I enjoyed the Small Press panel. Even though
my intent was to show up for the reading before it.

Always interesting to see lumbering beasts of industry
attempt to change--or remain the same long after everyone
else notices they are dead.

Personally I find the 'shelf-life of a big publisher book'
disheartening. Not to mention the whims and vagaries of
Editors (or should that be 'editors'?).

Much like in the music industry, the only way I can persuade
myself to write, is to do it for myself. If I start pondering
the inevitable fate of my work, I tend to lose motivation.

It would be easier if really good writers stayed on the shelf
forever--amid dancing unicorns and rainbows; but when even work
I consider really awesome gets thrown in the wood-chipper, it
tends to demoralize the troops.