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These days, in the writing world, there is a climate of fear and hostility, coupled with excitement and optimism. We are on the verge of a major shift, just as Western civilization was changed with the discovery of the New World. Between the phenomena of blogging, innovative new sites like authonomy, POD and epublishing sites, our frontiers as writers have been expanded. What will come of it? Will high quality literature die?

If I may be so arrogant, I would like to lay out a prediction. Literature is not going to die. In fact, it will be poised for new and exciting experimental forms, and be empowered with more potential than has been realized up and to this point.

I believe that we will see a world where publishers are merged with advertising agencies and marketing firms (if you know anything about the big 5, that’s not too much of a prediction). Editors will still remain a backbone, and in fact quality will take the front seat once again. Sound contradictory? Well, keep reading.A publishing house will be free to take on more writers, because they will need very little capital to publish a book. Books will be produced for websites and available for free. Yes. I said for free. That takes care of all of everyone’s download and piracy fears. Readers will be able to read these on handheld screens (they’ve actually had different versions for about 15 years), or their computers. Unfortunately, the text will undoubtedly be framed by advertising. See, there was a catch. Many blogs and websites have been doing it for years.

Writers will be paid by advertisers based on hits to their particular book. The choice of success will largely be put back in the hands of the readers, and not investors and market analysts. Sure, these will still play a major part, but a small unpublicized book could really turn a profit if it was brilliant enough to gain a strong following. A skilled writer could compete with a celeb book, or one heavily backed by a publisher. Indie books would battle it out in a literary gladiator’s ring. The best would be picked up by a publisher and given editorial and marketing aid. As it improved and gained more readership, it could pick up more and more powerful sponsors.

This probably means that many books will be more vulnerable to fads, and may be easily lost in the sea of overload. I’m not sure. But, I do know an author’s book need never go out of print (though the checks may stop rolling in). Writers can be free to update their books, without a major expense. Agents will be hashing out contracts with Coca-Cola and Reebok. Publishing houses will still exist, because readers will need a way to navigate through all of the crap and find something that they can rely on to have been properly edited. Advertizing will be invading us on yet another front, but the possibilities are amazing (links to other resources placed in the text, interactive features that allow you to connect with characters, maps and charts for nonfiction, animated illustrations for picture books, etc.).

Will a lot of crap be put out there? There already is a lot of crap out there. Are people reading it? There are a lot of books I am happily skipping over at authonomy with my lightening fast mouse. I wish I could say the same for some of my book store purchases. I believe that poorly edited books will sink to the bottom, because who wants to waste their time reading them?

I’m not sure how I feel about all of it. I am just certain this model is pretty close to what will happen. If you’re a writer and you’re not yet web savvy, now is the time to learn (as I stumble through, myself), because in the next ten years, or less, it will be a reality. I know, we think, but I love to have a book I can hold in my hand. But, does the next generation? Or do they like to hold Black Berries and cell phones to text message with?

I welcome all comments, as I too am struggling to figure out what will happen.

I’m happy to report that poet Aileen Fisher is having a comeback! A selection of 15 of her poems originally published in 8 different poetry books from as long ago as 1946, have been gathered in this lovely picture book collection, Do Rabbits Have Christmas, with a forward by Karla Kuskin. The delicate illustrations by nature artist Sarah Fox-Davies are the perfect accompaniment, placed just so for each poem, whether as a small cameo image or a double-page spread. Her careful, naturalistic renderings of the animals, in particular, keep the images from veering into preciousness. And Fisher’s language is ever fresh and crisp, providing glimpses of moments with an intimate first person voice in lines that rhyme effortlessly. The subject is unabashedly Christmas, full of anticipation, wonder, speculation, and delight, with a focus on the weather, the woods, and small animals-- the mouse, the kitten, the chickadee, the rabbit. Whether your view includes a snowy landscape or not (it's 73 degrees here in Texas today!), the poetry evokes a thoughtful quietness and sparkly spirit that is irresistible. Here’s just a taste.

Before Christmas
by Aileen Fisher

We sing, and plan,
and watch the date,
and write some cards…
and wait and wait.

We look for presents
at the store
and make some, too…
and wait some more.

We wrap our gifts
and tie them straight,
and frost some cookies
on a plate,
and buy a tree
to decorate,
but most of all
we wait… and wait.

From Fisher, Aileen. 2007. Do Rabbits Have Christmas? Illustrated by Sarah Fox-Davies. Henry Holt.

Pair this book with Valerie Worth’s out of print gem, if you can find it, At Christmastime (HarperCollins, 1992) illustrated by Antonio Frasconi.

And for more on award winning poet Aileen Fisher, check out my previous Sept. 9, 2006 posting, in honor of her birthday.

Join the rest of the Poetry Friday gathering at AmoXcalli.

Picture credit: www.overstock.com

Thanksgiving is coming up soon, so I looked around for some appropriate poems for the occasion. I gathered a collection of titles for a quick list and two poems that represent two distinct perspectives on being thankful. Enjoy!

All in a Word
by Aileen Fisher

T for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H for harvest stored away, home, hearth, and holiday.
A for autumn’s frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N for neighbors and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K for kitchen, kettles’ croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that abounds.
That spells THANKS-- for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.

Fisher, Aileen. “All in a Word.” in Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Side by Side Poems to Read Together. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1988. (Thank you for your poetry collections, Lee!)

and

Our Daily Bread
by Janet Wong

Nine p.m. we close the store,
wash the counter, mop the floor.

Ten p.m. we finally eat.
Father pulls a milk crate seat

to the table and we pray.
Thank you for this crazy day.

Wong, Janet. A Suitcase of Seaweed, and Other Poems. New York: Margaret K. McElderry, 1996. (Thank you for your poetry, Janet!)

More poetry about giving thanks and Thanksgiving:
Bruchac, Joseph. 1996. The Circle of Thanks. Mahwah, NJ: BridgeWater Books.
Carlstrom, Nancy White. 2002. Thanksgiving Day at Our House: Thanksgiving Poems for the Very Young. New York: Aladdin.
Grimes, Nikki. 2006. Thanks a Million. New York: Amistad.
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. 2005. Days to Celebrate: A Full Year of Poetry, People, Holidays, History, Fascinating Facts, and More. New York: Greenwillow.
Livingston, Myra Cohn, comp. 1985. Thanksgiving Poems. New York: Holiday House.
Prelutsky, Jack. 1982. It’s Thanksgiving. New York: Greenwillow.
Rosen, Michael, J., ed. 1996. Food Fight: Poets Join the Fight Against Hunger with Poems about Their Favorite Foods. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace.
Swamp, Chief Jake. 1995. Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message. New York: Lee & Low Books.
Wing, Natasha. 2001. The Night Before Thanksgiving. New York: Grosset and Dunlap.
Young, Ed. 1997. Voices of the Heart. New York: Scholastic.

Picture credit: www.lakejunaluska.com