Comments on: So you want to write a book about art? Interview with Lisa Hunter http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter a multi-disciplinary dialog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:08:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Lisa Hunter http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html/comment-page-1#comment-267 Lisa Hunter Fri, 06 Oct 2006 13:02:00 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/v01/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html#comment-267 Thanks for all the great feedback. SP -- I didn't feel at all hindered by having book rather than a blog. The publisher didn't choose my topic -- I did. The trick of getting a contract is to find a publisher who shares your vision. I did self-censor some of the dishier things about the contemporary art market, but I wouldn't put them on my blog either! I think the book will help people more than my blog because collectors can take the book with them when they go shopping for art; each chapter has a checklist of things to look for and look out for (whether you're buying a painting, print, tribal piece, photograph, or whatever). Thanks for all the great feedback.

SP — I didn’t feel at all hindered by having book rather than a blog. The publisher didn’t choose my topic — I did. The trick of getting a contract is to find a publisher who shares your vision.

I did self-censor some of the dishier things about the contemporary art market, but I wouldn’t put them on my blog either! I think the book will help people more than my blog because collectors can take the book with them when they go shopping for art; each chapter has a checklist of things to look for and look out for (whether you’re buying a painting, print, tribal piece, photograph, or whatever).

]]> By: Candy Minx http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html/comment-page-1#comment-266 Candy Minx Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:49:00 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/v01/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html#comment-266 What a delightful interview thanks Lisa and Karl for this I love seeing interviews on blogs very exciting. And some serious things to think about if you want to publish/write a book. I'm going to link this.... What a delightful interview thanks Lisa and Karl for this I love seeing interviews on blogs very exciting. And some serious things to think about if you want to publish/write a book. I’m going to link this….

]]> By: Karl Zipser http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html/comment-page-1#comment-265 Karl Zipser Fri, 15 Sep 2006 03:11:00 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/v01/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html#comment-265 Bob P, Thanks for your confidence in me. I'll try to live up to it. SP, to begin with the question of freedom, writing a blog is not as unconstrained as it seems. The readers and their comments do in subtle ways influence what gets written on a day to day basis. When writing a book, one has a longer time for solitary creative work ("writing with the door closed"), which can (perhaps) lead to greater freedom of expression. I think this might be what I am looking for in writing a book. But for a longer effort like this, it is important to have a solid goal. Publishing the work can be such a goal. As for writing and painting, I think they are complementary activities. Of course, there are only 24 hours in a day. Making a good schedule is important. I think that writing about art and doing art will support one another and give more purpose to one another. We shall see . . . Bob P, Thanks for your confidence in me. I’ll try to live up to it.

SP, to begin with the question of freedom, writing a blog is not as unconstrained as it seems. The readers and their comments do in subtle ways influence what gets written on a day to day basis. When writing a book, one has a longer time for solitary creative work (“writing with the door closed”), which can (perhaps) lead to greater freedom of expression. I think this might be what I am looking for in writing a book. But for a longer effort like this, it is important to have a solid goal. Publishing the work can be such a goal. As for writing and painting, I think they are complementary activities. Of course, there are only 24 hours in a day. Making a good schedule is important. I think that writing about art and doing art will support one another and give more purpose to one another. We shall see . . .

]]> By: sp http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html/comment-page-1#comment-264 sp Thu, 14 Sep 2006 23:14:00 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/v01/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html#comment-264 Lisa and Karl, what is this obsession with publishing a book? Why isn't publishing on a blog good enough? You say that publishers take away your freedom to choose the topic. Why give that up? Is it a matter of money? Prestige? Okay, nothing wrong being concerned with these... but is web publishing not a suitable path? Karl, you're supposed to be an artist. Do you really think writing a book is something to do in your spare time, or do you plan to stop painting? Lisa and Karl, what is this obsession with publishing a book? Why isn’t publishing on a blog good enough? You say that publishers take away your freedom to choose the topic. Why give that up? Is it a matter of money? Prestige? Okay, nothing wrong being concerned with these… but is web publishing not a suitable path? Karl, you’re supposed to be an artist. Do you really think writing a book is something to do in your spare time, or do you plan to stop painting?

