Oliver Craner

[linebaugh]

and its not completely baseless- are you not a prose stylist turned historian of the regretful past? its all there in blogs

 

[craner]

I’m writing about the same things I was writing about in 2003, I just make less claims about my understanding of the present than I used to and I’m less flowery.

 

[version]

The new stuff's a lot better, imo.

 

[craner]

The new stuff's a lot better, imo.

Backhanded compliment, but I’ll take it.

 

[version]

To be fair, I'm thinking of one really early piece in particular in comparison to the new stuff there. I can't remember which blog it was on, but it was about smoking in cafes or something and read a bit like Anthony Bourdain.

The best stuff I've read was on the current site and Kirkpatrick Mission.

 

[craner]

Well, that’s also the best stuff I’ve written, so you obviously know what you’re talking about.

 

[version]

You ever thought about self-publishing anything? I've noticed more and more people doing it through Amazon.

 

[craner]

You ever thought about self-publishing anything? I've noticed more and more people doing it through Amazon.

Not really, I have a full time job which pays for the mortgage, petrol, wine and books, I just need more readers, and self-publishing doesn't get you that, it's just a different form of humiliation.

 

[Mr. Tea]

Backhanded compliment, but I’ll take it.

What he means is that the old stuff is worse.

 

[craner]

What he means is that the old stuff is worse.

Even worse, even.

 

[version]

Not really, I have a full time job which pays for the mortgage, petrol, wine and books, I just need more readers, and self-publishing doesn't get you that, it's just a different form of humiliation.

I was thinking more along the lines of the appeal of having your stuff in an actual book rather than anything to do with readers.

 

[craner]

I've seen self-published books. I used to be a stock buyer at Foyles. They are not beautiful objects.

 

[linebaugh]

the tech has changed. the books gus published look no different than any book youd buy in store

 

[version]

The ones I was thinking of are those big, soft ones Amazon do now, like the Grapejuice book. One of the downsides being that it's Amazon, mind you.

 

[craner]

I've got the Grapejuice book and it looks like crap, which detracts from the actual content.

 

[version]

You mean the cover, the images inside or the quality of the book overall?

 

[craner]

The quality of the paper, the images, the ink, the font.

 

[craner]

Sorry, I'm not trying to be mean, but it looks and feels like a low-quality production which is not a reflection of the content.

 

[linebaugh]

 

[linebaugh]