# MIT Press is going to publish my book **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 13, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282 "2014-02-13T21:06:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/1 "2014-02-13T21:06:03Z")
I hope I’m not jinxing it by posting this before I have a signed contract … . I got an informal acceptance email yesterday from my editor. He wants to set a deadline of April 1 for the final draft. I’m trying to set up a phone call with him now to discuss revisions. The latest reader reports recommend a variety of changes, some big and some small. But since he’s asking me for a 6-week turn-around on the revisions, I’m guessing he only wants me to address the small stuff. I’m kind of freaking out. ---
**Author:** ![MareIt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@MareIt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MareIt)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/2 "2014-02-13T22:25:21Z")
Congrats! Getting a book published is more work than I could even contemplate doing ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/3 "2014-02-13T22:29:12Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > He wants to set a deadline of **April 1** for the final draft. Come on, I expect a less obvious prank date from MIT than April Fool’s Day! (Just kidding. Congratulations!) ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/4 "2014-02-13T22:30:36Z")
Congratulations. What is the book about? How to Become Rodent Royalty in Three Easy Steps? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/5 "2014-02-13T22:40:40Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > What is the book about? It’s a book about play. It lays out a new critical framework for analyzing play spaces, drawing connections between games, literature, neuroscience, semiotics and philosophy. One one level it’s: “Here’s a better way to talk about how play works.” And on another level it’s: “Here’s how this better way of talking about play can illuminate other aspects of human culture.” ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/6 "2014-02-13T23:06:18Z")
Far out! \*\* applause \*\* **W00t!** Can I borrow a cup of agent-bait? ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/7 "2014-02-13T23:12:22Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > It’s a book about play. It lays out a new critical framework for analyzing play spaces, drawing connections between games, literature, neuroscience, semiotics and philosophy. > > One one level it’s: “Here’s a better way to talk about how play works.” > > And on another level it’s: “Here’s how this better way of talking about play can illuminate other aspects of human culture.” “Check out the big brain on Brad!” Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/8 "2014-02-13T23:12:22Z")
A friend recently published a book with MIT Press and it is doing very well in sales. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/9 "2014-02-13T23:25:24Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > “Check out the big brain on Brad!” 🙂 Not quite big enough, apparently. The reviewers suggested I add chapters on the history of aesthetics and the psychology of play. I’m hoping that the proposed six-week deadline means that I can ignore those suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/10 "2014-02-13T23:53:40Z")
Congratulations, but we’re talking about play, right? Hide and seek? Chutes and Ladders? Pull my finger? How can you possibly turn that into a dry academic subject? ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/11 "2014-02-14T00:03:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Congratulations, but we’re talking about play, right? Hide and seek? Chutes and Ladders? Pull my finger? How can you possibly turn that into a dry academic subject? All the pictures are in black and white. :mad: Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/12 "2014-02-14T00:13:48Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Congratulations, but we’re talking about play, right? Hide and seek? Chutes and Ladders? Pull my finger? How can you possibly turn that into a dry academic subject? I did get dinged for not being dry and academic enough. ☹ My editor says not to worry about those comments. Apparently they’re trying to broaden the tone of the press, so deviation from bone dry scholarship is now acceptable in some circumstances. Phew. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/13 "2014-02-14T00:15:28Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > The reviewers suggested I add chapters on the history of aesthetics and the psychology of play. Would this help at all? > **[Homepage - The Strong National Museum of Play](https://www.museumofplay.org/)** > > The Strong is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play. I’ll buy a copy when I get some cash flowing again. Would you autograph it for me? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/14 "2014-02-14T00:22:39Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > 🙂 > > Not quite big enough, apparently. The reviewers suggested I add chapters on the history of aesthetics and the psychology of play. I’m hoping that the proposed six-week deadline means that I can ignore those suggestions. Pshhh… You tell them you’re saving that for your next book. Congrats, getting published is an amazing accomplishment and a huge deal. May the rest of the path go smoother than you could hope for. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/15 "2014-02-14T00:23:11Z")
BTW, since you’re something of an expert in this, my perception is the kids in America today don’t spend much time in unorganized, random play outside as they used to. For one thing, many children spend a lot more time indoors than before and most play outside the home appears to organized and scheduled (e.g., play dates, team sports, etc.). Is this the sort of thing you’ve studied? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/16 "2014-02-14T00:52:23Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, since you’re something of an expert in this, my perception is the kids in America today don’t spend much time in unorganized, random play outside as they used to. For one thing, many children spend a lot more time indoors than before and most play outside the home appears to organized and scheduled (e.g., play dates, team sports, etc.). Is this the sort of thing you’ve studied? Read the book to find out. 😉 But seriously, sounds like a fascinating subject. Working in game dev myself, I hope I get the chance to read it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/17 "2014-02-14T01:19:43Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, since you’re something of an expert in this, my perception is the kids in America today don’t spend much time in unorganized, random play outside as they used to. For one thing, many children spend a lot more time indoors than before and most play outside the home appears to organized and scheduled (e.g., play dates, team sports, etc.). Is this the sort of thing you’ve studied? That’s more child psychology (which one reviewer suggested I include more of). I’m a game designer so the book starts by analyzing rule-based play – video games, board games, and sports. From that I develop a set of heuristics (I call them “the rules for rules”) that describe the necessary characteristics of successful play spaces. I then show how these heuristics also apply to non-rule-based play: make-believe, role-playing, theatrical performance. Then I use this play-based framework to analyze the playful aspects of things like literature and music. My book doesn’t say anything about how anyone SHOULD play. It’s more like a very, very deep dive into the circumstances that make play possible. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/18 "2014-02-14T13:04:23Z")
I want to read your book!!! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/19 "2014-02-14T13:34:21Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > I’m a game designer so the book starts by analyzing rule-based play – video games, board games, and sports. From that I develop a set of heuristics (I call them “the rules for rules”) that describe the necessary characteristics of successful play spaces. I then show how these heuristics also apply to non-rule-based play: make-believe, role-playing, theatrical performance. Then I use this play-based framework to analyze the playful aspects of things like literature and music. > > My book doesn’t say anything about how anyone SHOULD play. It’s more like a very, very deep dive into the circumstances that make play possible. I take it your book doesn’t not provide any guidance on when “take backsies” and “do overs” are okay or not. I’ll wait for the revised editions. Please get started. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282/20 "2014-02-14T14:33:36Z")
Sounds damned interesting. Please update us when it’s available for sale. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mit-press-is-going-to-publish-my-book/681282.md?page=2)