Andrea Pyros

Amid all the "media is dying" talk, it's nice to remember that some corners of the media universe are actually thriving. A new story by Nicole Gull McElroy explores the world of indie mags, which is experiencing a renaissance. She spoke to the publishers of Mountain Gazette, The Surfer's Journal, and SAVEUR, who are building healthy publishing companies rooted in community. The recipe for what works isn't shocking, but it is antithetical to the high-volume game many publishers have to play to survive. Some interesting takeaways: *These magazines work because of how niche they are. They create expertise and community around a topic, which people are happy to pay for. “One of our taglines is that this magazine is not for everyone,” says Mike Rogge, editor and owner of Mountain Gazette. *They turn magazines into a luxury experience with high-quality print and design. Nothing about them feels like a commodity you can find elsewhere. *They have a different relationship to advertising. Both Surfer's Journal and Mountain Gazette pursue partnerships with brands that have close ties to the communities that read their magazines. For Mountain Gazette, advertising makes up less than 10% of its revenue (it has a subscriber retention rate of 99% according to its owner). You can read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eryYatSn

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Baltimore-area readers: SAVE THE DATE! July 6, 2024, from 6:30-8 pm, at Snug Books in Baltimore, author John Maly will read from his debut novel, JURIS EX MACHINA. Audience discussion about the implications of AI will follow. Register today for free tickets at www.snugbooks.com Here's a teaser: With a click, the bread fell into the toaster. One circuit fired the heating coils. Others monitored bread temperature and color. Yet another circuit was quite unlike all the rest- as exotic as it was sinister; when it activated, 368 people would die. In the 22nd century, the justice system is airtight in the domed city of Arcadia. Human error has been removed. Yet somehow, a well-intentioned young kleptomaniac named Rainville falls through the cracks and is wrongfully convicted of mass murder. He is exiled to Wychwood Prison, a crumbling necropolis beyond the dome where the dead outnumber the living, where the inmates are also the guards. News of the crime follows him, and he becomes a marked man. Rainville's only hope for survival is becoming the first inmate in history to escape Wychwood. Can he do it? The fate of Arcadia depends on it. Can't make the event? You can grab your copy today at https://lnkd.in/ewRP8SP4, which also benefits Snug Books, an independent, woman-owned bookstore. #whattoread #ai #artificialintelligence #scifinovel #cyberpunk

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Anyone who’s ever written and tried to publish knows how incredibly competitive it is, so it's not surprising that feelings of envy come up for writers. Envy is an inevitable part of human nature. Still, there are ways to let it go: 1. Fess us and name your envy. 2. Head down, get to work, and focus on how freeing it is to fully acknowledge what a waste of time envy is. 3. Boost your inner confidence while keeping your eye on the long game. The future yours for the taking.

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Great article below from The Ankler about the importance of IP in film and tv. That's why Martin Literary Management developed a quarterly catalog of all our IP that I feel (as a member of the PGA) is highly adaptable. Download the Rights Catalog at MartinLit.com and request anything you'd like to read that sounds up your alley!!

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27 Must-Know Tips on Formatting Your Ebook #authorsoftwitter #writer #writingcommunity #amwriting #amwriting #inventingreality

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Glad to have my first article on the AARP home page. Can anxiety cause high blood pressure? "The interplay between our physical, mental and emotional states is complex." Direct link to the full article: https://lnkd.in/ePwZ6fT7

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Among our news community, we frequently talk about “trust in news” and how it has eroded to dangerous levels. I’d suggest there are myriad reasons for that, including some that date back centuries. The press has always been a convenient punching bag. When people don’t like what they read, they naturally want to discount the information. Some of the phenomenon is patently new, as we’ve seen with the increase in “lawfare” suits designed to chill journalists and shutter news organizations outright. There’s also the toxic political rhetoric, even shouted from the highest offices in the land, expressly to make people doubt watchdog and accountability reporting. Now, we’re contending with Artificial Intelligence (AI), too, which is training people to doubt what they read and view. Some of it is well-deserved. The press doesn’t always get the story right, especially in the rush to report first. Quality journalists among the American media are contrite when it happens, acknowledging their mistakes and offering corrections or retractions. Far too many outlets masquerading as trusted sources of news peddle misinformation and never acknowledge their failures to report accurately. That’s harmful, industry-wide. I’d suggest the public also has a cynical view of how news is gathered and produced when they hear about strategic misdeeds, such as tabloid-style “catch and kill” stories — for example, when an adult film actress’ story about an affair with a politician never sees the light of day because the publisher and the porn star are paid to suppress it. It’s easy for the public to conflate that kind of “news” with what earnest, professional journalists produce day-in, day-out. Indeed, there are many reasons — deserved and not — for the lack of trust in news today, but the important thing is that we’re thinking about it as an existential threat and doing our best to counter it. That’s why I’m bullish on The New York Times decision to convene a “trust team” that’s keenly focused on this issue. At the link, read about my conversation with Edmund Lee, editor of The Times’ trust team, and one of the ways they’ve built more transparency and familiarity into the display of news. #newsmedia #journalism #TheNewYorkTimes https://lnkd.in/evAXq_hs

