I edit an academic journal (and am an associate editor for another).
The purpose of the journal is not necessarily a place a print, but rather a place for vindicating new material. The gold standard is a blind review (where the reviewers don't know the author identity, and visa versa). Ideally, the reviewers decide if the article advances our knowledge or not.
Some institutionalization creeps in. Our journal uses a template abstract (six topics, 2-3 sentences on each). You're expected to cite between 25-50 journals, so readers can review the source documents. You're also expected to write in an academic style, editors hate my dry humor, for some reason! Ironically, the best authors write the easiest to read material. I bet most of you could read and follow Stewart Myers' work or Danny Kahneman's work. They also are both in a league heaps more smarter than people like me!
Methods today are more robust, because the software is more robust. Speaking of which, the top journals like "robustness" checks, which is where you run a similar test on data not in your sample, to see if your sample is the same or not. Many journals are hiring a "methods" associate editor who only check methods, since there are so many out there.
I'd add that volume is up substantially. in 2017 my co-editor and I did handled submissions. In 2022 we had a "down year", with "only" 894 submissions (2021 had 903). I desk reject well over half of them.
My wife asks why I do it, and I mostly enjoy it. I give feedback to authors, I also learn a lot. My knowledge of methods skyrocketed, because I had to familiarize myself with more methods than I normally use.
The bad news is, ( well , first of all, I wasn't on their schedule and I panicked...lol) he found 4 additional ones, that makes 19 total...sigh, I am apparently a big outlier here, as usual...lol...as a result he wants another one in 6 to 12 months...if there are none then, he will make it 3 years and if none then, 5..otherwise he considers me a risk for colon cancer...sigh, plus, I apparently also have mild diverticulitous ( sp, too lazy to look it up)...and another thing it is too embarrassing to mention...lol...I guess he put clips on the ones he found, which apparently fall off in a month...yikes...lol
There is no history of colon cancer in my family, they kept asking that...other ones, yes, not that one...
I am not going worry about it ...
Sorry if this is TMI, but, hard to explain what happened without the details...lol
Anyway, I had something to eat and drink and am going to take a nap.
I don't have an opinion about the present and future of nonfiction, but I do have something to say about rambling on.
Has anyone ever noticed that many online recipes have an extensive set of introductory paragraphs in which the writer just goes on and on with an elaborate and redundant monologue about what the dish is and the prospect of cooking and eating it, before finally getting down to the details? And just when you think they're done with the windup, they start right in again? I have gotten so I don't even read the introductory material. I can only guess that someone is paying these writers by the word, yet I don't see where the money is coming from.
I agree partially. I think there are many nonfiction books out there that are, say, 20% substance and 80% filler. Others come across as just a compilation of opinion columns. I liked Ben Sasse's book "Them" but he would often go off into side issues that he found interesting, but weren't related to the book's main topic.
But as I see Marque himself has later conceded, there are also quality nonfiction books that are worth reading.
It occurs to me, though, that one of the most famous novel writers, Charles Dickens, wouldn't actually release his novels as completed 1000 page novels. He would release them chapter by chapter in a newspaper he had a deal with. That's why many of the chapters end in cliffhangers, to make sure the readers came back for the next chapter. Arguably has some parallels with Substack.
Too bad we can’t all get together for an interesting chat, but this is definitely the next best thing.
The problem for me is that there is too much to read. I’ve subscribed to newsletters I like a lot, but I honestly have trouble keeping up with what I get from TD alone. And, of course, I do enjoy our daily newsletter from Marque! It’s short, covers one topic, and always something I look forward to.
My husband and I have purchased A LOT of books through Kindle. I bet I haven’t read a fraction of them (but that’s partly because he buys the majority—cooking). Every month, as an Amazon Prime member, I am allowed to pick two free books from several authors being promoted. Most of the time I take a pass because a) I’m not interested in any of the subjects, and/or b) I have too much already.
