like the Smoking Gun, and I like Crime Library, but are you saying that people who aren't interested will seek out these vidlits and/or browse them looking for something good to read?

It reminds me of this local guy who makes rap videos for his furniture store--yeah, more people come to his store, he says, but they just want to take his picture, not buy furniture. I just don't see how this will sell more of the author's "furniture", unless you have some figures to show me?

Wow, vidlit. What a great way to promote a book! With the success of YouTube, I agree this will take off.

As far as budget is concerned, with the right computer software, anyone can create something like this. If your friends are not the right character images for your novel, why not try creative filming using shadows and obscure views (such as from their pov)- leave the faces up to the reader's imagination.

For those who wonder about cut and splice videos, Adobe Premiere Pro is one software that will work. If the huge price tag is too much to afford, enroll in a local community college course (inexpensive) and then you should have free access to a huge computer lab, with free tutors too.

Of course, the biggest investment to me would be the time to create it. It might just be worth it...

Isn't this basically a high-quality, multi-streaming-media, audio-visual, full color presentation of short scripted or unscripted content?

Didn't we used to get that on a screen five times larger, whose quality didn't look like a transmission from the Space Shuttle, whose production values were professional, and whose product, though uneven, could be extraordinary, and didn't we used to call it "TV?"

-kd

This is great. It could possibly even grab the attention of non-readers as well. Good looking out, Miss Snark!

"Of course, the biggest investment to me would be the time to create it."

And for the rest of us, to learn how to create it. Sounds like one for someone who either (a) has a hell of a lot of time on their hands (no kidsm for a start), or (b) can afford to pay someone else to do it.

For anyone interested I mentioned this site on my blog in January.
http://www.meettheauthor.com/

Hmmmm... Vidlit? Might go over like a left handed scrambled egg!

Haste yee back ;-0

Just when you think you have everything pigeonholed they come up with something like this. If it sells books and gets people to read it can only be good.

Heavens!
Look at the world around us!

Someone just posted a satire of the 1984 Apple commercial introducing the MacIntosh using Hillary Clinton's image. It's anonymous because it's a huge copyright violation and no company would ever expose themselves to that kind of liability.

But all of the political talking heads agree that YOUTUBE, MYSPACE and BLOGS will be wild during the next (two year long) political campaign. The politicians running for office will not have control of their message. Watch for all sorts of out-of-control web oriented attack and parry...

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PUBLISHING:

Vidlit marketing, web marketing, Blog marketing,

web, web, web!

Clare,

I guess I should have mentioned this in the first comment, but it was already long enough. To counter your assumptions:

I have three little ones and in addition to being an extremely busy full time mom, I have finished grad school and I am writing my dissertation for a Ph.D. in between sippy cups and late nights of tucking them back in after a bad dream.

I have also written a non-fiction proposal, sent off a first round of just a few query letters in the last month, and thanks to the help of you all and Ms. Snark's wisdom, I sent off a requested full with a great agent (fingers crossed). This is my first time commenting on this blog, but I wanted to be sure no one passed on this type of opportunity just because it is new.

In the last year I have taught myself many software programs as I started my own blogging and needed to use programs through school. I firmly believe anyone who is savvy enough to create a sharp query letter and well-written proposal or manuscript, and is able to use a wordprocessing program like Word and can email, can also learn any program they need on the computer. If I can figure it out, anyone can.

I use the help portion when I see a new program, type in what I need, and figure it out from there. So yes, there is a learning curve, but one that you can do if you know it will make book sales for your particular genre. The "time to do it" includes learning it.

Or, use some of your advance and hire a college student to do it for you. There are plenty of smart computer people who just want a few extra bucks.

My point is if you want to do it, you can find a way without too much money. I know we did not grow up with computers (except the youngest ones) so it can be daunting, but I try to encourage everyone that if my 6 year old can figure it out (and he can), so can you, with time. This includes not just vidlit (I may never set up one myself for this book), but also a blog or website. The question is whether it is worth it for your marketing plan.

Patricia, how does your explanation refute Clare's observation that it would take time to learn to create vidlit? And why do you call her observation an assumption, and then go on to prove that her observation was true?

Anonymous,

Sorry for the confusion. I did not mean to imply the observation that it takes time to learn is an assumption- I agree with her on that.

"Assumption" referred to her remark that I must be someone who has no kids and plenty of time on my hands, or be rich enough to hire it out.

Overdog, you are right that VidLit is basically advertising. But it's a form of advertising crafted to reach audiences who don't respond to the usual forms. Newspapers, magazines, even TV and radio are all losing eyeballs -- eyeballs that are pointed at the web (hi, Dave).

It's a multimedia world out there and multimedia might be the best way to encourage folks to keep picking up words-on-paper. Ironic, huh? But all signs say "inescapable".

Until, of course, the global electro-magnetic grid implodes and the only useful medium of exchange is edible soy pellets. Then you'll see some readin', boy howdy.

P.S. word verification: pfqnxydh -- how "publish" will be spelled in the post-literate future

patricia, don't worry. I'm a software engineer with a blog and all that, and have no doubt in my ability to learn new things.

I am very impressed that you fit so much in. I guess it's about priorities and how you think your spare hours are best spent. I know that it would take me time to learn how to put a decent video together, and I also know that all creative endeavours are more time-consuming than you expect. To create something worth looking at would be time consuming, so you'd have to be sure it would create extra book sales. I guess at the moment I remain unconvinced that anyone will buy a book on the basis of one of these things. No doubt it'll be all the rage in no time at all, but at the moment it seems like a risky way of spending precious hours-snatched-away-from-childcare.

But thanks for your carefully-considered reply. Much appreciated.

Clare,

Thanks, and no problem. You have impressive qualifications. I agree with you, it would definitely take lots of time. I've discovered this as I have had to splice video for my dissertation. I also lack the creative film talent that it would take, but if it seemed worthwhile for my book, I might try.

I also agree about not taking away precious hours with my kids. My husband has been very understanding with my school work and book writing late nights after bed time, so I do not miss out on time with the little ones during the day.

Whatever works!

So, let me see, now I have to learn to edit videos as well as research the market and editors personal preferences and agents and -

Shoot me now, I just want to write!

No, I want to write and get paid to write.

:sigh

Add one more research subject to the cat-polishing list.