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I see so many publishers (including hybrids) offering "developmental editing" that's not much more than a simple line edit. It's like the difference between a shiatsu massage and a backrub. Here's how to tell the difference -- and decide if you really need to pay for a developmental edit. https://lnkd.in/eUP9Xx2S

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Trailer for my latest, a sequel to To the Bones. #Appalachia to #Ireland, #mystery, #suspense, #folklore, #mythology. Thanks to Amber Shockley for this. #amwriting #writerlife

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Happy Thursday and here's our latest book suggestion courtesy of our books bard Elaine Pofeldt. This week it's No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings and Erin Meyer. "One challenge for any Social Capital company is adapting and staying relevant while remaining true to its values. No Rules Rules is, in essence, an in-depth case study on how Netflix pulled it off, becoming an entertainment juggernaut while continuing to reinvent its culture. Its model is one where people come first, freedom and responsibility go hand in hand, and constant innovation keeps work fun If you’re searching for insights on how to keep a culture fresh, look no further." Be sure to check all the rest of our picks and suggestions below. https://lnkd.in/de7imW9F #books, #leadershipinsights, #socialcapital, #ceomindset

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Part 2 in discussion of Associated Press Stylebook's "obesity" entry. (see part 1 at https://lnkd.in/gFn8QyF9) And AP does not take care in discussing body mass index (BMI). It says simply, “Many experts acknowledge that BMI is a flawed metric because it does not directly measure body fat, but say it remains a useful and convenient guide.” That explanation does not encapsulate why BMI is a flawed tool (https://lnkd.in/ebaw3DQm). Not only is it bad at what the health establishment uses it to do, but it has a racist history. As professor Sabrina Strings says, “Obesity science has always been a (racist) form of pseudoscience that relies on statistical correlations based on a limited portion of humanity" (https://lnkd.in/eTymQTva). AP handles so many topics admirably and with nuance–like discussing the problems of bias in AI systems in its artificial intelligence entry. I wish it took the same care to explain why relying on BMI (and therefore the categories of “obese” and “overweight” altogether) is problematic. Similarly, explaining who and for what BMI remains useful and convenient would be helpful. Overall, I recommend AP revise this section to provide more context and more appropriate guidance for journalists trying to cover higher-weight people. This is a pressing need, especially given the increasing coverage of drugs like Wegovy. In the meantime, writers and editors should look to language preferences from the people they’re writing about. For example, a report by NAAFA - National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance and researcher Pamela Mejia on fat bias in the news has some recommendations for journalists, one of which is “Avoid the ‘o’ words (obesity and overweight) and include other ways to talk about fat people.”  https://lnkd.in/ei37A-Ru For people who are interested in learning more about this kind of inclusive language, I recommend the ACS Inclusivity Style Guide’s section on body size (https://lnkd.in/eQN5fFG2).

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For years, I felt trapped in a complex web of writing expectations—my desire to write, the need to be heard, and the so-called expert advice clashed constantly. Today, I share how embracing my instincts and direct experiences have transformed my writing journey. In my latest essay, I explore the importance of aligning your writing with your true self, rather than following external expectations. Discover how this shift can help you create more authentic, impactful work. #WritingJourney #AuthenticVoice #BusinessMindset #CreativeFreedom #SelfDiscovery https://loom.ly/L3CPC6c

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Look at this terrific start of a new series from Jan K Sikes​. Review and #Giveaway on my blog today. Check it out and enter for a chance at winning an Amazon gift card and more. #bookreview #MondayBlog #HistoricalFiction #LoneStarLit

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