Wednesday, April 22, 2009

What makes publishing folk laugh

In this week's PW, publisher Jon Karp wrote a great piece about the 12 things publishing needs to work on. It's definitely worth reading, and though it's funny at times, much of the advice is right on.

Even funnier, Dan Menaker's response, which I found through the HarperStudio blog. Yes, dear readers, these are the sort of things that amuse us.

- Michael

7 comments:

  1. pun-lovin' kids writer from the south22/4/09 9:02 PM

    No wonder Karp was disappointed in his local bookstore. Of all the titles he listed, the only one with appeal was POTATO. ***



    *** "How To Alienate Yourself from All Legitimate Agents North of the Equator," rule #371: Find an agent's blog and post horrible puns about vegetables in the comments section.

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  2. Here's another one:

    Find a way to eliminate the need for authors. They just get in the way and usually dress poorly.

    Just kidding, of course.

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  3. Oh, I love puns. Totally cracked up.

    - MB

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  4. pun-lovin' kids writer from the south23/4/09 1:11 PM

    If I'd known you like puns, I would have signed my name. You're reading my spooky story, but it doesn't contain a single pun. Poo! That's what I get for trying to be a "serious" writer.

    Sadly, us punsters are often forced to write anonymously in order to duck the wrath, and the rotten flying fruit, that spews forth from those who don't appreciate our skills.

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  5. "Have you read War and Peace?"
    "Not personally."

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  6. Impose a two-year publishing injunction against books about butter, buttons, banisters, brassieres, ballpoint pens, etc.; books about the Red Sox; books about the Yankees; books about the Brooklyn Dodgers (one more book about the Chicago Cubs allowed);

    Love this bit. Whew, Cubs made the cut. You knew I'd like that! Go Cubs.

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