Ketchikan writer and mayor Dave Kiffer explains in the My Turn column of the November 3 issue of Newsweek that it's not so swell for a community to be nationally branded Nowhere. "But we will get over it," he says. "We will even make up with our governor, no matter what happens on Nov. 4. That's what Alaskans do. We pull together to make a go of it in a place where survival—physical or economic—is not necessarily a given." Well said. You can read the whole article at Newsweek.com. While you're at it, check out Kiffer's monthly musings on Alaskan history at Sitnews.
In the area of language faux pas, I doubt I'm the only Alaskan who's been waking up lately with the urge to apologize to the nation for the nonsense we generate. In addition to the congressman who thinks "constituent" means "people who voted for me" and the governor who thinks "violated ethics statute" means "vindicated," we now have Senator Ted Stevens who claims he has not been "convicted" because he plans to appeal. How stupid do these people think we are?
And after the Palin Truth Squad announced that he'd been fired for being a "rogue," former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan must be getting a kick out of the fact that Palin herself is now the RNC's "rogue." Apparently "rogue" is the new black.
Changing the landscape in the world of books is this week's $125 million dollar settlement that paves the way for Google to continue its Google Book program that will allow readers to view and purchase out-of-print books online. An arrangement for compensating authors holding copyright is part of the settlement.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
PASSED OVER
Several days ago, I was met at the entrance of our local Borders by an Alaskan author signing copies of his first book. A sincere and no doubt talented man, he engaged customers as they came through the door, offering facts about how long he'd spent writing the book and a few tidbits about his specialized, regional topic.
Signings are a lot like middle school dances - unless your book and your signing have been heavily promoted, there's a lot of sitting around, hoping someone will notice you and trying to pretend it doesn't matter when they don't. Handselling works, but it's tough. When you think of it, what are the odds that a person looking for just your kind of book is going to wander into a book store during your three-hour time slot? Mix in a not-so-hot economy and you start to feel quite the wallflower.
It's nothing personal. There are a lot of books out there, and whether they realize it or not, the reading public relies mostly on bookstores and publishers to guide their reading selections. In his recent post On Being Skipped, Marketing Manager Andrew Wheeler offers an indepth look at how chain stores decide which books to carry and which to skip, which lead of course to the continuing debate over chain stores vs. independents.
Authors have to put themselves out there. Handselling to individual readers is good. Handselling to booksellers is even better. Target marketing is better still. Above all, understanding the realities of this business - and it is, as Wheeler points out, a business - is a huge asset for writers and tangentially, for their readers.
Signings are a lot like middle school dances - unless your book and your signing have been heavily promoted, there's a lot of sitting around, hoping someone will notice you and trying to pretend it doesn't matter when they don't. Handselling works, but it's tough. When you think of it, what are the odds that a person looking for just your kind of book is going to wander into a book store during your three-hour time slot? Mix in a not-so-hot economy and you start to feel quite the wallflower.
It's nothing personal. There are a lot of books out there, and whether they realize it or not, the reading public relies mostly on bookstores and publishers to guide their reading selections. In his recent post On Being Skipped, Marketing Manager Andrew Wheeler offers an indepth look at how chain stores decide which books to carry and which to skip, which lead of course to the continuing debate over chain stores vs. independents.
Authors have to put themselves out there. Handselling to individual readers is good. Handselling to booksellers is even better. Target marketing is better still. Above all, understanding the realities of this business - and it is, as Wheeler points out, a business - is a huge asset for writers and tangentially, for their readers.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
PICTURES FOR WORDS
For my next book (Picture This, Alaska: Historic Photographs from the Last Frontier, Sasquatch, 2009), I got to sort through 25,000 photos from Alaska's archival collections to select 110 crisp, well-composed, emotionally evocative pictures to tell the story of how our state grew up. In the process, I developed (no pun intended) a huge appreciation for the story-telling talents of Alaska's best photographers.
Many of those who shot photos for my book are no longer around. But we've got plenty of talented professionals capturing timeless images today. Author Seth Kantner (see my post on his latest book, Shopping for Porcupine) is among them. Then there's prolific nature writer and photographer Kim Heacox of Gustavus, likened to an Edward Abbey of the North. Another Alaskan photographer brought recently to my attention is Brian Adams, who has repped us beautifully in several national publication.
Roy Corral does amazing nature photography, featured in a variety of projects including My Denali and A Child's Glacier Bay, both books for young readers. Another among my favorites is James Barker, for his remarkable black and white renderings of Yupik culture in Southwestern Alaska. The title of his classic collection, Always Getting Ready, won me over even before I saw the photos.
Browsing the work of these Alaskans, it's hard for even the fustiest wordsmith to argue the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Many of those who shot photos for my book are no longer around. But we've got plenty of talented professionals capturing timeless images today. Author Seth Kantner (see my post on his latest book, Shopping for Porcupine) is among them. Then there's prolific nature writer and photographer Kim Heacox of Gustavus, likened to an Edward Abbey of the North. Another Alaskan photographer brought recently to my attention is Brian Adams, who has repped us beautifully in several national publication.
Roy Corral does amazing nature photography, featured in a variety of projects including My Denali and A Child's Glacier Bay, both books for young readers. Another among my favorites is James Barker, for his remarkable black and white renderings of Yupik culture in Southwestern Alaska. The title of his classic collection, Always Getting Ready, won me over even before I saw the photos.
Browsing the work of these Alaskans, it's hard for even the fustiest wordsmith to argue the adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
FISH OUT OF WATER
On Sunday I had the delightful experience of listening to Alaskan storyteller Brett Dillingham tell the tall tale of a pet fish that drowned.
With Alaskans suffering more than their share of tall stories from politicians who do one thing and say another, it was refreshing to enjoy a real fish out of water whopper. I found myself wondering which is tougher to fathom: a pet catfish who walks on a leash, or a US Senator who maintains innocence after conviction, despite his own recorded voice saying the worst he'd get for his misdeeds was "a little jail time."
Dillingham, who lives in Juneau, is an acclaimed storyteller working most recently with Performance Library. He's also the author of Raven Day, a book for young readers.
With Alaskans suffering more than their share of tall stories from politicians who do one thing and say another, it was refreshing to enjoy a real fish out of water whopper. I found myself wondering which is tougher to fathom: a pet catfish who walks on a leash, or a US Senator who maintains innocence after conviction, despite his own recorded voice saying the worst he'd get for his misdeeds was "a little jail time."
