13 Painful Realities of a Writer's Life
huffingtonpost.co.uk – Tuesday February 9, 2016
I don't think this post needs an introduction. People wouldn't read it anyway. They always skip down to the numbers. Don't think I don't know this. If you've read this far, I'm impressed.

Is self-publishing coming of age in the digital world?
bbc.co.uk – Tuesday February 9, 2016

Erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey began life as a humble, self-published e-book, unable to satisfy the tastes of traditional publishers.
Within a few years it had achieved domination on a global scale, spawning a series that has sold more than 125 million copies.
E. L. James's personal story has become a tantalising fantasy for aspiring authors. But one that technology and social media are making increasingly realisable.

9 Reasons Joining A Writing Group Is One Of The Best Ways A Writer Can Grow
bustle.com – Monday February 8, 2016

If you are a writer who has never been part of a writer's group, I am here to change that. Seriously. Writing groups are the best things to happen to a writer since the invention of spell check. (I rely heavily on both so I would know.) For those who don't know a lot about it, writing groups are part social gathering, part creative free-for-all, and most importantly the safest place to have your writing be seen. As someone who is terrified of strangers reading my material, being part of a group has helped me learn so much about myself and my style of writing. I have improved tremendously because of it.

Trying To Find a Literary Agent Is the Worst Thing Ever
publishersweekly.com – Saturday February 6, 2016

Anyone who’s ever dated regularly, tried to score against LeBron James, or been a transplanted organ knows what it’s like to face rejection. But no one understands the pain of rejection better than a first-time novelist looking for an agent.

Want to Succeed in Self-Publishing? Be Professional: Tips from an Indie Author
publishersweekly.com – Saturday February 6, 2016

Jessica Lourey, author of the Murder by Month mysteries, began searching for a new publisher for her novel The Catalain Book of Secrets after she realized her current house, Midnight Ink, doesn’t publish magical realism. Lourey got close to a traditional publishing deal, but ultimately “couldn’t letCatalain wither on the vine.” So she chose to self-publish.

How do I become ... an ebook writer?
theguardian.com – Thursday February 4, 2016

After giving up a job commissioning rollercoasters, Tracy Bloom fell in love with novel-writing and now she makes a living from self-published romances.

What apps next? Publishers and developers embrace 'unprintable' fiction
theguardian.com – Thursday February 4, 2016

Publisher Anna Gerber isn’t trying to kill off the printed book – she’d just like you to spend a bit more time on your mobile. “We don’t really think the point is to change the way we read,” she says, “but we do like the idea of trying to immerse readers in books on their phones.”

“So Be It! See to It!” Writers’ Inspiring Manifestos to Themselves
flavorwire.com – Wednesday February 3, 2016

This week, writers have been mesmerized by an unearthed piece of writing by beloved and brilliant novelist Octavia Butler, on display from the Huntington Library. This scrawled notebook page is a manifesto in the truest sense of the word, in that it predated much of the reality Butler ended up making manifest — concluding with the refrain “So be it! See to it!” and including the exhortation, “I will find the way to do this.”

Three Essential Books That Will Immediately Improve Your Writing
forbes.com – Monday February 1, 2016

So many business accomplishments are dependent on the quality of your writing. And if you’re serious about improving your writing, nothing will help you more than to closely read, actively underline, and diligently apply the lessons you can learn from these three books.

The book agent's touch
straitstimes.com – Sunday January 31, 2016

Literary agents are the gatekeepers and tastemakers of the book world, deciding an unpublished manuscript's fate even before a publisher does. No wonder then that Mr Jonny Geller, joint chief executive officer of the Curtis Brown agency, was last year named among Britain's 500 most influential people by long-established society watcher Debretts.
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