Also, I have plenty of podcasts that I listen to throughout the day (and sometimes night). I still have several audiobooks I haven’t gotten around to because I have so many other things I’m listening to. The subject matter is endless, and so much of it is interesting and well done. Sigh.
As to your piece: I can't predict, but, I would be sad. I still would rather read a real book, partly because for some reason, too much screen reading gives me a terrible headache, and I find non fiction books full of information and more and more expanded...at least the ones I read.
I have a pile of books I can't get to, an email inbox with newsletters up to a week old, I can't seem to get read...I keep meaning to read some of my books, and I just can't find the time
Funny thing from TMD this morning as it relates to your opening post: "Happy Friday! On this day in 1970, John Lennon came up with, wrote, and recorded “Instant Karma” in a matter of hours, essentially launching his solo career.
"Impressive. But as impressive as putting together a 2,700-word newsletter on over-classification in an evening? We’ll leave that for you to decide."
Fast forward to this date, 2076. Will someone note that last night they put together today's newsletter? Of course, this may all have been written tongue in cheek, but is there a hint of too much self-importance here? Maybe I'm just turning into a cranky old guy, but I think there is a downside to being able to put out a Substack (or other newsletter) every day. There is a risk of loss of humility, I think. Come to think of it, maybe it was always this way with newspaper columnists but due to the limits of exposure, we were just unaware of it.
Shorter attention spans? I thought it was just me. I've never been much of a book reader and even on Substack I'm not an avid reader. I have lost patience with writers who seem to want to show off their writing skills more than make a point, or shed light on a given topic, or just wander and wander and expect me to patiently wander along. Maybe we've grown up in a world in which information and opinions are always available in sound bytes so we've lost patience more universally than I realized. On the other hand, I enjoy solid give and take either in the form of discussion/argument from which I may learn something or just for fun, so it is not just impatience. Maybe it's just being more selective about how I spend my time.
Today’s special animal friend is the Sun Bear, Helarctos malayanus. This species, the smallest in the Ursidae family, is found in Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, Borneo, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Sun bears can stand about 28 inches high at the shoulder, and a large male may weigh up to 140 lbs. Their fur is usually black, and they have a crescent-shaped patch on the chest, usually yellow or orangish.
Sun bears are excellent climbers and spend more time in the trees than any other bear species. Some build platforms of branches and leaves in the trees. They are solitary with the exception of a mother and her cub. Because they live in a tropical environment with food available year-round, they do not hibernate. They can also mate and give birth at any time of the year. Females make a nest on the ground or in a tree hollow to give birth to one or two cubs.
The babies are blind and helpless, and the mothers are very nurturing and highly protective. They have been observed walking on their hind legs while carrying a baby in their arms. Infants can walk on their own at about two months old and are weaned at four months, but they remain with their mothers for up to three years.
Sun bears are omnivorous and feed mainly at night. They eat fruit, berries, seeds, nuts, and other plant matter. They also eat insects, birds, lizards, and rodents. They are capable of killing deer and monkeys. Natural predators include pythons and leopards; cubs are the most vulnerable.
Sun bears are rated Vulnerable by IUCN. Habitat loss and fragmentation is the greatest threat. They are also hunted for meat by native populations in island habitats. Females are killed so that cubs can be collected for the pet trade. Their gall bladders, along with those of other Asian bears, are desirable for Chinese traditional medicine. Some are shot or poisoned to protect agricultural production.
Although hunting and trade are illegal, enforcement is lax and the financial opportunities for poachers are substantial. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation group focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating captive sun bears.
A litttle late to the conversation, but I came across this yesterday:
https://www.annettewhipple.com/2023/01/kids-love-nonfiction.html?spref=fb
Cheers
I edit an academic journal (and am an associate editor for another).
The purpose of the journal is not necessarily a place a print, but rather a place for vindicating new material. The gold standard is a blind review (where the reviewers don't know the author identity, and visa versa). Ideally, the reviewers decide if the article advances our knowledge or not.
