Betting Big on Literary Newcomers
wsj.com – Thursday November 19, 2015
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, a former marketing copywriter in Los Angeles, dreamed for years of becoming a novelist but never had any illusions about earning a living from it. Her goal in writing her first novel, “The Nest,” which she tackled in her early 50s, was merely to finish it.
In a whirlwind week as publishers read the manuscript last December, HarperCollins’s Ecco editorial director Megan Lynch made a pre-emptive offer to publish the novel for at least $1 million. “I never imagined people would respond that way in a million years,” said Ms. Sweeney, 55. The book, about four adult siblings whose anticipated inheritance has all but evaporated because of one brother’s bad behavior, is scheduled to be published next March.
5 Things Every Screenwriter Should Know About Action Writing
huffingtonpost.com – Wednesday November 18, 2015
Action sequences can be a screenwriter's best friend or worst enemy. If you can write them well, you'll be more of a coveted commodity in the eyes of the powers that be. Such a gift will make your spec scripts shine brighter than the rest, thanks to an entertaining and engaging read, and will increase your chances of being considered for key studio writing assignments.
If you can't, well, it's time to start honing that skillset.
How fantasy author Ellen Kushner used TV writing techniques to publish a serialized story online
dailydot.com – Wednesday November 18, 2015
Ellen Kushner’s Swordspoint came out in 1987, subtitled, “A melodrama of manners.” Combining swashbuckling duels, queer romance, and political intrigue, it's since become a cult classic, kicking off the fantasy subgenre of “mannerpunk” and spawning two other novels set in the same nameless city.
Now the series is moving in an unexpected direction: online serialization. Unfolding in weekly installments from authors including Malinda Lo and Alaya Dawn Johnson, Tremontaine is published in text and audio episodes by the subscription service Serialbox.
How to overcome writers' block - and finish writing that chapter
marieclaire.co.uk – Tuesday November 17, 2015
As part of my attempt to do something more productive with my life than watching episodes of The Good Wife back-to-back on Netflix, I’m working on my first ever novel (with the help of Windows 10).
How to win a creative writing competition - top tips
theguardian.com – Monday November 16, 2015
oe Craig, author of the Jimmy Coates spy series and judge of the National Short Story Week young writer competition, has some tips for budding young writers on avoiding common creative writing pitfalls and how to stand out from the crowd
A good time to reflect on the art and craft of writing
sandiegouniontribune.com – Sunday November 15, 2015
November is National Writing Month, so today I muse about how some writers write. Ernest Hemingway's first rule for writers was to apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. But not all authors are able to survive with such a simple approach.
Can an App Really Cure Writer's Block?
bloomberg.com – Thursday November 12, 2015
When you're writing in a "flow state," words and sentences tumble out effortlessly. New tech is trying to help you achieve that.
University of Utah offers year-long novel-writing course
college.usatoday.com – Tuesday November 10, 2015
Professors demand a lot and, when it comes to writing assignments, putting words to paper can feel like you’ve been asked to write a novel.
Actually, for some students at the University of Utah, that’s exactly what they’re tasked to do.
9 ways to trick yourself into writing a novel
mashable.com – Monday November 9, 2015
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo, for short). This is the year you complete the book of your dreams.
Sometimes all you need is a little motivation. Trick yourself into completing your novel this month by trying one (or all) of the strategies below.
11 authors' strategies for overcoming writer's block
mashable.com – Monday November 9, 2015
Writer's block — an author's worst nightmare.
The dreaded lack of creative ideas and inability to produce new work has writers across the world trembling in fear.
Famed novelists F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ray Bradbury are just two of many creative minds that have suffered from this incorrigible mental block. And let's face it, if a writer tells you its never happened to them, they're probably lying.
Mashable compiled the strategies different authors use to overcome writer's block, which should come in handy since it's National Novel Writing Month.
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