Experiments (and a Giveaway)
I spend a lot of time reading and thinking and talking about books and how books get made and how books get to readers. It’s easy to see that the publishing industry is changing dramatically. It’s harder to figure out how to navigate the new landscape in a way that is fair and practical and interesting and still pays the bills.
The balancing act is made much easier by talking to other people who are also trying to figure it all out. I have these conversations with other members of the Visionary Authors group started by Cat Bordhi. We all work together to try and figure out this complicated dance. One of the people I’ve particularly enjoyed getting to know is Janel Laidman.
Janel has been experimenting with ways to get patterns to knitters for as long as I’ve been knitting. Her first book, The Eclectic Sole, was the first sock book I ever bought way back when I was a wee baby sock knitter. Her second, The Enchanted Sole, was just as delightful.
Given her past projects, it is no surprise that her latest undertaking is something special. I told you about The Sock Report when it first came out in electronic form back in June. I’m delighted to see that it’s now out in in physical form. Janel’s done something quite remarkable here. She’s pulled together work from a wide array of designers into one cohesive collection and presented it beautifully. Just as impressive, she’s done it while paying her designers very fairly (a challenge many other publishers have not met nearly as well), and while exploring some of the new formats now available. If you like instant gratification and you want lots of bang for your buck, you can buy the full electronic version and start knitting right away. If you like just one or two patterns, you can get them individually. And if you (like me) still cherish good old-fashioned paper and ink, now you can get a paper copy.
And the paper copy itself is lovely. It reads as something between a book and a magazine. Sturdier than your average magazine (nice heavy cover and paper and a good binding), but more portable than your average book (slim enough to fit in your knitting bag easily).
I was lucky enough to be one of the designers in the inaugural issue, so I’ve got a copy of this lovely new book on my shelf right now. And, because Janel is awesome and because I like you all very much, I’ve got an extra copy to give away to one of you too. Just leave a comment telling me what sort of format you tend to prefer (paper, electronic, something else I don’t know about yet) and why. I’ll leave comments open through Saturday evening and announce a winner on Monday.
Lately, I’ve been going more digital, but I would definitely prefer the PAPER version of this one. It looks wonderful 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway.
I tend to prefer a hard copy book – I love looking at all my knitting books lined up on a shelf. But if I can get a hard copy and a digital copy of the same book for a reasonable price I go for that because I can also just print out the pattern I’m working on and have it with me when I’m out and about.
I have to admit to being a paper copy girl at heart. Having said that, I do also love the convience of e copies. So. Uh. Can I pick both??? 😀 I love it when authors give me the choice or option to have both, it’s a great option.
I, generally, prefer a hard copy book. However, I’m making the transition to ebooks because I can, then, print out a pattern for my personal use. I think there is a place for both types.
I love to look at an actually hard copy. But for practical use, digital wins – I can look at it on my laptop anywhere, and zoom in if needed. And I can print out only the pages I need.
I love books, but I tend to knit patterns that I download from the computer. I print them and save them in a notebook.
Well having accrued way to many books I have somewhat coverted to e-books. The only books I still buy in hard copy are knitting books. I just dont like knitting books in e-format. Individual patterns sure but not whole books.
Though I do use digital copies, I still prefer a hard copy. There is nothing quite like holding a book, plus when I knit, I just copy the pattern from the book…
I like sitting on the couch and browsing through hard copies and I like digital copies so I can easily access patterns from wherever I am. Also, it’s easier to print a couple pages of a pattern from the digital version and if there are any errata sometimes you will receive updates of the digital version but, unfortunately, not the hard copy.
I’d love to have a paper copy of the sock report!
It varies what my favorite medium for patterns is.
I use both paper and digital.
With digital I can keep my place in a chart by scrolling but with paper, I can mark it up and make notes.
I still love paper best, especially for knitting patterns. I do love my Kindle, though, because it is easier to read books while knitting since it lays flat.
I love paper copies. Digital is great, so when you can get both at the same time, I would go for that. But, if it is either one or the other, I would choose the hard copy.
I have been going back and forth over which form to purchase this wonderful collection in! I wrote to Janel Laidman to ask her if there would be a companion hard copy available if the electronic copy were purchased and she said alas, not for this issue of the Sock Report but she hopes to begin doing this for future issues and also for her upcoming publication Skein Theory. So if I might be chosen to receive the print version of Sock Report, it will clinch my decision. It is a must-have, regardless. Hunter, thank you for having the dual option for print/e-book for Curiosity Cabinet and for Rabble Rousers. It is definitely the best of both worlds! (And thank you for your exciting, generous giveaways.)
I definitely prefer digital because it’s easier to sort through than books or paper on the shelf.
I definitely love to hold an actual book. I love to turn the pages and see the beautiful pictures and words. Digital just doesn’t have the same experience. (But when I am feeling especially impatient, immediate download is nice;)
I have been pondering that very question. I have gone largely digital for fiction and nonfiction alike, because it eliminates the never ending question of storage (where am I going to put this?).
Yet for knitting and cookbooks, I’m still stuck in the hard copy world, mainly because I use a Kindle e-reader and it is black and white. I’m contemplating an iPad so I can go digital for the knitting and cookbooks too, and view everything in glorious color. That’s the goal!
We got the first e reader in our house last month. I love the thought of carrying tons of books around but still love my paper must be the life long connection.
I prefer digital. Sure, I love books and magazines, but I have so much respect for them that I won’t mark them up. But a printout, that is a whole ‘nother kettle of fish.
I decide between paper and digital on a case by case basis. Most magazines are moving to digital for me. Stand alone knitting patterns – digital. Small zines – digital. Knitting books are a mix depending on cost and availability.
Although I am a huge fan of the Internet in general and of Ravelry in particular, there is still something lovely about being able to carry an actual book around with you, to turn the pages one by one and see photographs in real life. Some books even smell nice! By the time I received my printed copy of KCC, I had already knitted several of the patterns from my online version but was still excited to have a hard copy.
I go both ways (LOL) I like digital because it takes up no room in my stuffed bookshelves. But I also love leafing through a paper copy too. Thanks!
I mostly do digital when it comes to knitting patterns, it’s more portable. But if it’s a free copy, I don’t mind either digital or hard copy. :p
I love and prefer paper, but the cost can be formidable sometimes.
I, too, love good old-fashioned paper and ink. I do download individual patterns to print up, but given the option, I’ll always go for the hard copy. So far, I have held off on an e-reader, or even an iPhone!
I usually pick digital patterns so I can just print out the part I need. (But I still love paper pattern books too – the pictures are always so beautiful.)