The Wordsmiths Project Journal

The renown litblogger Michael Allen (aka “The Grumpy Old Bookman”) announced last year that he would be retiring from frequent 5-day-a-week blogging. He had calculated that since he had started the site back in March, 2004, he had probably written about 1,000,000 words in his blog. (See “Change of Policy“)

1,000,000 words!

In other words, if The Grumpy Old Bookman hadn’t been blogging every weekday for three years, he could have conceivably spent that time and creative energy writing several books or hundreds of articles – presumably with some financial remuneration associated with the endeavor.

For several months, I haven’t posted anything in The Wordsmiths Project Journal. Instead, I’ve done the following things:

• Helped care for ill family members.
• Finished my novel “The Winter Boy” and delivered it to my agent, Mollie Glick, who is currently showing it around to possible publishers.
• Completed and sent in my first ever grant application.
• Received my first ever grant – from the Lackawanna County Council of the Arts – for another exhibit of The Wordsmiths Project.
• Created and exhibited more of my fine art photo images (and made a nice number of sales).
• Finished my novel “Jo Joe” which I recently sent to my agent to read.
• Trained our two year-old Golden Retriever – Watson – to be a therapy dog.
• Took Watson on our first visit to an assisted living facility and loved the smiles he gave the residents.
• Given various talks, lectures and seminars on The Wordsmiths Project, the publishing industry, writing as a career, photography, Photoshop, digital imaging and so forth.
• Launched an Internet radio show – The Photo Gurus – with Daniel.
• Started work on my third novel “Crossing the Line.”
• Helped Daniel and his staff at DigitalBenchmarks Lab, with various testing of imaging and photography hardware and software for clients, including my personal specialty of image quality analysis.
• And, as always, written a number of articles on assignment.

When I started The Wordsmiths Project Journal, I made a conscious choice to call it a journal and not a blog. That’s because my plan was to write in it when I had something to say and when I had time to do it.

My friend Ernest Lilly – the editor of TechRevu and SFRevu – told me that it wouldn’t be my decision what it would be called. That would be up to the blogosphere. But I think that those of you who do read this Journal will agree that it isn’t a blog, for the simple reason that I don’t have the time or temperament to keep up regular entries. Besides, I have more novels and articles to write, and new pictures to create.

However, I do promise that I will be writing a bit more frequently, when I have something to say that I feel would be useful and entertaining for folks interested in the publishing world, writing and writers.

And, yes, I will be getting back to doing more portraits for The Wordsmiths Project, so I continue to welcome nominations.

Back in April, I was thrilled and honored when Lance Fensterman of Book Expo America told me that BEA Cares (Book Expo’s charity arm) would be providing The Wordsmiths Project pro bono exhibit space at Book Expo. It was the best news I had heard in a long time; I would be launching The Wordsmiths Project and promoting the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF) at North America’s premier publishing industry trade show. However, I had no idea all that would be involved in organizing, preparing and mounting the exhibit in New York City’s Javits Center. The past couple of months have been a hectic pressure cooker, which is why I haven’t had the time to journal recently. But the result, at last week’s Book Expo 2007, was wonderful and worth all the sleepless nights.

The space BEA Cares gave us was right in front of one of the main entrances to the trade show – near the BookTV bus and the Pen American Center table. (And, yes, BookTV did do an interview with me, but I’ve yet to find out when it will air.) So, we had a very nice amount of traffic. Initially, people walking by weren’t quite sure what the exhibit was all about, but they were drawn in by the pictures. Once there, I could tell them about WEAF and hope that those who took the envelopes will send in some donations. In addition, I asked folks for nominations of people I should consider photographing for The Wordsmiths Project. The nominations we received are quite interesting. But, please remember, The Wordsmiths Project will be ongoing for at least another year or so (as long as I’m enjoying myself and it’s doing some good). So, I’ll welcome nominations at any time. (Click here for how to nominate.)

I had a great time at Book Expo, seeing old friends and photo subjects and meeting all kinds of new interesting people. My only disappointment was that I was so busy at the exhibit, I didn’t have time to check out all the conference discussions and other events.

I’m thrilled to report that Book Expo, the publishing industry’s primary trade show in the U.S., has acknowledged The Wordsmiths Project, and the work we are doing to get the word out about the Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF). BEA has put a link to The Wordsmiths Project on the BEA Cares page of their Website. And they are providing us with display space at Book Expo, which is at New York City’s Javits Center this May 31-June 3.

The WEAF provides emergency grants to help professional writers in crisis to continue to be writers. (While the WEAF is run by the American Society of Journalists & Authors, grant recipients don’t have to be members of ASJA.) The whole idea of dedicating The Wordsmiths Project to the WEAF was to raise the publishing industry’s awareness of the important work the WEAF does. I am also donating the proceeds from The Wordsmiths Project receptions, exhibits and sales of pictures to WEAF. If you wish to donate directly to the WEAF, please use the link at the bottom of every page on this Website.

I am very pleased to have The Wordsmiths Project receive the recognition of BEA. I know it will help make the publishing industry more aware of the WEAF — and hopefully will get people in the industry behind WEAF’s work.

As a writer and photographer, words and pictures are so entwined in my mind, that Wordsmiths is the most natural subject for me to tackle. Whether I am writing, taking photographs or creating digital images, it all stems from the same creative urge and need to communicate. Drilling down to the essentials, seeking the visual and verbal vocabulary that will empower others to see what I see, understand what it is about a single moment or scene that draws me into it.  When it comes to making portraits, the experience is heightened, because it is a partnership. Another person is allowing me, for a few minutes, to enter their private world, to see them fully and try to capture who they are. For many years, I traveled the globe on assignment. I encountered tribes where people believe that a camera can steal the soul. In some ways, I agree with them. Not that I steal souls, but that the photographic experience is an intimate one.

I have only just begun The Wordsmiths Project, having done three photo shoots — of Frank Wilson, Gardner Dozois and Ben Salmon. However, every time I have come home from a Wordsmiths’ photo and interview session, I realize exactly why I love what I do.

As I continue The Wordsmiths Project, I will use this journal (or blog, if you wish) to share the experiences I have photographing and interviewing some of the most fascinating people — the folks behind the scenes in publishing, who influence what we read. I wil tell you about our discussions of books and writing, publishing and marketing, as well as give you any insights I glean from my subjects about what it takes to get their attention, interest them in a book or a writer, and make them excited enough that they will want to work on a particular book or project.

If you have questions (general ones about publishing and writing, not about how to get your book published or written) that you would like me to ask the folks I’ll be photographing and interviewing, please send them to me by clicking on the Contact button above, or by leaving comments in this Journal.