]]> By: Karl Zipser http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html/comment-page-1#comment-263 Karl Zipser Thu, 14 Sep 2006 11:17:00 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/v01/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html#comment-263 Lisa's proposal = Davi's query letter, I presume. Davi says this letter is the key, to put a very big effort into it -- especially the first two paragraphs. Then you have an outline and a first chapter. The 50 agents you select from a book. You only really have to seriously analyze the ones that contact you, right? If this is done properly you get a chance for a contract and an advance on the book. To be honest, that does not sound all that terrible. From the interview, Lisa seems to say that the real challenge comes when "you actually have to write the book". But if you have the contract, you have some security and motivation. A long and complex process, but broken into clear stages, especially the beginning. Lisa’s proposal = Davi’s query letter, I presume. Davi says this letter is the key, to put a very big effort into it — especially the first two paragraphs.

Then you have an outline and a first chapter.

The 50 agents you select from a book. You only really have to seriously analyze the ones that contact you, right?

If this is done properly you get a chance for a contract and an advance on the book. To be honest, that does not sound all that terrible. From the interview, Lisa seems to say that the real challenge comes when “you actually have to write the book”. But if you have the contract, you have some security and motivation.

A long and complex process, but broken into clear stages, especially the beginning.

]]> By: bob p http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html/comment-page-1#comment-262 bob p Thu, 14 Sep 2006 10:59:00 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/v01/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html#comment-262 Having an interesting idea (or rather an expandable interesting idea, since it’d be fair to say that a single sentence wouldn’t a book make) would be only the first step [<I>sic</I> … it’s my impression that not all that many worthwhile ideas become focused in the minds of capable individuals; therefore, since ‘only’ is often used to indicate a <B>simple</B> step, using the word ‘only’ in this context could be misinterpreted]. But, I ramble. I truly enjoy discovering the nuts-and-bolts of the inner workings of life’s happenings. I suppose that I assumed that having one’s own book reach the bookstore shelves would be complex, but hadn’t realized the level of complexity and the amount of behind the scenes activity required (analyzing and contacting 50 agents would, it seems, be a real time commitment). On a non-downer note (I assume doing all the necessary leg work wouldn’t be the most thrilling part of writing a book), it is clear to me that you (Karl) have the ideas and talent to become a successful writer. Bon voyage. Having an interesting idea (or rather an expandable interesting idea, since it’d be fair to say that a single sentence wouldn’t a book make) would be only the first step [sic … it’s my impression that not all that many worthwhile ideas become focused in the minds of capable individuals; therefore, since ‘only’ is often used to indicate a simple step, using the word ‘only’ in this context could be misinterpreted]. But, I ramble. I truly enjoy discovering the nuts-and-bolts of the inner workings of life’s happenings. I suppose that I assumed that having one’s own book reach the bookstore shelves would be complex, but hadn’t realized the level of complexity and the amount of behind the scenes activity required (analyzing and contacting 50 agents would, it seems, be a real time commitment).

On a non-downer note (I assume doing all the necessary leg work wouldn’t be the most thrilling part of writing a book), it is clear to me that you (Karl) have the ideas and talent to become a successful writer.

Bon voyage.

]]> By: Jordan http://artandperception.com/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html/comment-page-1#comment-261 Jordan Thu, 14 Sep 2006 09:34:00 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/v01/2006/09/so-you-want-to-write-a-book-about-art-interview-with-lisa-hunter.html#comment-261 Karl and Lisa....thanks for the interview...Lisa I have been meaning to get your book but ofcourse i haven't yet. Davi....good info. This matches what I have seen in my own research. It looks rather daunting to get a book published. Karl and Lisa….thanks for the interview…Lisa I have been meaning to get your book but ofcourse i haven’t yet. Davi….good info. This matches what I have seen in my own research. It looks rather daunting to get a book published.

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