Endless Joke

by David Antrobus

There are writing manuals... and there are writing manuals. Endless Joke casts a somewhat ironic and satirical eye over the current state of publishing, very much from one independent writer's perspective, but certainly far from a partisan one. It pokes affectionate fun while genuinely wrestling with some of the complications produced in the wake of traditional publishing's seismic changes. But don't be it somehow manages to be both punk-rock irreverent and devout as a choirboy—while often funny, and at other times filled with the kind of awe that a lifelong love of writing will generate, you will learn much from this book. About lists. About movies. About how to begin a story and how to end one. And ultimately, about how to stay in love with writing amid the flood of new authors marketing their books, upon the new battlegrounds created by the e-publishing revolution. You will laugh. Maybe even cry. And you will enjoy every moment. Except for maybe a couple low points about halfway through.

143 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2012

About the author

The words. They arrived singularly, in pairs, in groups. They never even bothered to knock; just strode in through the hardwood doorway or slipped through the gap in a window someone had cracked open in a futile attempt to counter those stifling summer afternoons. Took advantage. Kept their shoes on. Lit their cigarettes. Rolled up their sleeves and made fists. Laughed, danced, seduced, bawled their eyes out. I became their captive and, whether they cried as some did or whether they gloated as others did, we all understood one thing: this was a life sentence.

Reviews

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a cliché people use in describing Allison Krauss, Becky Schlegel (I know, you’ve never heard of her – she sounds a lot like Allison Krauss), or other singers with great voices. They say they’d “love listening to her, even if she was singing from the phone book.” I feel the same way about reading David Antrobus’ writing. I’d love to read anything he writes because of his facility with language. Well, almost anything. Maybe not the phone book. Some describe his style as literary (I’ve called it that before and we see some of that here), but he also a talent for finding the humor in subjects you wouldn’t think of as funny. Although Endless Joke is, on the surface, aimed at target readers who sees themselves as writers, authors, or at least wannabes, I could see much of this book being of interest and entertaining to those who are interested in the life of a writer (even if they don’t want to be one), in the world of publishing and how it is changing, and just generally in language and literature.

The book’s description is true, but if you’re like me, you’ll read it and still wonder, “If I buy this book, what will I get?” It’s a series of standalone essays, some originally written for Indies Unlimited (a multinational, multiauthor blog), some for Antrobus’ personal blog, The Migrant Type, and others specifically for this volume. As a group I’d describe them as “Dispatches from the Frontlines of Indie Publishing,” but that’s not as clever a title as Endless Joke (which is a reference that will be explained in the introduction). They covered a wide range of subjects, yet seemed to make a coherent whole. One example, Punk Fire or Indie Schmindie, discusses the similarities between the Punk Rock movement of the 70s and Indie publishing today and points out why the similarities aren’t all a harbinger of good things to come. Another, Well Defined? Nevermind, lists thirteen words from a list of fifty compiled by The New York Times that were most likely to stump their readers. With each he gives the real meaning as well as his own, made up definition. This mixing of education with entertainment in many of the essays kept even the driest subjects (like definitions of twenty-dollar words) interesting.

Whether an indie author (current or future) or a reader, Endless Joke will entertain, educate, and provoke thought. I promise, it’s much better than the phone book.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Roy Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about this. Great advice, hilarious, and a great read. This should be on the top of your to read list if you haven't checked it out already. Very useful for independent writers. If you are one of them, don't let this book go unread.

[Sheela Word · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way Better than “Infinite Jest." David Foster Wallace was probably the smartest man who ever lived, but I couldn’t get past the first 57 ½ pages of his massive comic depressing post-realist novel-type-thing, whereas “Endless Joke” went down in a single gulp, interrupted by bouts of shrill, hyena-like laughter (mine), which should have led to choking, but didn’t, due to an agile, artificially-emu-entrail-enhanced epiglottis , and this sentence is kinda like “Endless Joke,” with its mixed metaphors and run-on sentences, only “Endless Joke” is funnier. Much.

EJ is hilarious. If you’re an Indie writer or supporter, you’ll love it, and even if you hate the whole Indie-book movement, you should still read this book, because it’ll give you plenty of ammunition, though not the throwing kind, unless your reading device is a MaxiPad, which can really hurt if hurled hard.

[V.S. Kemanis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very entertaining. Mr. Antrobus, you made my day! As one of those "undies" doggie-paddling desperately to shore, I enjoyed your many fine nuggets of wisdom, parody, and advice. I recommend this book to all indie writers and to anyone who enjoys imaginative prose, insightful metaphor, a masterful command of the English language--and a lot of laughs!

[Ed Drury · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well put together collection of articles on writing written for Indies Unlimited, certainly one of the most useful indie writing sites on the internet. They have been edited and organized into a very worthwhile reference format which I think both the aspiring writer and experienced author can appreciate. Many hints, clues, and leads to further investigations of literature (both classic and modern) are embedded within its modest length. One of many things which makes this book valuable to a broader audience. By broader, I mean anyone who likes to read and is hoping to increase their enjoyment, understanding, and variety of this pleasurable activity.

Along with many solid constructive tips on navigating the world of creative writing from the standpoint of both a consumer and a participant, each chapter offers a lot of entertainment in addition to such bonuses as vocabulary building should the reader care to take advantage of a dictionary whilst reading (which I'd highly recommend!) Having said that, I certainly don't want to leave the impression that I found the book excessively verbose. Quite the opposite. It is clear the author values both economy and accuracy of style.

Very enjoyable, thoughtful, and entertaining as well as a great value in terms of insights and tips. I will without a doubt read the book again if for no other reason than to revisit some of the great laughs provided just one more time. For all the helpful technical points raised and discussed in this short work, it would be impossible to overstate its humour. It is knee slapping funny, at least from a word geeks perspective. Everyone knows that word geeks tell the best jokes and if you didn't know that you definitely need to read this book.

I've followed as closely as possible the stream of consciousness articles as Mr. Antrobus ponders the trends and meanings, or lack of them, of the current self publishing and indie publishing scene for perhaps over a year. I can never get enough. I usually read for the humour, which is abundant, pithy, and enlightening; but I come back for the quiet little insightful subtext he so skillfully leaves filling the blankness between lines.