BBC National Short Story winner – a plea to publishers to take risks
theguardian.com – Friday October 7, 2016
Since winning the BBC National Short Story award this week for “Disappearances”, I have been asked whether I am writing a novel. This is something that happens to short story writers. I have responded obliquely. There are good reasons for this: most importantly, one of the exciting aspects of writing is finding the form appropriate to the subject you are exploring – whatever it may be.
Greg Jackson: 'Writing a novel is like an interminable family vacation'
theguardian.com – Thursday October 6, 2016
"Hello?” Skype blinks across the Atlantic to reveal Greg Jackson in his Brooklyn apartment on a boiling afternoon. One of his characters may use the video chat app to keep in touch with her “dysphoric” dogs, but the debut author confesses he’s unused to such communication himself. And though he’s warm and forthcoming, with the air of a slightly worried Buddha, he does seem a little cautious.
This is unsurprising for a number of reasons – he’s new to media scrutiny, he describes himself (and the other writers he knows) as a “stay-at-home introvert”, and Skype is a peculiar way to talk. But caution, qualification and a keenness to include nuance seem to be part of his style as a person. And they are also characteristic of his striking debut short-story collection, Prodigals, for which the US National Book Foundation last week named him as one of five writers under 35 expected “to make a lasting impression on the literary landsape”.
Open Call for Poetry Submissions
firstwriter.com – Thursday October 6, 2016
The Stony Thursday Book is seeking submissions from local, national and international poets for its next issue, to be published in December 2016.
The Stony Thursday Book was founded by Limerick poets John Liddy and Jim Burke in 1975, and has been edited by poets Mark Whelan, Kevin Byrne, Patrick Bourke, Knute Skinner, Thomas McCarthy,Ciarán O’Driscoll, Mary Coll, Jo Slade, Paddy Bushe, Peter Sirr and Mary O’Donnell.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday October 6, 2016
Publishes: Fiction; Poetry;
Areas include: Historical; Humour; Short Stories; Suspense; Translations;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Experimental; Literary
Literary publisher of poetry and fiction. Unable to accept unsolicited mss, but will make an effort to answer all brief queries.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday October 5, 2016
Publishes: Essays; Fiction; Interviews; Nonfiction; Poetry; Reviews;
Areas include: Short Stories;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Submit prose up to 15 pages, or 3-5 poems, between September 15 and May 15 annually, by post with SASE or via online submission system on website.
How Jonathan Ames Approaches Writing for TV
splitsider.com – Tuesday October 4, 2016
Jonathan Ames began his career writing novels and performing in small theaters around New York City before landing a job writing and starring in his own pilot for Showtime. As a newcomer to running his own TV show, Ames acclimated himself to the fast-paced position through on-the-job training. After creating and working on three seasons of the HBO cult classic Bored to Death, Ames moved to STARZ to help develop and oversee the Seth MacFarlane-produced Blunt Talk, a comedy centered around popular TV newsman Walter Blunt (Patrick Stewart). Blunt Talkpremiered its second season last night and Ames appears to have found his rhythm as a showrunner. He approaches each season of the show by constructing an “idea document” which is later molded into ten scripts. I spoke with Ames about what it’s like writing comedy for Patrick Stewart, the difference between crafting novels and television scripts, and working on a talk show with Moby.
How writing an audio-first novella changed John Scalzi’s writing process
theverge.com – Tuesday October 4, 2016
Audiobooks are more popular than ever, and as more people listen to novels on their phones or computers, publishers are beginning to experiment a bit more with the form. One example is John Scalzi’s The Dispatcher, which arrives today from Audible. The novella is debuting as an audiobook months before a print edition, and presented some interesting opportunities for its author.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Tuesday October 4, 2016
Publishes: Poetry; Reviews;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
UK-based webzine publishing poetry, prose, prose-poetry, word and image pieces, and poetry reviews. Send 4-6 pieces by email only. Also accepts unsolicited reviews of poetry and short story collections. See website for full guidelines.
Big Data’s Power to Innovate Content and Enhance Reader Engagement
digitalbookworld.com – Monday October 3, 2016
Consumption habits across industries, spanning different products and services, are evolving dramatically in the digital era. And the book publishing sector is not immune to these winds of change.
Like film, music and other forms of content, books, too, are undergoing a major transformation in terms of both development and distribution, thanks to rapidly changing customer expectations. Empowered readers today demand an intuitive user experience, as well as personalized, engaging and interactive content, for both academic and non-academic books.
Writers Remembering
myneworleans.com – Sunday October 2, 2016
How many television programs are celebrating 50th anniversaries?”
The answer, of course, is “hardly any.”
But, a magazine celebrating a 50th anniversary isn’t unusual, according to Dr. Samir Husni, Director of the Magazine Innovation Center at the University of Mississippi’s Meek School of Journalism. Husni – known as “Mr. Magazine” – is decidedly bullish on printed publications.
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