Bookslut was born in an era of internet freedom. Today's web has killed it

The books community that my site joined was driven by enthusiasm not clicks, goodwill and not money – and that culture has goneI miss the internet. I know that, technically, the internet still exists. It’s the Facebook-, Twitter-filtered series of algorithms designed to put cat videos, think pieces, and advertisements in front of you. But I get nostalgic for the days before money invaded the internet – the early 2000s, in particular, when I created the literary blog and webzine Bookslut.com.Back then, nothing you did mattered. And that gave you freedom. Back then, the online book culture was run mostly by enthusiasts and amateurs, people who were creating blogs and webzines simply for the pleasure of it, rather than to build a career or a brand. I know that nostalgia is a stupid emotion, but still I regret the day money found the internet. Once advertisers showed up, offering to pay us to do the thing we were doing just for fun, it was very hard to say no. Or understand exactly what the trade-offs would be.The most disappointing revelation about the books world: even an intellectual is susceptible to clickbaitYou click on it, you own it. Related: Jessa Crispin: 'We're not allowed to say the Paris Review is boring' Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #books world #jessa crispin #paris review

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Bookslut was born in an era of internet freedom. Today's web has killed it'


4 Ways Publishers Are Using Data Today

Everyone talks about data, but are they using it correctly? The post 4 Ways Publishers Are Using Data Today appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #data today


In the “Web vs. Apps” Debate for Online Publishers, Apps Are on a Run

It’s what qualifies as an age-old debate in the digital media business: Web or native apps? The question isn’t really either/or — for most news outlets, the answer is “both” — but since the ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native apps #online publishers #news outlets


Riddell, Scheffler contribute to freedom of speech title

Illustrators such as Chris Riddell [pictured], Axel Scheffler and Peter Sís have contributed to a book defending freedom of speech after the terror attack on Charlie Hebdo in France. The book will be published on the 12th February by German children’s publisher Aladin and is entitled... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #german children #axel scheffler #terror attack #charlie hebdo #12th february


'PW' Panel Looks at 'The Internet of Books'

The panel, “The Bookternet: Building Communities Online,” examined the ways that online book culture has transformed the book industry, offering both opportunities and pitfalls for publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book industry


Flipboard moves to the web with plans to host some news publishers' content

After attracting more than 50m monthly readers on tablets and smartphones, US startup smashes down its walled garden and hopes partners will see the potentialFlipboard came to prominence as a news-reading app for tablets and smartphones, attracting more than 50 million monthly active readers by... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mobile app #reading experience #media companies


The great internet swindle: ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

The internet was meant to liberate and empower its users. But the real effect has been to create vast monopolies and turn us into victims, argues web sceptic Andrew Keen in his controversial new book The Internet is Not the AnswerDuring every minute of every day of 2014, according to Andrew... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #youtube video #facebook content #pew survey


Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little available in 'e' for first time

HarperCollins will publish three children’s classics by Charlotte’s Web author E B White as ebooks for the first time this March. Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little, both written by White and illustrated by Garth Williams, will be published digitally along with The Trumpet of the Swan,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #published digitally


'Go Set a Watchman': more discussion, questions about 'To Kill a Mockingbird' author Harper Lee's new book

It was recently announced that 'To Kill a Mockingbird' writer Harper Lee, who famously only released her classic novel, will publish a second book this summer. 'If you read the book ... only Harper Lee could have written this novel,' said Jonathan Burnham, senior vice president and publisher of... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #recently announced #jonathan burnham


Harper Lee, author of 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' to publish second novel

The AP reports that Harper Lee will publish her second novel this summer, a sequel to the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic To Kill a Mockingbird. The book, entitled Go Set a Watchman was completed in... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee


New Fantasy Writers and Internet-Haters Dominate Our Favorite Books This Month

While January can suffer from a post-holiday publication lull, it's a great time room for cooler, less conventional reads. The post New Fantasy Writers and Internet-Haters Dominate Our Favorite Books This Month appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #month appeared #fantasy writers


Memoir ban 'threatens freedom of speech'

Lawyers for free speech groups have argued that a ban placed on a performing artist preventing him from publishing his memoir is an “unpredictable threat to freedom of expression”. The artist’s ex-wife was granted a temporary injunction after saying that the contents of the memoir would be... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #unpredictable threat


PW runs freedom of expression tribute

US book trade publication Publishers Weekly is to run a special section next week as a tribute to freedom of expression following the terrorist attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo in France, in which 12 people died. The magazine’s owner, George Slowik Jr, said it was jumping “fully into the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #defending freedom #special section #terrorist attack #charlie hebdo #north korea


Bookseller killed by falling sign at Blackpool Waterstones

Waterstones has confirmed the tragic death of one of its "much-loved" booksellers, Margaret Sheridan, after an incident at its Blackpool shop yesterday (12th January).  The company paid tribute to Sheridan, 68, from Singleton, who died at the scene after being hit by a falling Waterstones sign.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #margaret sheridan #falling sign #local authority


Today in Tabs: The Updog Pivot

It's early but 2015 already has some great tabs: ethics in journalism etiquette.my prediction for 2015 is that people will still read books that are over 500 pages long and discuss them in tea salons wearing fine silksRead Full Story Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read books


Should You Kill Your Comment Section?

Two more brands killed commenting functionality on their sites this week, joining a small but growing group of publishers that are instead leaning exclusively on social media for conversations with readers. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing group


New York Times to Fire 21 Union Employees Starting Today, Union Says

The New York Times will fire 21 union employees starting today, according to the union, exceeding the total number of job cuts the newspaper publisher had originally said was needed to reduce costs.New York Times Co. had accepted the buyout applications of 57 union employees and almost 30... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J.K. Rowling: Who is the one 'Harry Potter' character she feels guilty about killing off?

The character 'is the only one I feel guilty about,' the author recently wrote in an essay detailing how she plotted her seven-part series and how a story change made this character's death necessary. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter


Zoella retreats from web amid row about ghostwritten novel Girl Online

YouTube blogger Zoe Sugg asks fans for patience while she takes a few days off, saying book controversy was ‘clouding up my brain’The YouTube blogger Zoella has revealed she is temporarily quitting the internet amid controversy over her record-breaking debut novel.Zoe Sugg’s Girl Online, about a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #girl online #book controversy #record-breaking debut #zoe sugg #american musician #week -


China closing in on Silicon Valley as home of internet giants, research shows

Tencent and Baidu are only non-US digital media companies in top 10 by revenue, but country has four of top 10 fastest-growing firms, report saysChina is eroding Silicon Valley’s pre-eminent position as the home of the world’s largest internet businesses, with two companies making the top 10 by... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #silicon valley #internet giants #pre-eminent position #companies making #survey published


Author C.J. Daugherty on Adapting Book-to-Web Series

Author CJ Daugherty discusses the release Night School the Web Series based on her bestselling YA novels — the first of its kind in the UK. The post Author C.J. Daugherty on Adapting Book-to-Web Series appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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