Dillingham, who lives in Juneau, is an acclaimed storyteller working most recently with Performance Library. He's also the author of Raven Day, a book for young readers.
Monday, October 27, 2008
TELLING OUR STORIES
My first Alaskan book project wasn't really mine. Even though I was a first year teacher, principal (and now artist) Michael Murray entrusted me with an oral history project he'd begun with our students under the supervision of Ann Vick, working with Doubleday's Anchor Press. The result of our collective efforts was The Cama-i Book, published in 1982.
The project was a spin-off of Foxfire, a project by famed educator Eliot Wiggington, affectionately known as Wiggs, in which high school students interviewed Appalachian elders and published their stories. In the Cama-i (a Yupik word of greeting, pronounced chah-my) project, students gathered wisdom and stories from elders in Kodiak, Bristol Bay, and the Yukon-Kuskokwim region.
Our tiny high school of 30-some students was responsible for the entire YK Delta section of the book. Gertrude Jacobs, Elena White, James Chaliak, James Chase, Anna Wasillie, and a handful of others did the hard work of interviewing, selecting, compiling, fact-checking, and writing narratives that would otherwise have been lost, translating from Yupik to English throughout.
That was over 25 years ago. Now the entire state of Alaska is embarking on an oral history project through StoryCorps, a six-month initiative to collect oral histories in Nome, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Unalaska, Juneau, and Barrow. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress will archive the 40-minute interviews, and participants receive their own CDs to keep. The national StoryCorps effort began five years ago, with 20,000 interviews recorded so far. You can catch excerpts from some of the most compelling each Friday on NPR's morning edition.
Behind StoryCorps is the wonderful premise that, writers or not, all of us have rich stories to tell. To find out more about StoryCorps in Alaska, including information on how to participate, visit their website.
The project was a spin-off of Foxfire, a project by famed educator Eliot Wiggington, affectionately known as Wiggs, in which high school students interviewed Appalachian elders and published their stories. In the Cama-i (a Yupik word of greeting, pronounced chah-my) project, students gathered wisdom and stories from elders in Kodiak, Bristol Bay, and the Yukon-Kuskokwim region.
Our tiny high school of 30-some students was responsible for the entire YK Delta section of the book. Gertrude Jacobs, Elena White, James Chaliak, James Chase, Anna Wasillie, and a handful of others did the hard work of interviewing, selecting, compiling, fact-checking, and writing narratives that would otherwise have been lost, translating from Yupik to English throughout.
That was over 25 years ago. Now the entire state of Alaska is embarking on an oral history project through StoryCorps, a six-month initiative to collect oral histories in Nome, Dillingham, Fairbanks, Unalaska, Juneau, and Barrow. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress will archive the 40-minute interviews, and participants receive their own CDs to keep. The national StoryCorps effort began five years ago, with 20,000 interviews recorded so far. You can catch excerpts from some of the most compelling each Friday on NPR's morning edition.
Behind StoryCorps is the wonderful premise that, writers or not, all of us have rich stories to tell. To find out more about StoryCorps in Alaska, including information on how to participate, visit their website.
Friday, October 24, 2008
ALASKAN AUTHORS WEEKLY ROUND-UP
If you've ever wondered why you hear lots about some books and not so much about others, this week's guest blogs by Michelle Moran and M.J. Rose, for agent Nathan Bransford, are required reading. You'll get the inside scoop on what authors should spend on PR, publicist pros and cons, dealing with bad reviews, cover art, and a whole bunch of other fascinating stuff.
Those keeping current with how technology is changing books probably already know about XML, Extensible Markup Language, which allows the sharing of structured data through the internet, which translates into customized delivery to readers. For the rest of us, Publishers Weekly gives a more complete explanation in "XML: Code of the Future."
Anchorage readers will be sad to learn that the independent bookstore A Novel View is closed for a time due to the death of owner Patricia Tegtmeier. Memorial arrangements are pending.
Those keeping current with how technology is changing books probably already know about XML, Extensible Markup Language, which allows the sharing of structured data through the internet, which translates into customized delivery to readers. For the rest of us, Publishers Weekly gives a more complete explanation in "XML: Code of the Future."
Anchorage readers will be sad to learn that the independent bookstore A Novel View is closed for a time due to the death of owner Patricia Tegtmeier. Memorial arrangements are pending.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
IS BIGGER BEST?
For the record, I'm an Alaskan hockey mom whose wardrobe includes outfits suitable for different seasons and climates in all 50 states. If the Republican National Committee wants to outfit their Caribou Barbie and family with a $150,000 wardrobe from the likes of Niemann Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, they're going to have to come up with a better excuse than our climate.
In the flood of unhappy facts I learned about Sarah Palin after McCain added her to the Republican ticket, there was one nice surprise. The old Sarah shopped, at least occasionally, at an upscale consignment boutique in Anchorage. I'm a big believer in small shops, recycling, and consignment. No big surprise that the Republicans, in keeping with their reckless notion that we can spend our way out of any crisis, shopped big, spendy, and (dare we say) elitist stores to dress their champion of blue-collar "real America."
In the book business, elitist equals literary equals small and low-revenue. The axiom is that authors might have to start small and, as their careers warrant, hope to jump up to big. In his recent post "Going From Small Presses to Big Publishers," agent Nathan Bransford discusses the challenges facing authors attempting the leap from what some call "second tier" to the Big Eight (or whatever the number is today - companies get gobbled so fast it's tough to keep track).
Yet many of the best books by Alaskan authors on Alaskan topics are pubbed by smaller independents, including the two I mentioned in yesterday's post. Milkweed brought us Kanter's Ordinary Wolves and Epicenter Wallis's Two Old Women. The good news, according to Bransford, is that "as the big house publishing industry moves to a blockbuster model, small presses will increasingly fill the gap of really good, riskier books that the big houses are overlooking, particularly debuts. And inevitably, those small presses are going to be testing grounds for bigtime talents."
Some of that talent likes where it lands and stays there. Even in a huge state like ours, we know that bigger isn't always best.
In the flood of unhappy facts I learned about Sarah Palin after McCain added her to the Republican ticket, there was one nice surprise. The old Sarah shopped, at least occasionally, at an upscale consignment boutique in Anchorage. I'm a big believer in small shops, recycling, and consignment. No big surprise that the Republicans, in keeping with their reckless notion that we can spend our way out of any crisis, shopped big, spendy, and (dare we say) elitist stores to dress their champion of blue-collar "real America."