Some institutionalization creeps in. Our journal uses a template abstract (six topics, 2-3 sentences on each). You're expected to cite between 25-50 journals, so readers can review the source documents. You're also expected to write in an academic style, editors hate my dry humor, for some reason! Ironically, the best authors write the easiest to read material. I bet most of you could read and follow Stewart Myers' work or Danny Kahneman's work. They also are both in a league heaps more smarter than people like me!
Methods today are more robust, because the software is more robust. Speaking of which, the top journals like "robustness" checks, which is where you run a similar test on data not in your sample, to see if your sample is the same or not. Many journals are hiring a "methods" associate editor who only check methods, since there are so many out there.
I'd add that volume is up substantially. in 2017 my co-editor and I did handled submissions. In 2022 we had a "down year", with "only" 894 submissions (2021 had 903). I desk reject well over half of them.
My wife asks why I do it, and I mostly enjoy it. I give feedback to authors, I also learn a lot. My knowledge of methods skyrocketed, because I had to familiarize myself with more methods than I normally use.
I am baack...the good news is that it is over
The bad news is, ( well , first of all, I wasn't on their schedule and I panicked...lol) he found 4 additional ones, that makes 19 total...sigh, I am apparently a big outlier here, as usual...lol...as a result he wants another one in 6 to 12 months...if there are none then, he will make it 3 years and if none then, 5..otherwise he considers me a risk for colon cancer...sigh, plus, I apparently also have mild diverticulitous ( sp, too lazy to look it up)...and another thing it is too embarrassing to mention...lol...I guess he put clips on the ones he found, which apparently fall off in a month...yikes...lol
There is no history of colon cancer in my family, they kept asking that...other ones, yes, not that one...
I am not going worry about it ...
Sorry if this is TMI, but, hard to explain what happened without the details...lol
Anyway, I had something to eat and drink and am going to take a nap.
Oh well,
I don't have an opinion about the present and future of nonfiction, but I do have something to say about rambling on.
Has anyone ever noticed that many online recipes have an extensive set of introductory paragraphs in which the writer just goes on and on with an elaborate and redundant monologue about what the dish is and the prospect of cooking and eating it, before finally getting down to the details? And just when you think they're done with the windup, they start right in again? I have gotten so I don't even read the introductory material. I can only guess that someone is paying these writers by the word, yet I don't see where the money is coming from.
I agree partially. I think there are many nonfiction books out there that are, say, 20% substance and 80% filler. Others come across as just a compilation of opinion columns. I liked Ben Sasse's book "Them" but he would often go off into side issues that he found interesting, but weren't related to the book's main topic.
But as I see Marque himself has later conceded, there are also quality nonfiction books that are worth reading.
It occurs to me, though, that one of the most famous novel writers, Charles Dickens, wouldn't actually release his novels as completed 1000 page novels. He would release them chapter by chapter in a newspaper he had a deal with. That's why many of the chapters end in cliffhangers, to make sure the readers came back for the next chapter. Arguably has some parallels with Substack.
Too bad we can’t all get together for an interesting chat, but this is definitely the next best thing.
The problem for me is that there is too much to read. I’ve subscribed to newsletters I like a lot, but I honestly have trouble keeping up with what I get from TD alone. And, of course, I do enjoy our daily newsletter from Marque! It’s short, covers one topic, and always something I look forward to.
My husband and I have purchased A LOT of books through Kindle. I bet I haven’t read a fraction of them (but that’s partly because he buys the majority—cooking). Every month, as an Amazon Prime member, I am allowed to pick two free books from several authors being promoted. Most of the time I take a pass because a) I’m not interested in any of the subjects, and/or b) I have too much already.
