Wednesday, September 30, 2015

A bestseller can be manufactured

One agent recently said to me, “I believe a bestseller can be completely manufactured. All you have to do is print 250,000 copies of the book and make it your lead title and push it down readers’ throats, and they’ll buy it.” And the agent was basically right. Bestsellers often happen because (1) the author’s name is one the populace recognizes, so they buy the book without scrutiny, or (2) the book is just visible everywhere (every bookstore, in Target, Walmart, etc.), so a reader thinks, Hmmm, this book is everywhere—maybe I should see what the fuss is about, or (3) it’s a Fifty Shades of Grey situation where it takes off for any strange reason (in this case, I think, the lack of a breakout erotic mainstream book in many years and the fascination [naughtiness!] that came with that), so a reader thinks, Hmmm, this book is everywhere—maybe I should see what the fuss is about. So right there we’ve examined three possible ways for a book to become a bestseller without the writer having oodles of talent. But again, this is a massive gray area (like the book—ha), because you look at a book like Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why, and that was just another contemporary YA debut that came out and kind of piddled along sales-wise. But it was really good, and word of mouth slowly slowly slowly drove it to the bestseller list, where it has remained for years. So that is a case of a bestseller that I attribute to talent.

via

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Why are dictators afraid of writers?

 You ask: why is this appearing in this particular manner, and not in another manner? Then you start to investigate and understand it. You see the logic you couldn’t see at first. Then you start to unravel everything. You reconstruct and deconstruct reality, by breaking myths, lies, clichés, and propaganda. That’s why dictators are afraid of writers.

--Hamid Ismailov 

Saturday, September 19, 2015

HOW TO BE RICH ONLINE

"Take a human desire, preferably one that has been around for a really long time…identify that desire and use modern technology to take out steps."

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Bo Sacks on Native Advertising

 I find it a despicable practice. I think it’s a path to dupe the common reader. I really believe that, over a period of time, the public will wise up to what’s being done and there’ll be a backlash against those publications that do it, including the New York Times.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Facebook awards me Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand US dollars!




I signed up with Facebook eons ago, and have stopped using it long since. But my page still exists, and if you see any new posting on my page, it's done by Twitter on my behalf. Yet surprisingly Facebook chooses to award me for just being a user.

Let me elaborate.

I got this e-mail from Facebook Office at 10-56 pm (Indian Standard Time) on September 15, 2015.

/=CONGRATULATIONS FROM FACEBOOK=
Facebook is one of the largest Social Networking site which valued more than $100 Billion Dollars and also expecting its One Billion Users to come mainly from Mobile devices than desktop Users by this year 2015, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has decided to boost Users and Companies a WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY by Lottery Program and Initial Public Offer said in a press release.
It has been reported by our cyber crime monitory unit that, so many atrocities are been carried out by corrupt staffs of the Facebook company parading them self as legitimate agents of Facebook lottery organization there by making use of this medium to tarnish the name of this company.
Based on this note, a meeting was held yesterday to deliberate seriously on issues of such so as to curb the incessant incidents of fraud with the help of the FBI IC3 Cyber Crime Division and the Interpol. Just recently After much investigations, we found some files of unclaimed winners and having gone through them one after the other, we found your payment file which is why we are contacting you right now.
We are pleased to inform you of the result of our Middle Year DRAW held on (14th SEPTEMBER, 2015) by Facebook Company in cash Promotion to encourage the usage of Facebook users world wide, your Name and Email was among the 35 Lucky winners who won US$350,000.00 USD each on the Face book promotion Award Attached to Ref#(2551256002/244) and Serial Number# (55643451907).
The online draw was Conducted by a random selection of email you where picked by an Advanced automated random computer search from the Facebook in other to claim your US$350,000.00 USD the lottery program which is a new innovation by Facebook, is aimed at saying A BIG THANKS to you all our users for making Facebook your number one Social Networking to hook up with your families and friends all over the World.

It is my pleasure to inform you that ATM Master Card Number: 8731 2001 8747 3215 have been approved in your favor, The ATM Card Value is US$350,000.00 (Three Hundred and fifty Thousand United States Dollars) You are advised that a maximum withdrawal value of $5,000.00 USD is permitted on withdrawal per day and are duly Inter Switch so you can make withdrawal at any ATM locate Center of your choice around the world.
You are required to come down to our cooperate head quarters at the address below to claim your prize in person within 3-banking days with a proof of identification and a print out copy of this notification.
But in a case where by you can not travel due to time factor,Please do confirm that you will take responsibility for the cost of delivery.


OUR HEAD OFFICE ADDRESS IS:
Facebook Corporate Office & Headquarters
1601 Willow Road Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tel:(252) 392 -8056
However for the purpose of proper verification among other relevant information,it is imperative that you supply us with the following requirements;
Legal First and Last Name:
Complete Residential Address & Age:
Direct Telephone No & Fax:
Legal Occupation and Position:
Address of Occupation:
E-mail address:
On behalf of the entire board of committee we sincerely apologies for the mishap this must have caused you in the past. If you are not interested please do not bother to reply and CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN FROM FACEBOOK!!!!
Thanks,
Frank W. Thomas
Promo Co-ordinator
FACEBOOK © 2015
Email: consult.frank.w@qq.com
Phone:+1 (252) 392 -8056

I wish it were not a scam. Time for Mark Zuckerberg to act.

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