Comments on: Notes, Notes, Notes http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/10/18/notes-notes-notes/ A School Library Journal Blog Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:26:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Mark Weston http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/10/18/notes-notes-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-11568 Mark Weston Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:39:18 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=784#comment-11568 Marc, My advice to your friend is to keep cutting. You worked with me on "The Land and People of Pakistan" in 1991-2, and later I wrote a 600-page history of Saudi Arabia, "Prophets and Princes," that Wiley published in 2008. They had me cut 45 pages from the book, so the final version was 550 pages. But looking back, it was still too long. People who said they were going to review the book never did, probably because it was too big a tome. So tell your friend it is better to cut now than to miss out on reviews later. In 2008 I also wrote a children's book, "Honda - The Boy Who Dreamed of Cars," published by "Lee and Low." I have also written a new children's book about how the Danish astronomer Ole Romer discovered the speed of light in 1676 with nothing more than a telescope and a clock. If you have any advice about how to find a publisher for a children's picture book about science, I would love to hear it. Warmest Wishes, -- Mark Weston Marc,
My advice to your friend is to keep cutting. You worked with me on “The Land and People of Pakistan” in 1991-2, and later I wrote a 600-page history of Saudi Arabia, “Prophets and Princes,” that Wiley published in 2008. They had me cut 45 pages from the book, so the final version was 550 pages. But looking back, it was still too long.

People who said they were going to review the book never did, probably because it was
too big a tome. So tell your friend it is better to cut now than to miss out on reviews later.

In 2008 I also wrote a children’s book, “Honda – The Boy Who Dreamed of Cars,” published by “Lee and Low.” I have also written a new children’s book about how the
Danish astronomer Ole Romer discovered the speed of light in 1676 with nothing more than a telescope and a clock. If you have any advice about how to find a publisher for a children’s picture book about science, I would love to hear it.
Warmest Wishes, — Mark Weston

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/10/18/notes-notes-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-11269 Marc Aronson Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:59:28 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=784#comment-11269 Linda: Yes that would be a good model -- books in books, plus a link to the website where you can find all of the websites. Linda: Yes that would be a good model — books in books, plus a link to the website where you can find all of the websites.

]]> By: Linda Zajac http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/10/18/notes-notes-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-11227 Linda Zajac Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:17:36 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=784#comment-11227 I don't see a problem with listing additional book references at the end of a book. It's when I read an entire page of websites and wonder what kid is going to bother with this. Ideally, I think a list of books PLUS a website is enough. Then one trip to that website can take you many other places with very little typing effort and much less frustration. It's also much easier to update a link that is on a website and very difficult to update a website when it is written in a book. I've run across many websites that no longer exist or get rerouted. Notes showing where the information came from make interesting reading and I should think could be placed in either place, but would stand more chance of being read if they were with the book. Not everyone is going to get to that website or dive into that additional reading. I don’t see a problem with listing additional book references at the end of a book. It’s when I read an entire page of websites and wonder what kid is going to bother with this. Ideally, I think a list of books PLUS a website is enough. Then one trip to that website can take you many other places with very little typing effort and much less frustration. It’s also much easier to update a link that is on a website and very difficult to update a website when it is written in a book. I’ve run across many websites that no longer exist or get rerouted.

Notes showing where the information came from make interesting reading and I should think could be placed in either place, but would stand more chance of being read if they were with the book. Not everyone is going to get to that website or dive into that additional reading.

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/10/18/notes-notes-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-11219 Marc Aronson Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:59:53 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=784#comment-11219 there are two categories of notes that I have in mind -- notes showing where you got your information, and notes designed to encourage young readers (or teachers) to explore further. For the moment the two sit together and, as you say, require all sorts of typing and transcribing. Still having them there physically near the text is somehow assuring. I am exploring the idea of shifting them to the web where, as you say, they will be so much easier to use. there are two categories of notes that I have in mind — notes showing where you got your information, and notes designed to encourage young readers (or teachers) to explore further. For the moment the two sit together and, as you say, require all sorts of typing and transcribing. Still having them there physically near the text is somehow assuring. I am exploring the idea of shifting them to the web where, as you say, they will be so much easier to use.

]]> By: Linda Zajac http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/10/18/notes-notes-notes/comment-page-1/#comment-11186 Linda Zajac Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:52:45 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=784#comment-11186 I'm not clear exactly what you mean by notes, but if you mean additional references, then I think the best place for those is on the web with a print book, for now. I've always looked at the list of recommended reading wondering who on earth wants to type all those long websites in. I can see a reader typing in one or two, but any more than that and I'd expect interest to drop right off, especially for kids who may make typos. On a website, you click and it takes you there. Not only that, you can have an infinite number of links online, but there is a limited amount of space in a book. As far as author notes go, I think they belong with the book, wherever that is. I’m not clear exactly what you mean by notes, but if you mean additional references, then I think the best place for those is on the web with a print book, for now. I’ve always looked at the list of recommended reading wondering who on earth wants to type all those long websites in. I can see a reader typing in one or two, but any more than that and I’d expect interest to drop right off, especially for kids who may make typos. On a website, you click and it takes you there. Not only that, you can have an infinite number of links online, but there is a limited amount of space in a book. As far as author notes go, I think they belong with the book, wherever that is.

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