Let’s Get Lit-erary: How an idea turns into a book
dailycampus.com – Wednesday March 24, 2021
So you have an idea, but how exactly do you turn it into a fully-fledged novel? What does it take to see your idea unfold and make its way to a bookstore? The process can be long and grueling, but certainly worth the investments of time and money. The road to publishing is easier for established authors, but, of course, they too were once rookies. So here’s a guide to getting your book written and published, from someone who has yet to do either of these things, but spends her free time aspiring to be a novelist.
The first step is to write a manuscript — essentially a polished draft. Now, this is easier said than done. Different writers have different approaches to tackling a manuscript. Some are plotters, others consider themselves pantsers. A plotter goes through the different acts of their story before even delving into writing it. Developing a clear outline guides plotters as they type their tale, preventing it from straying off track and minimizing revision time. Pantsers, on the other hand, prefer to let ideas come to them as they write, allowing more freedom than an outline might provide. Other writers do a mixture of both, creating general guidelines beforehand, but diverging as they feel fit.
New Literary Agent Listing: Seren Adams
firstwriter.com – Wednesday March 24, 2021
Actively building her own list and loves reading excellent short fiction, unconventional literary novels, and compelling narrative non-fiction.
Sitcom Writing Competition Launched
beyondthejoke.co.uk – Tuesday March 23, 2021
Short Com has announced the second edition of its annual TV Sitcom Writing Competition for 2021. The competition seeks to find the best new emerging comedy screenwriting talent and help them break into the industry.
After an encouraging debut year, which saw not only a strong number of entries but also an exceptionally tight contest to determine a final short list. The competition was eventually won by Joe Barnes and his script Joy after the collective votes from the expert industry panel of judges. The script reading team was hugely impressed by the number of quality entries and the overall positive feedback from entrants, so much so we are looking forward to its second iteration.
The final shortlisted writers will be presided over by a panel of industry experts. We are really pleased to have on board Michelle Farr-Scott, Head of Scripted at Ranga Bee Productions. Sam Underwood, producer of Channel 4’s Lee and Dean. And Sam Ward, producer of the BBC show Mandy starring Diane Morgan.
New Literary Agent Listing: Emelie Burl
firstwriter.com – Tuesday March 23, 2021
Focuses on children's, young adult, and pop culture nonfiction. Likes stories of hope and humor, rom-coms, strong female leads, and magic of all sorts. Also interested in LGBT+ and BIPOC. Not keen on murder.
New Publisher Listing: The Monacelli Press
firstwriter.com – Monday March 22, 2021
Will review book proposals in the fields of architecture and landscape architecture, fine and decorative arts, design, and photography.
New Literary Agent Listing: Angelique Tran Van Sang
firstwriter.com – Monday March 22, 2021
Actively building a list of authors of literary fiction and narrative non-fiction. Interested in essays and longform narratives that have a distinctive voice. Also partial to an exquisitely written memoir, ideally one that weaves in art, literature, history, politics or philosophy.
YOUTH: THE WRITING CONTEST
dawn.com – Sunday March 21, 2021
Gen Z and millennials are known as the generation of hustlers. We crave the notion of consistent productivity. We respond to texts and non-urgent emails within the hour, as we continuously update our followers on social media platforms about the minutiae of our existence, all the while feigning the image of #livingourbestlives.
Generally, it’s a struggle for us to slow down. In fact, we don’t really know how to. It is our naive belief that a culture of workaholism will somehow translate into a happier life. Even as we find ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic, the same rules apply.
I’ve been a freelance journalist, writer and poet for almost three years. Writing was initially a creative outlet for me, a way to digest all my thoughts about the noise of the world into a well-structured article. Slowly, my writing acquired a sizable readership and soon I was writing for noteworthy publications. However, over time I noticed that, once purely an exciting endeavour, writing assignments now only brought on a wave of anxiety.
How to decide when to ‘rescue’ your darlings and other writing tips
poynter.org – Saturday March 20, 2021
Although I have been unable to teach in-person writing workshops during the pandemic, my Zoom teachings have been zooming. Almost all of these virtual workshops have been pro-bono, but I have received rewards beyond money. A favorite activity is “visiting” a writing class, especially one that is using one of my writing books as a text. I have fun, play a little music, and get treated like Obama or Springsteen.
In other years, I would have walked across the street from the Poynter Institute to visit a class at the St. Petersburg campus of the University of South Florida. Instead, I taught this week, in my new mode, from a computer perched on our dining room table.
The day before the class, the teacher, veteran journalist Janet Keeler, submitted a list of questions from the students who had been studying my most recent book “Murder Your Darlings: And Other Gentle Writing Advice from Aristotle to Zinsser.” In short, it’s a writing book about writing books.
The questions were so good, I was inspired to sit down for an hour or so and answer them in writing. Those questions and answers, lightly edited for clarity, may be of use to you in your own work. I hope so.
New Literary Agent Listing: Delia Berrigan Fakis
firstwriter.com – Friday March 19, 2021
Most interested in representing adult nonfiction, but will also consider select fiction and children's picture books.
New Literary Agent Listing: Emma Bal
firstwriter.com – Thursday March 18, 2021
Actively looking for: new perspectives in history, arts & culture, politics, economics, philosophy, psychology, and science; original approaches to travel and nature writing; unusual illustrated projects; thoughtful and dynamic cookery and food writing; and atypical narrative non-fiction and memoir. See agency listing for submission guidelines.
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