Archive for Around the Web

Annals of Bad Ideas: Children’s Book Division!

Two things upfront:

1) Jean Craighead George is an absolute legend in the field of children’s books, considered one of the all-time greats, deservedly so;

2) This book from 2003, however, was a bad idea.

Well, not the book, actually. Jean Craighead George is a brilliant writer and a keen, informed naturalist. A book about the language of cats makes a lot of sense. But somewhere along the line, somebody — an art director? — came up with a nutty idea.

And nutty is good, right? To be playful and silly and fun? Um, right?

Usually that’s okay. There’s always room for bad ideas. Because over time, they get weeded out. People come to their senses. Like this book cover, for example:

 

I’m sorry, but that’s just wrong. 

Of course, we can understand how misguided ideas occur in the beginning. But you’d think that eventually, sooner or later . . . somebody would . . . 

Oh, nevermind.

Here’s Jean’s book, How To Talk To Your Cat

 

I imagine the conversation went something like this . . .  

Art Director: “Hey, you know what would be soooooo cool? We could take photos of Jean interacting with cats and . . .”

Editor: “Wait, real cats?”

Art Director: “No! Illustrated cats!”

Editor: “So, like, photos of Jean Craighead George — sometimes on all fours — combined with illustrations of cats? Have I got that right?”

Art Director: “Yes, that’s it exactly!”

Editor: “Genius! But how do we talk Jean into this?”

Art Director: “Leave it to me.”

Editor: “Oh no, you’re going to give her cat nip, aren’t you?”

Art Director: “I’ll slip it in her tea.”

Editor: “Anything else?”

Art Director: “Make sure Jean wears a big bangly necklace.”

 

I don’t know. Maybe it’s me. This is a book with 70 reviews on Amazon, averaging 4 1/2 stars. People love it. After all, it’s Jean Craighead George! She’s awesome. There’s great information in it, an engaging text, well organized, on a topic that any cat lover would find interesting. 

And the special effects are amazing.

 

American Chopper Guys Argue About Writing

I love the writing memes featuring the Orange County Chopper guys.

Here’s another . . . 

You can write your own at the American Chopper Argument meme generator. Give it a try, it’s so easy even I made one. I did this one in a hurry and totally flubbed the last caption — couldn’t think of anything better — but I didn’t want to lose any more time to such folderol. So I went with this crappy ending. 

 

Best Chapter Book Series for Elementary Series

Oh, hey, check out #25. I still exist!

(You might need to squash this link.)

 

35 Chapter Book Series for Elementary Students

 

And while we’re blowing that horn . . . 

Don’t forget my two other series, Scary Tales and the Big Idea Gang.

     

Coming Soon . . . EXIT 13!

Great Answer!

 

To be clear: The answer was provided back in 2018 by novelist Lauren Groff.

 

“Tell the Story Because You Love It.” — Christopher Nolan

“What I learned very early on, and I’m very grateful for the lesson, is that I could only be making films for the sake of making films. To only engage in telling a story for the process of telling a story, not for the gold star at the end. It’s tricky. You grow up in school getting grades on papers, and then you get out into the real world and realize that no one is even going to grade your paper. You have to cross into this world of just pleasing yourself, just doing something because you want to do it. It was a very valuable lesson. The truth is you have to hang on to your own belief. At the end of the day, all you really have is your own belief, your own passion. You can’t ignore the feedback. But you tell the story because you love it.” Christopher Nolan.
So, yeah, this is where I’m at these days. For a variety of reasons. For better and for worse.
Of course, I’ve kept this blog for 15 years and I’m pretty sure no one reads it. It doesn’t stop me. 
Not that you are no one, exactly, but you get the idea. 
If you write a story in the woods and no one reads it, does it make a sound? And is that the point? The noise it makes?
Who knows!
ANYWAY, COMING SOON . . . THE FIRST IN A SERIES . . .
DETAILS, LATER.