In the book business, elitist equals literary equals small and low-revenue. The axiom is that authors might have to start small and, as their careers warrant, hope to jump up to big. In his recent post "Going From Small Presses to Big Publishers," agent Nathan Bransford discusses the challenges facing authors attempting the leap from what some call "second tier" to the Big Eight (or whatever the number is today - companies get gobbled so fast it's tough to keep track).
Yet many of the best books by Alaskan authors on Alaskan topics are pubbed by smaller independents, including the two I mentioned in yesterday's post. Milkweed brought us Kanter's Ordinary Wolves and Epicenter Wallis's Two Old Women. The good news, according to Bransford, is that "as the big house publishing industry moves to a blockbuster model, small presses will increasingly fill the gap of really good, riskier books that the big houses are overlooking, particularly debuts. And inevitably, those small presses are going to be testing grounds for bigtime talents."
Some of that talent likes where it lands and stays there. Even in a huge state like ours, we know that bigger isn't always best.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
IS FIRST BEST?
Authoring is not a race, so there are a couple of arguable points on the question of whether first is best in this business. One is how often books that top the charts in sales are actually the "best books." I'd love to hear other opinions on this, but my sense is that, unlike the mass market, chart-topping regional and specialty books are likely to also be of high quality. In regional markets, big marketing and promotion bucks aren't thrown selectively at certain books. Alaskan books, for the most part, must stand on their own merit.
The other prong of this question is whether an author's first book will likely be his best book. PW Shelftalker Alison Morris ponders this question in a recent blog, with readers weighing in on both sides. Logic would say that writers improve with every book, so their books would keep getting better and better. However, there's not a ton of evidence to bear that out. Some stunning first books have been followed by mediocre efforts. Reader and writer psychology comes heavily into play. The thrill of discovering a new author is bound to diminish. On the author's end, the organic process of writing doesn't necessarily lend itself to systematic improvement.
Among the highly successful first books of Alaskan authors are Seth Kantner's Ordinary Wolves and Velma Wallis's Two Old Women. I don't know if the first novel phenomenon played into Kantner's publishing next in non-fiction, but it seems a wise choice, taking some of the edge off expectations and worries over the success of the next book. Wallis has published two more good books, but neither sells like her first. Then there are one-book wonders, like Kim Rich's Johnny's Girl and Natalie Kutz's Road Song, powerful memoirs that would be tough to top.
What do you readers think? How often is an author's first book her best?
The other prong of this question is whether an author's first book will likely be his best book. PW Shelftalker Alison Morris ponders this question in a recent blog, with readers weighing in on both sides. Logic would say that writers improve with every book, so their books would keep getting better and better. However, there's not a ton of evidence to bear that out. Some stunning first books have been followed by mediocre efforts. Reader and writer psychology comes heavily into play. The thrill of discovering a new author is bound to diminish. On the author's end, the organic process of writing doesn't necessarily lend itself to systematic improvement.
Among the highly successful first books of Alaskan authors are Seth Kantner's Ordinary Wolves and Velma Wallis's Two Old Women. I don't know if the first novel phenomenon played into Kantner's publishing next in non-fiction, but it seems a wise choice, taking some of the edge off expectations and worries over the success of the next book. Wallis has published two more good books, but neither sells like her first. Then there are one-book wonders, like Kim Rich's Johnny's Girl and Natalie Kutz's Road Song, powerful memoirs that would be tough to top.
What do you readers think? How often is an author's first book her best?
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
REAL ALASKA: SHOPPING FOR PORCUPINE
Having just finished Seth Kantner's Shopping for Porcupine , I was reflecting on how, in a few short paragraphs, I could convey the way Kantner spreads the real Alaska before his readers like a humble gift. Stark. Powerful. Intimate. In stunning contrast with the un-Alaskan theatrics being played out on the global stage by Governor Sarah Palin as she stumps for a big promotion.
Then I read Kantner's essay "That Sarah Palin is one unreal Alaskan," posted today in the Alaska Dispatch. In typically unassuming style, Kantner nails it.
So does his book. No preaching. No politics. No cliches. Raised in a sod house by parents who left the city to follow the traditional ways of the Inupiat in the arctic, Kantner writes of a life that's raw, unusual, and tough. His books pulses with the real Alaska, the one most will never see.
Get this book, and read it. For me, it was like coming home.
Monday, October 20, 2008
ANNABELLE AND BUDDY
There's still time to read John Straley's The Big Both Ways, a featured Alaskan book this fall at 49 Writers. In online book club format, you're invited to stop by 49 Writers on November 1, post your comments, and read comments left by others.
I'm nearly finished with this newest book of Straley's, and while not his typical mystery, it's definitely worth the read. You'll meet quite a few characters in the early chapters. Once I got acquainted with Annabelle and her yellow bird, Buddy, I was hooked. The novel earned a couple of starred reviews, a notable achievement for Alaska's former writer laureate and for his publisher, Alaska Northwest Books.
Friday, October 17, 2008
ALASKAN AUTHORS WEEKLY ROUND-UP
Prolific and popular Alaskan mystery writer Dana Stabenow announces that the first chapter of her 17th Kate Shugak novel Whisper to the Blood is now available for an online sneak peek. You can also preorder a signed first edition. If you're one of the few who are unfamiliar with Stabenow's work, fair warning - it's addicting. If you don't believe me, check out the Danamaniacs, who are hosting a chat about all things Stabenow on October 20 at 5 p.m. Alaska time.
The Alaska Writer's Guild is featuring Professor John Strohmeyer, winner of a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, at their monthly meeting this Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Anchorage Barnes and Noble. Strohmeyer is also the author of
Historical Anchorage.
Also in Anchorage, novelist and former Alaska writer laureate John Straley will speak tonight at the Alaska Historical Society conference; $45 will get you dinner at UAA's Cuddy Hall and a chance to hear Straley's thoughts on "The Gray Area: Liars, Storytellers, and Private Detectives." Finally, authors Velma Wallis, Harold Napoleon, and Aaron Leggett will speak Monday, Oct. 20 at the UAA Bookstore from 5-7 p.m. on "Alaskan Natives Looking Forward."
