You know something a traditional publisher does a good job of? Editing. You know something your comment needs?

“many of those who you assume don’t understand the point of Twitter only because they haven’t explored it or tried it for themselves actually DO understand what Twitter is but still find it pointless”

Well, that’s fine then. This post was for those people who don’t understand. Of course, if you’ve decided something isn’t for you after exploring it and understanding it, then that’s fine. I refer you back to the first paragraph of the post.

“But this strikes me as an underhand way”. Underhanded? They donned a raincoat, stood in a dark alley, and offered you that secret illicit Author Central login?

“That means they’re actively cutting publishers out, which actively encourages authors to do their own thing. That’s not an author’s job. It’s their publisher’s job. ” Hey, you can try to justify the 60% you pay them all you want. Rest of us don’t have to do that.

My job went I went with a traditional publisher? You know, those guys who have a stranglehold on 72% of the deadtree market? It was to write, then sell books. My job with Amazon? Write and sell books, except I get to keep more money.

I don’t understand how Twitter will help me filter out noise. Having a Twitter account doesn’t stop other media, so it doesn’t translate to less noise in my life but MORE. If I focus only on Twitter then I’ll miss out on a certain amount of serendipity. I don’t care much for sports but every now and then a sports headline might catch my eye for another reason. Much of what I learn and enjoy I only happened upon while doing or reading something wholly unrelated to what I was seeking in the first place.

I don’t “get” Twitter. I’ve tried it in the past, tried it again recently, and just find it pointless. I’m not interested in reading and writing 140-character postings on a continuing basis, except maybe to and from my significant other or a couple of close friends, and even then there’s a limit. A few text messages back and forth on my mobile and we’re done.

If I want to go to France or Quebec or read French literature, then I’ll learn French. You can’t posit that I’m somehow ignorant of the purpose of the French language just because I’m not interested in learning French. Nor can you assert that those who don’t “get” the point of Twitter just don’t understand how wonderful and sublime it is. There are vast numbers of intelligent, thoughtful, sociable and well-adjusted people who don’t see the point of Twitter and aren’t interested in participating.

You’ve done a good job, however, of explaining how those who are interested in the basic idea of Twitter can make the most of it.

I hope you will toot Mythic Resonance when it comes out. We had no end of trouble with the printers, but it should be in our hot little hands very soon now.