Workshop Essay

The Future Of Writing: An iPad Review

Dennis — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 11:47:11 -0400

Exclusively for ChuckPalahniuk.net
by Xander Davis

Imagine the freedom to easily type anytime, anywhere, without any hassle. The iPad just might grant you this wish, but you're not sure yet what to make of it, if it's worth the expense.

If you have a laptop, wherever you go, you've got your cumbersome bag, charger brick, and cable to lug along, like a nomad gypsy with only an hour or two of battery, or you're anchored entirely with a traditional desktop computer at home.

This was me, and now after taking a chance, I can say that the writer's dream machine has finally arrived.

I've been using an iPad to write for weeks now. I'm not talking about little e-mails and status updates. I'm talking about tapping out entire chapters on glass.

And I haven't looked back. Sure, it's not without its problems, but it certainly works so well, you'll want to bash up your laptop, Office-Space-Printer style, for making you suffer carrying its weight like Atlas this whole freaking time.

In fact, I'm writing this iPad review on the device right now. So let's get right down to it. read more »

V. Vale Interview

Dennis — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:15:15 -0400

Ron Placone Interviews Independent Publisher V. Vale

V. Vale is, to put it simply, a true staple in independent publishing. For nearly three decades he has been operating RE/Search Publications, a San Francisco-based publisher focused on counter-culture and underground literature and ideas.

V. Vale began his publishing career in 1977 upon receiving two gifts of $100 from his old employers at City Lights Books whom you may have heard of. As V. Vale likes to put it: “a fellow by the name Ferlinghetti and a poet friend named Allen Ginsberg.” Hoping to document the blossoming music scene at the time, Vale launched Search & Destroy, which is still successful to this day for providing an outlet for punk rock and other like-minded ethics. Upon Search & Destroy’s success, Vale began RE/Search Publications. Over the years Vale has published and/or collaborated with William S. Burroughs, Jello Biafra, Henry Rollins, Billy Childish, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, J.G. Ballard, and many more. In addition to books RE/Search has released albums, DVDs, and various t-shirts. Vale continues to publish cutting-edge content in topics ranging from humor, to politics, to music. read more »

The Independent Publishing Resource Center

CultAdmin — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:22:24 -0400

Ron Placone Interviews Justin Hocking, Director of The Independent Publishing Resource Center

In the world of independent publishing, a world wrought with twists, turns, confusion, ambiguity, and uncertainty at EVERY angle, the idea of having some sort of outlet, solid ground, a sanctuary, if you will, is immaculate. read more »

From the DIY File: Homegrown Venues are Blossoming Everywhere (Even Rural America)

CultAdmin — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:46:01 -0500

Ron Placone Interviews Cameron McGee

There were a total of seven of us, we had a case of beer in the van, and we were still getting over the shock that we actually found this place. My friend was the drummer, so I asked him if he wanted to go get a drink. While we all knew that finding civilization was unlikely, we decided to humor ourselves. We found a bar (after about 40 minutes of wondering around in the dark) and upon walking in we realized this might be the last night of our lives. Let's just say I was thrilled I wasn't wearing any apparel via Fat Mike that criticized the President. Surprisingly, a few rounds later we were embraced as locals, and the clientele was thrilled to have a real "band" in the bar. I learned an old lesson again that night; don't judge a book by its cover. Anyway, about 9:30 or so my friends had to get back to play. We returned to the venue, none of us with high expectations, to see a room full of about 200 kids. "Wow," I thought, "these kids have something very special going on out here."
read more »

The Truth About Vanity Publishing

CultAdmin — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:58:57 -0500

Essay by Ron Placone

When I was 17-years-old I had about 130 pages of poetry and monologues along with a novella on my desk-top. I had started writing when I was about 15. I decided I wanted to publish this manuscript (at the time I thought was good. Looking back, it wasn't too bad, I just keep in mind how old I was when I wrote it). Anyway, I had no idea how the publishing industry worked, the whole thing was alien to me. With the help of Google I immediately found tons of P.O.D. vanity publishers on the web. I went to some of their web-sites and read what vanity publishing was all about, and, quite frankly, it didn't make any sense to me. At the time, I was heavily involved in the music industry, so using that as a point of reference I came up with the following comparison:

Say you're a band, and a record label decides to sign you and put out your album(similar to how a publisher publishes a book), that label will front all of the money necessary to make the finished product a reality. This of course includes the following: read more »