For writers who've tired of slogging through the gatekeepers of publishing, another online option has come on the scene. At BookRix, you can publish your opus and make it available for all to read online. Is this information overload or another chance to get noticed, like the latest self-pubbed sensation The Lost Epistle of Jesus, which is being shopped at this week's Frankfort Book Fair.
The Alaska Writer's Guild is featuring Professor John Strohmeyer, winner of a Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing, at their monthly meeting this Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. at the Anchorage Barnes and Noble. Strohmeyer is also the author of
Historical Anchorage.
Also in Anchorage, novelist and former Alaska writer laureate John Straley will speak tonight at the Alaska Historical Society conference; $45 will get you dinner at UAA's Cuddy Hall and a chance to hear Straley's thoughts on "The Gray Area: Liars, Storytellers, and Private Detectives." Finally, authors Velma Wallis, Harold Napoleon, and Aaron Leggett will speak Monday, Oct. 20 at the UAA Bookstore from 5-7 p.m. on "Alaskan Natives Looking Forward."
For writers who've tired of slogging through the gatekeepers of publishing, another online option has come on the scene. At BookRix, you can publish your opus and make it available for all to read online. Is this information overload or another chance to get noticed, like the latest self-pubbed sensation The Lost Epistle of Jesus, which is being shopped at this week's Frankfort Book Fair.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE
Cold is what our early Anchorage winter has delivered, but it's not how most of us want to characterize our careers, unless we're professional skiers or snowmachiners like the newly-illustrious Todd Palin.
With the economy sending pre-Halloween shivers down most every spine, the book industry is not exactly in fine shape. Indeed, as the New York Observor reports in "Baby, It's Going to be Cold Outside in Book Publishing," the puddle from the meltdown is about to freeze to the bottom in publishing.
Before you give up on that break-out book, remember publishing is notorious for examining its navel and pronouncing itself dead. Still, Leon Neyfakh makes some good points in his piece, not the least of which is that for a book to grab the attention of editors and agents these days, it needs to be "riveting and brilliant."
If I had one word of advice to new writers, it would be to post those adjectives, along with others like "compelling" and "pageturning" alongside their computers. Time was when just writing pretty well about a great place like Alaska snagged contracts and readers. Not so anymore.
And that's one of those good things, like generosity and reflection, that can come of hardship. In our books, as in politics, we're poised to embrace the highest standards.
With the economy sending pre-Halloween shivers down most every spine, the book industry is not exactly in fine shape. Indeed, as the New York Observor reports in "Baby, It's Going to be Cold Outside in Book Publishing," the puddle from the meltdown is about to freeze to the bottom in publishing.
Before you give up on that break-out book, remember publishing is notorious for examining its navel and pronouncing itself dead. Still, Leon Neyfakh makes some good points in his piece, not the least of which is that for a book to grab the attention of editors and agents these days, it needs to be "riveting and brilliant."
If I had one word of advice to new writers, it would be to post those adjectives, along with others like "compelling" and "pageturning" alongside their computers. Time was when just writing pretty well about a great place like Alaska snagged contracts and readers. Not so anymore.
And that's one of those good things, like generosity and reflection, that can come of hardship. In our books, as in politics, we're poised to embrace the highest standards.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
THAT'S ALASKA
With the election less than three weeks away and the gap in the polls widening, it looks like Alaska may get its governor back - or some semblance of who we thought she was. Having penned coming of age novels, I hope we'll look back on these past few months as a coming of age of sorts for our state, from which we emerge from tumult and naivete into some semblance of reflective, mature adulthood.
Writing will continue to help us grow. Of recent note are an insightful essay by Nick Jans in Salon, "Sarah Palin: The View from Alaska," and today's ADN front page story "Polarizing Journey." We know our governor better now, and more importantly, we know ourselves.
One point we've been trying to drive home for folks Outside is what it means to cherish and care for a place that reaches into the core of who we are, all with precious few to lead us. Despite what our governor claims, we're not a microcosm of America. We're not like everywhere else.
A few days ago, I braved a chill wind to cheer on the North Pole Patriots at the high school football playoffs. My team lost, but guess who plunked down in the bleacher below to support athletes from the conservative railbelt community? None other than Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell and State Representative Gene Thierriault. And here's the thing - it was no big deal. No handshakes, no attention. Just a couple of guys hanging out at the game. That's Alaska.
(Pictured above on June 28, 2008, at a statehood anniversary celebration, from left to right: Alaska's governor Sarah Palin, lieutenant governor Sean Parnell (who lost a primary challenge to Congressman Don Young in the Repulican primary), and Anchorage mayor Mark Begich, Democratic challenger for the seat of Senator Ted Stevens (now on trial for federal charges of fraud)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
NEW ALASKAN AUTHORS
Today we're celebrating new Alaskan authors, a whole book full of them, from Alaska's Kuspuk School District along the middle Kuskokwim River. Last fall, mystery author Donna Moore visited Aniak, Kalskag, and Sleetmute as part of Alaska Sisters in Crime's Authors to the Bush program. There it's safe to say she fell in love with our state and the warm folks of the region.
Last night she returned to Anchorage, all the way from Scotland, with beautiful anthologies in tow - polished, professionally bound collections called "Imagine," featured stories and poems by Kuspuk students. Today Donna, on vacation from a day job in what she calls "the exciting and thrilling world of pensions," headed back to Aniak and surrouding villages for ten days of work with students. "I can't think of anywhere I'd rather go," she said.
Nick, an anthology contributor from Aniak who, like many villagers pushed out by rishing costs in the Bush, has relocated to Anchorage, was on hand at an Alaska Sisters in Crime reception last evening to see his published work for the first time. "She was the key to the door I didn't even know was there," said Nick, pictured above with writer Donna Moore.
Monday, October 13, 2008
ILLITERATE ALASKA?
Eleven percent of Alaskans function at the lowest level of literacy, according to the National Institute for Literacy. Sad to say, it appears our governor may be among them. The same woman who claims to read everything put in front of her reportedly hasn't bothered to read the 263-page report on her Troopergate misdeeds.
And her comprehension is so low that when informed of Finding 1, in which independent investigator Steve Branchflower says, "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.100(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," Sarah maintains that she has done nothing illegal and has been completely vindicated by the report's findings.
Forget No Child Left Behind. We need No Governor Left Behind.
Eighty-nine percent of us do read. We do comprehend. And we're insulted to be treated as if we don't.
