Augmented Reality - Page 2 - Writers Forum

thelatemitchellwarren · 07-09-2004, 12:17 PM

I read your sample on the fiction forum
and I saw what I expected to see.

A story too smart for its own good.

I don't think Daniela really understood
the point of your writing, since her
critique was written for the benefit of an
amateur. I know you're familiar with the
concept of show and don't tell, and I knew
what you were trying to do. I thought you
did it well, as far as stream of consciousness
and deconstruction of literary techniques
goes. You're playing your audience like a
keyboard and basically holding them hostage
with your words, as any true experimental
writer does, once he learns and tires of the
traditional rules.

Then again, I must confess that her
viewpoint is the prevailing opinion throughout
the publishing industry. What we see as
challenging and creative, they will see as
incomprehensible or at least unmarketable.

It's a book one must self-market and win a
cult following with, and then from there
hopefully go onto greater acceptance.

As far as the turn of the century goes, I
don't see a monumental change coming
about any time soon. I think as years
pass, our attention spans get shorter and
shorter. With fast food, television and
now DSL internet, it's scary to contemplate
what books will be one hundred years
from now.

eleutheromaniac · 07-09-2004, 02:29 PM

Yes, as anyone else reading this thread has probably already guessed, The Late Mitchell Warren is moonlighting as my publicist.

"the prevailing opinion throughout
the publishing industry. What we see as
challenging and creative, they will see as
incomprehensible or at least unmarketable."

This is the sad truth not only in literature, but in all art and media. A small percentage of rich, out-of-touch people decide for US what we want. I'm actually currently working on an Op-ed piece which deals with the mediocrity and hegemony that has precluded the advancement of all of the arts. (Though, in Daniela's defence, I think viewing it in the context of an internet post, and the fact that I was a newbie at the time, might have influenced her judgement.)

"With fast food, television and
now DSL internet, it's scary to contemplate
what books will be one hundred years
from now."

I dn't knw wht u r tlk ing abt. bks wil b fin. u suk.

That's a whole other debate, but I think you're wrong. I'd hate to have to resort to a cliche, but it really seems fitting here: it is always darkest before the dawn. The question is, how much darker can it get? Fear factor? John Grisham? Britney Spears? I can't imagine it can get any worse. *knocks on wood*.

safari invasion · 07-09-2004, 03:15 PM

It can get worse. I'm sure it can. Looking around at people my age, I have every confidence that they can make society worse. I don't know how, but I'm sure they'll find a way. I read an article about "violence porn" yesterday in Reader's Digest about people who go to websites to watch violent vidoes (like the beheadings in Iraq) because they get off on it or something.
I'm not sure what that has to do with anything, except that things can always get worse.
That's my bit of optimism for the day.

daniela · 07-09-2004, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eleutheromaniac

(Though, in Daniela's defense, I think viewing it in the context of an internet post, and the fact that I was a newbie at the time, might have influenced her judgment.)

Thanks for saying this, eleuth, but there is no excuse for assuming that you were an amateur. I apologize.

In my opinion, the thread where eleuth first introduced us to his unique style of writing is almost like a psychological experiment. Given just the first part of the novel (which I thought was a complete story even though eleuth posted in the fiction section--go figure); I jumped to conclusions and gave a critique that I would give to an amateur. What I should have done was ask questions to find out where the piece was going before I completed my analysis of it. Now that eleuth has made many posts on the forums, he has shown himself to be very intelligent and I regret my assumptions even more. In addition, with the benefit of the other posts, I am starting to see the point behind the excerpts of “Augmented Reality.”

I personally am looking forward to eleuth's book. He has gotten me interested again in authors that I wanted to read when I was a child. As soon as I have a little extra cash, I will buy “Augmented Reality” and the books that eleuth recommended to me. My own writing (even though it is usually for children) and general view of life can only improve by reading them.

--DM--

eleutheromaniac · 07-10-2004, 06:53 AM

"Thanks for saying this, eleuth, but there is no excuse for assuming that you were an amateur. I apologize."