Also, I have plenty of podcasts that I listen to throughout the day (and sometimes night). I still have several audiobooks I haven’t gotten around to because I have so many other things I’m listening to. The subject matter is endless, and so much of it is interesting and well done. Sigh.
As to your piece: I can't predict, but, I would be sad. I still would rather read a real book, partly because for some reason, too much screen reading gives me a terrible headache, and I find non fiction books full of information and more and more expanded...at least the ones I read.
I have a pile of books I can't get to, an email inbox with newsletters up to a week old, I can't seem to get read...I keep meaning to read some of my books, and I just can't find the time
Funny thing from TMD this morning as it relates to your opening post: "Happy Friday! On this day in 1970, John Lennon came up with, wrote, and recorded “Instant Karma” in a matter of hours, essentially launching his solo career.
"Impressive. But as impressive as putting together a 2,700-word newsletter on over-classification in an evening? We’ll leave that for you to decide."
Fast forward to this date, 2076. Will someone note that last night they put together today's newsletter? Of course, this may all have been written tongue in cheek, but is there a hint of too much self-importance here? Maybe I'm just turning into a cranky old guy, but I think there is a downside to being able to put out a Substack (or other newsletter) every day. There is a risk of loss of humility, I think. Come to think of it, maybe it was always this way with newspaper columnists but due to the limits of exposure, we were just unaware of it.
Shorter attention spans? I thought it was just me. I've never been much of a book reader and even on Substack I'm not an avid reader. I have lost patience with writers who seem to want to show off their writing skills more than make a point, or shed light on a given topic, or just wander and wander and expect me to patiently wander along. Maybe we've grown up in a world in which information and opinions are always available in sound bytes so we've lost patience more universally than I realized. On the other hand, I enjoy solid give and take either in the form of discussion/argument from which I may learn something or just for fun, so it is not just impatience. Maybe it's just being more selective about how I spend my time.
Today’s special animal friend is the Sun Bear, Helarctos malayanus. This species, the smallest in the Ursidae family, is found in Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, Borneo, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Sun bears can stand about 28 inches high at the shoulder, and a large male may weigh up to 140 lbs. Their fur is usually black, and they have a crescent-shaped patch on the chest, usually yellow or orangish.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1KeYup5r7s
Sun bears are excellent climbers and spend more time in the trees than any other bear species. Some build platforms of branches and leaves in the trees. They are solitary with the exception of a mother and her cub. Because they live in a tropical environment with food available year-round, they do not hibernate. They can also mate and give birth at any time of the year. Females make a nest on the ground or in a tree hollow to give birth to one or two cubs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1KeYup5r7s
The babies are blind and helpless, and the mothers are very nurturing and highly protective. They have been observed walking on their hind legs while carrying a baby in their arms. Infants can walk on their own at about two months old and are weaned at four months, but they remain with their mothers for up to three years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwqMip33Xr8
Sun bears are omnivorous and feed mainly at night. They eat fruit, berries, seeds, nuts, and other plant matter. They also eat insects, birds, lizards, and rodents. They are capable of killing deer and monkeys. Natural predators include pythons and leopards; cubs are the most vulnerable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OJkjeVn764
Sun bears are rated Vulnerable by IUCN. Habitat loss and fragmentation is the greatest threat. They are also hunted for meat by native populations in island habitats. Females are killed so that cubs can be collected for the pet trade. Their gall bladders, along with those of other Asian bears, are desirable for Chinese traditional medicine. Some are shot or poisoned to protect agricultural production.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-JOpac4mrM
Although hunting and trade are illegal, enforcement is lax and the financial opportunities for poachers are substantial. The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation group focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating captive sun bears.
https://www.bsbcc.org.my/index.html
Too often, books lack puns. [there’s a pun just waiting to come out here and I just can’t reach it]
Good morning. Books as a category are better than anything one reads on a screen.
Praise Substack, and of course the system derails…
Scheduled to send at six, just resent manually, so everyone probably will get duplicates now. I need a drink.