And her comprehension is so low that when informed of Finding 1, in which independent investigator Steve Branchflower says, "I find that Governor Sarah Palin abused her power by violating Alaska Statute 39.52.100(a) of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act," Sarah maintains that she has done nothing illegal and has been completely vindicated by the report's findings.
Forget No Child Left Behind. We need No Governor Left Behind.
Eighty-nine percent of us do read. We do comprehend. And we're insulted to be treated as if we don't.
Friday, October 10, 2008
ALASKAN AUTHORS WEEKLY ROUND-UP
We're in the midst of a meltdown. Not just on Wall Street, which is alarming enough, but on Main Street Anchorage. Okay, Anchorage has no actual Main Street, but we're riding a roller coaster of early winter snow and a major meltdown thereof. Seasonal shifting, not so strange. May the market recover as quickly as our snowcover undoubtedly will.
Speaking of market meltdowns, I hope you caught Stephen Colbert's uproarious spoof on commie lending practices at our public libraries. And speaking of libraries, Ketchikan librarian Charlotte Glover spoke with Library Journal about book selection in small towns like Ketchikan and Wasilla. While not condoning Palin-style banning threats once books are on the shelves, she points out that with limited budgets and less-than-diverse clientele, librarians have to be prudent and selective.
Speaking of Palin, I'll bet you're not surprised to learn there's another Sarah book in the works. The Alaska Dispatch reports that Sarah Takes on Big Oil, by Kay Cashmen and Kristen Nelson, comes out this Sunday, October 12, released by PNA Publishing, a division of Petroleum News.
And finally, don't forget that today is the last day to RSVP for the Alaska Sisters in Crime event this coming Monday, October 13. At the reception, the group will receive the 2007 Alaska Contributions to Literacy Award for the outstanding work they've done promoting literacy in our state. Also on hand will be Scottish author Donna Moore, AKSinC's 2008 Author to the Bush, who'll do a short presentation on her work with students in Aniak. AKSinC invites you to join them for refreshments, door prizes, live music, and special guests, starting at 6 p.m. at the BP Energy Center. Be sure to RSVP today to info@aksinc.org.
Speaking of market meltdowns, I hope you caught Stephen Colbert's uproarious spoof on commie lending practices at our public libraries. And speaking of libraries, Ketchikan librarian Charlotte Glover spoke with Library Journal about book selection in small towns like Ketchikan and Wasilla. While not condoning Palin-style banning threats once books are on the shelves, she points out that with limited budgets and less-than-diverse clientele, librarians have to be prudent and selective.
Speaking of Palin, I'll bet you're not surprised to learn there's another Sarah book in the works. The Alaska Dispatch reports that Sarah Takes on Big Oil, by Kay Cashmen and Kristen Nelson, comes out this Sunday, October 12, released by PNA Publishing, a division of Petroleum News.
And finally, don't forget that today is the last day to RSVP for the Alaska Sisters in Crime event this coming Monday, October 13. At the reception, the group will receive the 2007 Alaska Contributions to Literacy Award for the outstanding work they've done promoting literacy in our state. Also on hand will be Scottish author Donna Moore, AKSinC's 2008 Author to the Bush, who'll do a short presentation on her work with students in Aniak. AKSinC invites you to join them for refreshments, door prizes, live music, and special guests, starting at 6 p.m. at the BP Energy Center. Be sure to RSVP today to info@aksinc.org.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
LITERARY ALASKA
So many great books have been written in and about Alaska. With a few notable exceptions, most are nonfiction.
It's not that we don't recognize the value of book-length fiction. Seth Kantner's novel Ordinary Wolves was chosen by readers at 49 Writers as the best book to send to candidate Barack Obama to help him get to know Alaska.
And note that I'm not speaking of genre fiction. A number of Alaskans pen regional mysteries. I'm wondering about literary fiction, which I define simply as good, publishable books that don't fit in the usual genres - books find in the general "fiction" sections at libraries and bookstores. (For a more insightful definition of literary fiction, check out this post by agent Nathan Bransford.)
Literary fiction is hard to sell, so maybe it's a combination of our collective practicality coupled with lingering insecurities over being so far removed, internet aside, from the "real" publishing scene. And as Kassia Krozser points out in a recent Booksquare post, most of publishing isn't about the literary stuff anyhow.
Still, I'd love to see another Ordinary Wolves, written by an Alaskan and about Alaska. Heck, I'd love to write it. But right now I have to get back to my genre project.
It's not that we don't recognize the value of book-length fiction. Seth Kantner's novel Ordinary Wolves was chosen by readers at 49 Writers as the best book to send to candidate Barack Obama to help him get to know Alaska.
And note that I'm not speaking of genre fiction. A number of Alaskans pen regional mysteries. I'm wondering about literary fiction, which I define simply as good, publishable books that don't fit in the usual genres - books find in the general "fiction" sections at libraries and bookstores. (For a more insightful definition of literary fiction, check out this post by agent Nathan Bransford.)
Literary fiction is hard to sell, so maybe it's a combination of our collective practicality coupled with lingering insecurities over being so far removed, internet aside, from the "real" publishing scene. And as Kassia Krozser points out in a recent Booksquare post, most of publishing isn't about the literary stuff anyhow.
Still, I'd love to see another Ordinary Wolves, written by an Alaskan and about Alaska. Heck, I'd love to write it. But right now I have to get back to my genre project.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
ONLINE ALASKA
A few concluding thoughts (with no promise I won't return to the topic) on the medium we're sharing at this very moment - blogs, and more generally, the internet. Fascinating especially to Alaskans, who like others in far-flung corners of the world, stand most to gain - and lose - from the medium that has changed our lives. Thoughts, in no particular order, prompted by the book I've referenced before, Andrew Keen's The Cult of the Amateur:
--Keen refers to blogging as "ego-casting...[a] Darwinian struggle for mind-share." He may be overstating, but whenever power opens to the unempowered, i.e. the formerly isolated, expect, ahem, interesting results.
--Keen calls the web "a smokescreen for truth," promoting superficialities rather than deep thought. As in the Palin candidacy, which was hailed as being good for Alaska but seems only to have made us a parody of ourselves, misinformation abounds.
--"Amateur journalism trivializes and corrupts serious debate," writes Keen. Blogging is many things, but it's not journalism. That doesn't mean it's not worthwhile, only that it should be taken in perspective. Likewise, news is not a conversation, despite what we see on many 24/7 cable "news" shows.
