Tayari's Blog: "The Power of Black Fiction"
Posted by TayariJones on July 21, 2006 11:08 AM
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Shalema has brought to my attention as article in Publishers Weekly on-line by Maliaka Adero, an editor at Atria books. She is responding to Nick Chiles's much forwarded essay, "Their Eyes Were Reading Smut." You can read Adero's article yourself, but here is a quick summary. Adero admits to publishing quite a bit of "smut" but she also has literary authors on her list. Her major point is that the two kinds of authors need to learn from each other. The literary authors need better business sense and the commerical people need to learn to write better. That is a real over simplification of her point, probably, but I am in an internet cafe and being charged by the milisecond.
I would just like to throw a couple of quick points out there. Why, oh why, is the article called "The Power of Black Fiction"? And second, does it seem that black writers are pressured to do it all: Write the darn book, market it, hustle it. I am taking a step back from the Tayari dog and pony show. It's not becaue I think I am too "up market" to do the hustle, but I can't write when I have sales figures dancing in my head, when I am sitting in hotels, when I am doing media all the time.
But I said I wasn't going to think about that stuff. I am on a little vacation. I will sip frozen lattes. I am seeing Mary J Blige tonight. I am not going to let P.W. worry me!
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There are 4 comments on ""The Power of Black Fiction"". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.
Comment #1, by james3neal ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tayarijones.com/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
Tayari ... just my humble opinion ... continue on the path you are on ... you are obviously gifted ... perfect your art ... hone your craft ...sales and publicity may or may not follow ... be true to your abilities ... and oh yes I hope Mary J. Blige was slamming!
July 21, 2006 06:28 PM
Comment #2, by Michael Fischer
"But literary writers often invest less of their time and resources in learning how to promote their work, expand on and respond to the desires of their prospective readers, and associate themselves with all kinds of other writers and artists—not just the ones who teach at the right universities and have the enviable contracts with major houses."
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah is all I have to say to that. "Literary" writers being sterotyped as sheltered "academics" who have no real world savvy. No, we haven't heard that one before!
July 21, 2006 09:02 PM
Comment #3, by Dakota Knight
I think Adero's points are valid. Black authors aren't the only ones having to "do it all" now. Writers across the board have to do more in terms of promoting their books. I haven't figured out if there's anything wrong with that. I've never had a second thought about promoting my book. I'm making an investment in myself as a business. I'm the only one that can put food on my table. Would I like my publisher to do more? Who wouldn't? But I don't mind showing my publisher I'm willing to go the extra mile to promote my work. I do think both sides of the issue need to understand each other more.
July 21, 2006 11:38 PM
Comment #4, by Tayari Jones
I agree that writers should participate in thier marketing campaigns. However, I don't think that you can expect a writer to hustle her book in the grocery store parking lot like she's selling girl scout cookies! When I am trying to write the new book, it doesn't help me to constantly talking about the book that I have just finished.
I think that the Adero piece doesn't see to grasp the difference between being a writer and an author. When I am at home, a my writing table, I am a writer. It's only when I am at the microphone or at a booksigning that I am an "author". The writer, writes. The author, has written.
And while I agree that all writers are encouraged to participate with the marketing more, my friends who are white writers of literary fiction are not pushed in the same way to also be sales people.
And finally, to Michael's comment that literary writers are stereotyped to be disconnected from the world. Yeah, that's bunk. And also, hooking up with one person at an academic conference can lead to a huge classroom adoption. (How long would it take for you to sell 100-500 books sitting at a book festival table?) A classroom adoption can be that many books, easily- and may come with a speaking appointment that includes an honorarium.
It seems to me that the academic route is a viable strategy to connect with readers as well.
July 22, 2006 08:59 AM