No need to apologise. To tell you the truth, I wanted to be viewed as an amateur because that's what most people will do when they first read my book. Most people who had read my book previously had either known me or known my work, so they already knew what I was capable of. I wanted to see what someone who didn't know me or my work would think, and, like Mitch said, it appears that I have an uphill battle to convince people of the validity and quality of this book. But then, I knew that going in.

As for children's books, those are actually the most difficult to write. Writing something meaningful and insighful, and yet at the same time appealing to the intellect of a child, can be an almost impossible task. The best example is probably Alice in Wonderland, which I would recommend reading if you haven't already. I've also heard the Harry Potter books are fairly intelligent children's books, but I haven't read them myself so I can't comment.

eleutheromaniac · 07-19-2004, 03:50 PM

UPDATE: My galley's corrections should be done in just a couple of days, which means I'm mere weeks away from going live! And I'm currently setting-up a website for my book. I'll keep you guys updated.

eleutheromaniac · 08-06-2004, 04:14 PM

UPDATE: I just signed off on the galley, and I've been informed that it should take no longer than three weeks for my book to go live and be available for purchase.

Airborneguy · 08-06-2004, 07:32 PM

Nice! Congrats! I will be buying it as soon as you tell me that I can.

eleutheromaniac · 08-12-2004, 06:05 AM

I try to leave out the parts that people skip. ~Elmore Leonard

We turn clay to make a vessel;
But it is on the space where there is nothing that the usefullness of the vessel depends.
~Lao Tzu

I wrote my book in such a way that it could never be made into a movie. That was intentional on my part, sort of a backlash against what has been happening in literature of late.
~Eleutheromaniac

Describes pretty well how I went about writing this book.

http://mars.ark.com/~gero/nietzsch.html

This may or may not give some insights into Mr. ******.

eleutheromaniac · 08-14-2004, 05:37 AM

UPDATE: The book has gone live! Repeat, the book has gone live!

Buy it direct from AuthorHouse for $9.50 USD. That's about 10 cents per page. And since it's a whole other book the second time you read it, it's really only a nickel per page.

It won't be available from retailers for at least another week, but it'll probably be cheaper to buy it direct from AuthorHouse anyway.

Sorry the webpage isn't up yet, I've hit a bit of a snag. As soon as it's up I'll post a link here and in the reciprocal thread.

Airborneguy · 08-14-2004, 08:13 AM

Good to hear, I will buy it very soon. Congratulations!

eleutheromaniac · 08-14-2004, 08:34 AM

Thanks Airborne. Hopefully this book will renew your appreciation for philosophy. Or if not, give you a couple of laughs. Either way, I hope you enjoy it.

Airborneguy · 08-14-2004, 09:14 AM

I will post a thorough review once I have read it! PS, how long does the company take to ship? I know PA is kinda slow with that. Oh, and I would have bought it now, but I don't have my wallet with me; later today, I promise.

eleutheromaniac · 08-14-2004, 09:40 AM

Ship what? From the time you order it to the time you recieve it? I'm honestly not sure. I guess you can tell me.

"I will post a thorough review once I have read it!"

Thanks. You can do a Q+A with me after you read the book if you want. I'm actually not sure if this is the type of book you can do a thorough review of. I'd be interested to hear what you have to say.

I have to admit, for the first time in my short writing career, I'm a bit nervous as to what people will think of this book. You know that feeling you get in your gut when going down in an elevator? That's what I got right now. Writing this was in many ways similar to walking a high-wire without a net. Part of me thinks I should have listened to some of my friends and played it safe by writing a more traditional novel. But where's the fun in that?

Tori · 08-15-2004, 03:43 AM

Congrats eleutheromaniac! I am sure you are nervous. I will purchase the book as soon as I get paid on Monday. Look forward to reading your hardwork. Stand strong on the words you wrote. It was written from the heart of your mind and that's always a good thing.