--When you only listen and talk with people who think like you, it's hard to find truth. On blogs, radio talk shows, and specialty-interest "news" shows, narrow views are reinforced. After only 50 years of statehood, Alaska is barely out of adolescence. This is no time to retreat to corners where we're bolstered with self-talk.
--Keen points out that when information is distorted and skewed, people switch off. Alaskans already too prone in that direction, as we revel in our differences, our separateness, and our "unique" mindset.
--Though there's lots of talk about online communities, consider how many participants are anonymous. Is that real community? Contrast with Alaska's native cultures, where community is authentic and meaningful. At first blush, the cyber-notion that content is common property seems like it fits with native notions of sharing. But in fact Alaska's natives are cautiously and judiciously protective of their intellectual property. They recognize that stories are the essence of who they are.
--According to a Stanford University study, one in eight adults is addicted to the internet. Ouch. Between that and Keen's assertion that creative work stalls when there's no monetary reward, we're back to that question of whether the internet is bad for writers.
--Alaskans want to be connected, but we love our privacy, too. Given how data is tracked and stored, not to mention sites that promote voyeurism, Internet privacy is an oxymoron.
Ready to quit reading and shut off your computer? Forego online shopping and make do with the local store? Talk to your dog instead of your online friends? Go back to the village phone where everyone stopped playing pool to listen to what you said to the folks back home?
I didn't think so. What Keen advocates is simple: awareness and prudence. Read blogs by folks who know a thing or two, writers who have a track record. Remember that real community happens not when you associate only with people who think as you do, but when you stretch your notions of truth by considering other points of view. As you read, give yourself time to think, reflect, and engage in genuine dialogue with people who use their real names.
--Keen refers to blogging as "ego-casting...[a] Darwinian struggle for mind-share." He may be overstating, but whenever power opens to the unempowered, i.e. the formerly isolated, expect, ahem, interesting results.
--Keen calls the web "a smokescreen for truth," promoting superficialities rather than deep thought. As in the Palin candidacy, which was hailed as being good for Alaska but seems only to have made us a parody of ourselves, misinformation abounds.
--"Amateur journalism trivializes and corrupts serious debate," writes Keen. Blogging is many things, but it's not journalism. That doesn't mean it's not worthwhile, only that it should be taken in perspective. Likewise, news is not a conversation, despite what we see on many 24/7 cable "news" shows.
--When you only listen and talk with people who think like you, it's hard to find truth. On blogs, radio talk shows, and specialty-interest "news" shows, narrow views are reinforced. After only 50 years of statehood, Alaska is barely out of adolescence. This is no time to retreat to corners where we're bolstered with self-talk.
--Keen points out that when information is distorted and skewed, people switch off. Alaskans already too prone in that direction, as we revel in our differences, our separateness, and our "unique" mindset.
--Though there's lots of talk about online communities, consider how many participants are anonymous. Is that real community? Contrast with Alaska's native cultures, where community is authentic and meaningful. At first blush, the cyber-notion that content is common property seems like it fits with native notions of sharing. But in fact Alaska's natives are cautiously and judiciously protective of their intellectual property. They recognize that stories are the essence of who they are.
--According to a Stanford University study, one in eight adults is addicted to the internet. Ouch. Between that and Keen's assertion that creative work stalls when there's no monetary reward, we're back to that question of whether the internet is bad for writers.
--Alaskans want to be connected, but we love our privacy, too. Given how data is tracked and stored, not to mention sites that promote voyeurism, Internet privacy is an oxymoron.
Ready to quit reading and shut off your computer? Forego online shopping and make do with the local store? Talk to your dog instead of your online friends? Go back to the village phone where everyone stopped playing pool to listen to what you said to the folks back home?
I didn't think so. What Keen advocates is simple: awareness and prudence. Read blogs by folks who know a thing or two, writers who have a track record. Remember that real community happens not when you associate only with people who think as you do, but when you stretch your notions of truth by considering other points of view. As you read, give yourself time to think, reflect, and engage in genuine dialogue with people who use their real names.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
BOOK TRASHING
A couple of weeks ago, I trashed a book. Don't worry - it was my own. It had a long life in draft form, spanning several years, but it had a fatal flaw that I was never able to fix. I knew it and editors knew it and then a respected agent pointed it out and I decided to trash it. For now, anyhow. I'm generally good at throwing things away, but I rarely actually toss a manuscript. Sometimes, years later, you reach an insight that breathes life into the dead.
After pouring yourself into a manuscript over a period of months and years, you lose perspective, which is why we have gatekeepers - editors and agents who size up our writing critically and more or less objectively in terms of what will resonate with the market. Though they love discovering new talent, gatekeepers are particularly tough on amateurs.
These days, writers can circumvent the gatekeepers and opt for self-publishing, online or in hard copy. For some niche projects and folks who lose patience with the slow and sometimes illogical wheels of conventional publishing, these options work best.
Is it simply tradition that keeps us from ditching gatekeepers altogether? Will electronic publishing lead us to full democratization of the publishing process, equalizing all voices? We're hearing a lot about elitism from our own Sarah Palin. Ridding ourselves of editors and agents would banish elitism from publishing.
Recently I wrote a review for Bookforum, a print publication. Had I been reviewing the same book on Amazon or on this blog, I would have drafted and revised once, maybe twice. But because I was being paid for my work, I wrote to a higher standard, revising several times. A fine editor suggested more rounds of changes. A fact-checker asked me to elaborate on one of my statements.
The result: a well-crafted review. Readers are a discerning bunch. Serious readers and writers welcome a certain reach of elitism in publishing, even though it means some manuscripts will never see the light of day. Some books - my own included - need to be trashed.
After pouring yourself into a manuscript over a period of months and years, you lose perspective, which is why we have gatekeepers - editors and agents who size up our writing critically and more or less objectively in terms of what will resonate with the market. Though they love discovering new talent, gatekeepers are particularly tough on amateurs.
These days, writers can circumvent the gatekeepers and opt for self-publishing, online or in hard copy. For some niche projects and folks who lose patience with the slow and sometimes illogical wheels of conventional publishing, these options work best.
Is it simply tradition that keeps us from ditching gatekeepers altogether? Will electronic publishing lead us to full democratization of the publishing process, equalizing all voices? We're hearing a lot about elitism from our own Sarah Palin. Ridding ourselves of editors and agents would banish elitism from publishing.
