5 Tips For Young And Emerging Writers
wamu.org – Thursday January 3, 2019
Writers: how often have you been told to “write what you know”?
Generic writing advice is so often repeated it’s become a joke in the New Yorker. But do young or emerging writers feel boxed-in when they hear the same lessons over and over again that prioritize certain kinds of writing styles? Today on The Kojo Nnamdi Show, we’ll explore what it takes to write fiction, and what resources the Washington region has for new writers. One of our guests, Zachary Clark, leads 826DC, a nonprofit chapter that provides writing support to young Washingtonians.
Check out Zachary’s writing advice, and leave your own in the comments section!
The Complete Comedy Writer, by Dave Cohen
chortle.co.uk – Saturday December 29, 2018
Dave Cohen’s book about comedy writing doesn’t have any of the answers. But it does have a lot of questions – and that is probably more useful to an aspiring scribe trying to figure out what’s wrong with their script or in need of a bit of inspiration.
For anyone putting ‘become a sitcom writer’ on their list of new year resolutions, there are plenty of pointers here to focus the mind: from considering the underpinning meaning of what the show’s actually about to figuring out the personality flaws of the central character which means they won’t get what they think they want - let alone what they really want.
Happy Verbs
By G. Miki Hayden
Instructor at Writer's Digest University online and private writing coach
firstwriter.com – Thursday December 27, 2018
Well, I don’t think the verbs are actually happy. I only said that to attract your attention. But verbs do have moods. And I used the word “moods” to draw your attention, too. But it’s true that verbs have moods, though we also call them modes.
Book industry booms as children catch the reading bug
newshub.co.nz – Thursday December 27, 2018
When it came to kid's presents this year one of the most popular items in Santa's sack was a new book.
Publishers are celebrating an industry boom with children's titles flying off the shelves.
The increase in sales is being put down to a number of factors, including a higher quality of offerings on the shelves.
Bottleneck at printers derails holiday book sales in US
businesstimes.com.sg – Wednesday December 26, 2018
THIS year has been, much to everyone's surprise, a blockbuster for the publishing industry. Despite the relentless news cycle, readers have bought books in droves.
Hardcover sales are up, and unit sales at independent bookstores have risen 5 per cent. Multiple titles - Bob Woodward's Fear, Bill Clinton and James Patterson's The President Is Missing and Michelle Obama's Becoming - have passed the million-copy mark, while there is also a surprisingly strong appetite for literary fiction.
But what should be good news for publishers, agents and authors has created headaches during the crucial holiday sales season, as printing presses struggle to keep up with a surge in demand, creating a backlog that has led to stock shortages of popular titles.
15 Books On Writing To Help You Get More Words Down In The New Year
bustle.com – Saturday December 22, 2018
If your New Year's resolution involves being a more productive writer, you're going to want to take notes. I've got 15 books to help you write more in the new year, and they're sure to help any kind of writer make good art in the next 12 months.
Writing more isn't one of the most common New Year's resolutions overall, but it does go hand-in-hand with reading more, which 18 percent of people wanted to do in 2018. Depending on your purposes for writing, your New Year's resolution might fit into the categories of "focus on self-care," "learn a new skill," "get a new job," or "take up a new hobby," which 13 to 24 percent of individuals wanted out of their 2018 vows.
The 15 books on the list below are an eclectic blend of writing reference guides, self-help titles, and creative journals, which means you'll have no trouble finding something that will help you write more in the new year. Regardless of the kind of support your writing habit needs, there's a book on this list that will help you fulfill your New Year's resolution in the coming months. So get reading — and more importantly, get writing.
Non-fiction ruled even as new wave of authors came to the fore (2018 In Retrospect)
business-standard.com – Wednesday December 19, 2018
Scripting a fresh narrative in Indian publishing, the year saw a sustained interest of both publishers as well as readers in non-fiction while a new wave of authors -- spanning genres and languages -- came to the fore both on the bestseller charts and through recognition at major literary awards.
In fact, the rising popularity of non-fiction and memoirs has been a significant trend over the past few years, but 2018 was the year when the genre firmly cemented itself as the favourite of the readers in India.
This is evident as leading publishers and literary agents have now become sceptical when it comes to considering fiction manuscripts -- some have even set aside only two days of the week for such submissions -- while non-fiction commissioning has climbed a notch higher.
The Borough Press and The Good Literary Agency open submissions for un-agented BAME writers
thebookseller.com – Monday December 17, 2018
The Borough Press has teamed up with The Good Literary Agency to open submissions for un-agented BAME writers with the one winning applicant set to secure a £10,000 publishing contract, agency representation and mentoring from writer Nikesh Shukla.
Assistant editor Ore Agbaje-Williams is calling for authors from BAME backgrounds who have written a literary or literary-commercial novel in keeping with the spirit of The Borough Press list - books people want to talk about, either to question or agree; books that span the globe, whether near home or far afield; energetic, modern and eclectic books that inspire passion in readers - to enter the open submission.
Publishers put up £5k prize for funny female writers
chortle.co.uk – Monday December 17, 2018
A new award for funny new female authors has been given a major boost.
The new Comedy Women in Print Prize, launched by Helen Lederer at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, has joined forces with publisher HarperFiction, to award the winning aspiring novelist a publishing contract and a £5,000 advance.
The runner-up will receive a free place on the MA course in creative writing at the University of Hertfordshire.
Don’t fret, aspiring writers: You’re more qualified than you think
pe.com – Monday December 17, 2018
“How do I become a writer?” Authors hear it often. This question bubbles up in workshops and literary Q&A’s. Ironically, the folks asking are often already writing poems, essays, screenplays, or novels but somehow doubt that the work is “real” yet, pending the verdict of some external authority.
When I’m asked, the boring answer I give (similar if not identical to an answer offered by most writers I have known and read) is to read a lot and write a lot, then repeat the process over and over. This un-glamorous response either disappoints or quietly thrills. I watch the expression of the person if we are talking face-to-face. She may give a curious nod, as if to humor me. Often there is an insistent followup: “Well, sure,” one might go on, “but how do I publish my book/poetry collection/this article/this short story?”
Ah. That’s a different question. Strategies for getting published shift constantly in the evolving field of publication. But one cannot publish at all without writing first. So back to the first premise we go.
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