Sunday Salon: How to establish a successful Literary Blog: Audio Interview with Frank Wilson, former Books Editor, current Book Blogger.
Frank Wilson has been reviewing books professionally since October, 1964. For most of the past decade he was Books Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, given to retaining committed bloggers (e.g. Mark Sarvas, Scott Esposito, Ed Champion) to review books. He retired recently. About five years ago he started blogging at Books Inq. It is one of the most successful blogs in the literary blogosphere.
I interviewed Frank at his home in Philadelphia recently. We talk about how he established his blog, about the potential and influence of this medium, about the benefits of interactivity and connection and roundtables; Maxine Clarke's crime fiction reviews; the provision of filtering services, shared links and interests; kindred spirits; embedding poetry and essays, and less loneliness; about the strange side effects of reading and how passive entertainment becomes unwatchable, how most traditional media eschew feedback; what he looks for in book reviewers; Tchaikovsky's unknown correspondent; the book's connection to life; the nature of discourse; Instapundit and 'instalanches;' and those blogs he goes to every morning.
Please listen here:
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June 1st, 2008 at 11:41 AM
[...] sreeram wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptFrank Wilson has been reviewing books professionally since October, 1964. For most of the past decade he was Books Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, given to retaining committed bloggers (eg Mark Sarvas, Scott Esposito, Ed Champion) … [...]
June 1st, 2008 at 9:05 PM
[...] Nigel Beale podcasts Frank Wilson. [...]
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:54 AM
[...] interest in all things bookish as well as an unlimited flight pass with a major airline, interviews former Philly Inquirer books editor (and now Books Inq blogger) Frank Wilson on how the book world is shaping up in the age of the declining review section and the rise of the [...]
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:32 AM
[...] Beale interviews Frank Wilson, the former Book Review Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, on Nigel Beale Nota Bene Books. Wilson, who still blogs at Books Inq., talks about how he got into lit blogging (first [...]
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 PM
On Dave Lull, Frank Wilson and Debra Hamel’s several recommendations, I’ve just listened to your podcast. What a wonderful conversation, and a lovely, apt description of the power, value and pleasure of blogging from Frank. He was too kind about me, but his comments are much appreciated. I think that the comments Frank makes about the way in which blogs allow people with common interests to interact, and to know the perspective of events in other parts of the world from those parts, are so true. I’ve learned a great deal about reading, writing and all kinds of things since I started blogging, mainly from blogs like Frank’s. (I’m now adding yours to my RSS reader!).
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 PM
Very pleased to meet you Maxine, especially after what Frank had to say. Thanks for your comment. I am now returning your RSS feed favour!
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Nigel, I very much enjoyed this interview. On the other hand, it turns out I’m doing everything wrong because I keep writing fairly long posts…. I wonder if it will be the case that blogging will settle into one fairly consistent form. One of the things that seems appealing about blogging is that you can post as much or as little as you want. And the variety in the ‘blogosphere’ (we really need a nicer name) is also enlivening: a blog that is almost all links to other sites is a great resource, but after a while you want to settle down sometimes for a while and think, not just keep skipping from link to link.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:35 PM
Glad to hear this Rohan. Don’t think there is such a thing as ‘wrong’ when it comes to blogging…unless your prime motivation is just to generate an audience…It’s true though, I go to Frank’s site, and Bookninja and a few others for the links, and the pithy attitude and aphorisms…but I spend time where the more substantial posts are hung out, like your place.
Personally I like to mix things up a bit: some music, photos, long and short posts…don’t get the traffic Frank does, but I prefer to do it my way…as you say, it’s nice that space isn’t scarce…and ‘blog’…what a blobbish, slobbering glombing, clogged up drudge of a word, yes… time for something new and improved…
btw. you can imagine that I whole-heartedly agree with Ronan on his evaluative criticism prescriptive…I have an article coming out in a few days in a local cultural magazine that deals with ‘how to develop ‘good’ taste which I hope will add to the conversation…
June 4th, 2008 at 8:48 AM
[...] Wilson also discussed linking the other day on Nigel Beane’s Nota Bene and how it contributed to the success of Books [...]
March 11th, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Love your posts Keep em coming you’ve got a fan:)