Recently I wrote a review for Bookforum, a print publication. Had I been reviewing the same book on Amazon or on this blog, I would have drafted and revised once, maybe twice. But because I was being paid for my work, I wrote to a higher standard, revising several times. A fine editor suggested more rounds of changes. A fact-checker asked me to elaborate on one of my statements.
The result: a well-crafted review. Readers are a discerning bunch. Serious readers and writers welcome a certain reach of elitism in publishing, even though it means some manuscripts will never see the light of day. Some books - my own included - need to be trashed.
Monday, October 6, 2008
IS THE INTERNET BAD FOR WRITERS?
In a recent LA Times blog post, Carolyn Kennedy quotes two writers who say they physically remove themselves from internet temptations in order to get down to the serious, concentrated effort required to write their novels.
One of my theories about Alaskan authors is that we are, in general, folks who are happy being several degrees removed from the mainstream. We enjoy a certain degree of isolation. One downside was not feeling connected with the literary mainstream and, to a certain extent, with our audience. Another was geographic distance that made book promotion difficult, especially for children's writers who depend on school visits to get the word out. My writer friend Claire Rudolf Murphy left Alaska several years ago partly for these reasons, and she is still much missed.
I've noted the downsides of Alaskan isolation in the past tense. Though the internet hasn't erased them, it has definitely blunted their effects.
The internet is just one of hundreds of potential distractions for writers to drift away from the hard work of developing characters or unsticking themselves from the tough middle of a novel. At the fingertips that should be busy penning a saleable book is one of our powerful distraction.
Perhaps more important is the effect of the internet on language and thought. Collectively, our minds are shifting to texted sound bites. In twenty years, who will have the patience to read - or write - a complete sentence, let alone novel? Since the advent of television, we've had doomsday predictions about the slow slide toward illiteracy. In many ways, the writer's best research friend may also be her worst enemy.
One of my theories about Alaskan authors is that we are, in general, folks who are happy being several degrees removed from the mainstream. We enjoy a certain degree of isolation. One downside was not feeling connected with the literary mainstream and, to a certain extent, with our audience. Another was geographic distance that made book promotion difficult, especially for children's writers who depend on school visits to get the word out. My writer friend Claire Rudolf Murphy left Alaska several years ago partly for these reasons, and she is still much missed.
I've noted the downsides of Alaskan isolation in the past tense. Though the internet hasn't erased them, it has definitely blunted their effects.
The internet is just one of hundreds of potential distractions for writers to drift away from the hard work of developing characters or unsticking themselves from the tough middle of a novel. At the fingertips that should be busy penning a saleable book is one of our powerful distraction.
Perhaps more important is the effect of the internet on language and thought. Collectively, our minds are shifting to texted sound bites. In twenty years, who will have the patience to read - or write - a complete sentence, let alone novel? Since the advent of television, we've had doomsday predictions about the slow slide toward illiteracy. In many ways, the writer's best research friend may also be her worst enemy.
Friday, October 3, 2008
ALASKAN AUTHORS WEEKLY ROUND-UP
What do book bloggers do all day? Former Alaskan (but still with Alaskan connections) book blogger and reviewer Colleen Mondor posts an enlightening explanation at Chasing Ray . Don't get any ideas - my day is not at all like hers.
When I posted yesterday on style vs. substance, I pointed to Sarah Palin's convoluted response concerning Supreme Court decisions (other than Roe v. Wade) with which she disagreed. While you're at Chasing Ray, check out Colleen's post on how Sarah missed the obvious as she stumbled over herself to not answer: the recent Supreme Court decision concerned the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
In June, Sarah made a rather eloquent official response deriding the court's Exxon Valdez decision, yet now she can't even recall she disagreed with it. More evidence that, sadly, the Alaskan leader most of us used to sort of like is just the propped-up, say-whatever-they-tell-me-to gal we saw last night. And don't even get me started on how she can't name one single publication she actually read to enlighten herself while all you rich kids were out there seeing the world.
I do appreciate that Sarah occasionally makes us think. As part of her non-response to the question of what she read, she also said that "Alaska is like a microcosm of America." A longtime Alaskan told me after last night's debate that Alaska is a northern version of the American South. I've never thought of us in either way, but I'm interested in what the rest of you think.
Finally, don't miss Andromeda Romano-Lax's interview with the author who opted out of writing Palin's biography.
When I posted yesterday on style vs. substance, I pointed to Sarah Palin's convoluted response concerning Supreme Court decisions (other than Roe v. Wade) with which she disagreed. While you're at Chasing Ray, check out Colleen's post on how Sarah missed the obvious as she stumbled over herself to not answer: the recent Supreme Court decision concerned the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
In June, Sarah made a rather eloquent official response deriding the court's Exxon Valdez decision, yet now she can't even recall she disagreed with it. More evidence that, sadly, the Alaskan leader most of us used to sort of like is just the propped-up, say-whatever-they-tell-me-to gal we saw last night. And don't even get me started on how she can't name one single publication she actually read to enlighten herself while all you rich kids were out there seeing the world.
I do appreciate that Sarah occasionally makes us think. As part of her non-response to the question of what she read, she also said that "Alaska is like a microcosm of America." A longtime Alaskan told me after last night's debate that Alaska is a northern version of the American South. I've never thought of us in either way, but I'm interested in what the rest of you think.
Finally, don't miss Andromeda Romano-Lax's interview with the author who opted out of writing Palin's biography.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
WHY ELOQUENCE MATTERS
Tonight millions of viewers will watch the highly anticipated debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, and we'll explore another facet of the cult of the amateur - whether eloquence matters.
Sarah says we need an American in the White House who represents "Joe Six-Pack." But can't a vice president represent Joe Six-Pack and also speak in complete, coherent sentences? Take a look at "Sarah's Grammar," posted by my fellow blogger Andromeda Romano-Lax. Then consider Sarah's response when asked by Katie Couric whether she disagreed with Supreme Court decisions other than Roe v. Wade:
"I believe that individual states can best handle what the people within the different constituencies in the 50 states would like to see their will ushered in in an issue like that...I would think of any, again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level, maybe I would take issue with."
This isn't a random sentence plucked out of context to make her look bad. Her entire response had the same woeful construction. Joe Biden had it easy because he had an actual answer to the question: he disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision on the Violence Against Women Act.
It's not just the pressure of the national stage that reduces Palin to gibberish. Consider her response, reported in today's ADN, when asked during a gubernatorial debate to explain how she would pay for new health programs:
"Proper role of government is providing the tools that those in the private sector aren't able to gather themselves, and critical health care will be a priority. I will cover that as your governor, I will make sure that we are fulfilling our constitutional, mandated provisions there, that are laid out for us. Again, education, basic solid infrastructure, public safety - in public safety is health care, so it's a matter of priorities."
Confused? Me too. Her thoughts aren't clear, complete, or coherent. They're a far cry from eloquent. Any English teacher can tell you why. When people don't know what they're talking about, they speak and write in circles. To cure this kind of doublespeak, you have to go back to the drawing board, think through your ideas, and make sure you have something to say.
Tonight's debate will be style versus substance. Sarah's style is limited to poise, looks, confidence, and sarcasm. I suspect Sarah would say eloquence is for elitists.
The public will have to decide if they want leaders who actually know what they're saying. The best way to tell if they do will be to examine how they say it.
Sarah says we need an American in the White House who represents "Joe Six-Pack." But can't a vice president represent Joe Six-Pack and also speak in complete, coherent sentences? Take a look at "Sarah's Grammar," posted by my fellow blogger Andromeda Romano-Lax. Then consider Sarah's response when asked by Katie Couric whether she disagreed with Supreme Court decisions other than Roe v. Wade:
"I believe that individual states can best handle what the people within the different constituencies in the 50 states would like to see their will ushered in in an issue like that...I would think of any, again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level, maybe I would take issue with."
This isn't a random sentence plucked out of context to make her look bad. Her entire response had the same woeful construction. Joe Biden had it easy because he had an actual answer to the question: he disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision on the Violence Against Women Act.
It's not just the pressure of the national stage that reduces Palin to gibberish. Consider her response, reported in today's ADN, when asked during a gubernatorial debate to explain how she would pay for new health programs:
"Proper role of government is providing the tools that those in the private sector aren't able to gather themselves, and critical health care will be a priority. I will cover that as your governor, I will make sure that we are fulfilling our constitutional, mandated provisions there, that are laid out for us. Again, education, basic solid infrastructure, public safety - in public safety is health care, so it's a matter of priorities."
Confused? Me too. Her thoughts aren't clear, complete, or coherent. They're a far cry from eloquent. Any English teacher can tell you why. When people don't know what they're talking about, they speak and write in circles. To cure this kind of doublespeak, you have to go back to the drawing board, think through your ideas, and make sure you have something to say.
Tonight's debate will be style versus substance. Sarah's style is limited to poise, looks, confidence, and sarcasm. I suspect Sarah would say eloquence is for elitists.
The public will have to decide if they want leaders who actually know what they're saying. The best way to tell if they do will be to examine how they say it.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
CULT OF THE AMATEUR
As I mentioned last week, I've been reading Andrew Keen's The Cult of the Amateur: How Today's Internet is Killing Our Culture. Keen proposes that blogs are part of the problem - a big problem - so perhaps a blog is an odd forum for discussing his observations. But there's a lot to ponder in what he says, especially for Alaska.
The most obvious connection - with apologies to those of you who don't want to hear another word about Sarah Palin - is McCain's selection of an amateur for his running mate. It's not the first, it won't be the last, and yes, some make a case for Obama being, if not an amateur, not exactly an expert either.
This isn't the Alaskan spirit of doing the best you can with what you've got because it's all you've got. What's unfolding in the Palin candidacy is the notion that amateur status isn't something for which you must apologize, compensate, or explain. With a big boost from the internet, Keen proffers, we've thrust ourselves into a frightening extension of populism, the celebration of the amateur.
That's why some scoff at qualifications and education and judgment and say they wish Sarah Palin could be President because she's just like them. That's why her Truth Squad has the audacity to conduct daily bashings of "partisan politics" and "the media elite" as if they're some sort of plague from which we must be quarantined. It's why, if we're not paying attention, we could get confused and believe something is Truth just because a Squad says it's so.
The cult of the amateur calls for a ditching of the experts, those with the facts. Get your news from the man on the street, the blogger with all the answers, the smart guys that call in to radio talk shows.
Here's what I like about Alaska. It stretches you beyond your perceived limits, and it also puts you in your place. But in the cult of the amateur, you're neither stretched nor corrected. You can blather on and think it means something. And maybe it does, if enough people believe it.
Our current economic crisis is another proving ground for the strength of the cult. Will Congress listen to economists or amateurs? So far, the amateurs have prevailed. In a climate of distrust and a cacophony of voices, the question is how far they can go, and what damage will be done along the way.
There's more to be said about what the cult of the amateur means for both Alaskans and authors. We'll use this forum - the forum of amateurs - to explore those ideas later this week.
The most obvious connection - with apologies to those of you who don't want to hear another word about Sarah Palin - is McCain's selection of an amateur for his running mate. It's not the first, it won't be the last, and yes, some make a case for Obama being, if not an amateur, not exactly an expert either.
This isn't the Alaskan spirit of doing the best you can with what you've got because it's all you've got. What's unfolding in the Palin candidacy is the notion that amateur status isn't something for which you must apologize, compensate, or explain. With a big boost from the internet, Keen proffers, we've thrust ourselves into a frightening extension of populism, the celebration of the amateur.
That's why some scoff at qualifications and education and judgment and say they wish Sarah Palin could be President because she's just like them. That's why her Truth Squad has the audacity to conduct daily bashings of "partisan politics" and "the media elite" as if they're some sort of plague from which we must be quarantined. It's why, if we're not paying attention, we could get confused and believe something is Truth just because a Squad says it's so.
The cult of the amateur calls for a ditching of the experts, those with the facts. Get your news from the man on the street, the blogger with all the answers, the smart guys that call in to radio talk shows.
Here's what I like about Alaska. It stretches you beyond your perceived limits, and it also puts you in your place. But in the cult of the amateur, you're neither stretched nor corrected. You can blather on and think it means something. And maybe it does, if enough people believe it.
Our current economic crisis is another proving ground for the strength of the cult. Will Congress listen to economists or amateurs? So far, the amateurs have prevailed. In a climate of distrust and a cacophony of voices, the question is how far they can go, and what damage will be done along the way.
There's more to be said about what the cult of the amateur means for both Alaskans and authors. We'll use this forum - the forum of amateurs - to explore those ideas later this week.
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