ChatGPT firm reveals AI model that is ‘good at creative writing’
theguardian.com – Wednesday March 12, 2025
As tech firms battle creative industries over copyright, OpenAI chief Sam Altman says he was ‘really struck’ by product’s output
The company behind ChatGPT has revealed it has developed an artificial intelligence model that is “good at creative writing”, as the tech sector continues its tussle with the creative industries over copyright.
The chief executive of OpenAI, Sam Altman, said the unnamed model, which has not been released publicly, was the first time he had been “really struck” by the written output of one of the startup’s products.
In a post on the social media platform X, Altman wrote: “We trained a new model that is good at creative writing (not sure yet how/when it will get released). This is the first time i have been really struck by something written by AI.”
AI systems such as ChatGPT are the subject of a running legal battle between AI companies and the creative industries because their underlying models are “trained” on reams of publicly available data, including copyright-protected material such as novels and journalism.
Details on the New Owners of Analog, Asimov’s, and F&SF
locusmag.com – Wednesday March 12, 2025
Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, and The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction have been acquired by Must Read Magazines, a division of a new publishing company, Must Read Books Publishing. All editorial staff from the magazines have been retained in the acquisitions. Jackie Sherbow has been promoted to editor of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. P.L. Stevens joins the group as publisher.
From Stevens’ statement to Locus:
There are writers who have posted online asking if the magazines have somehow been taken over by unusual interests and we want to reassure people that’s not the case. Ultimately the magazines’ content will remain editorially driven as they have always been, and they might be interested to know that one of our largest single outside financial backers, Michael Khandelwal, is a lifelong regional con attendee (more below). We feel these magazines are extremely important to the legacy and future of these genres, and hope to continue each magazines mission while updating the business behind the magazines in order to reach more readers and writers. The acquisitions were necessary for the magazines to survive and hopefully thrive in the changing publishing economy….
In recent years, magazines have faced significantly rising costs and lower payments from certain retailers.
The company plans to bolster the magazines by expanding their distribution in trade bookstores, increasing their digital footprint, investing more in marketing the magazines to new readers and writers across channels, and using their platform to promote genre fiction authors in general….
As always, the creative missions of the magazines are driven by their longtime editorial staff.
New Literary Agent Listing: Olivia Davies
firstwriter.com – Wednesday March 12, 2025
Looking for bold voices and stories that evoke feeling. She reads and represents a broad range of fiction and remains fundamentally curious as to how writers can open life to new perspectives. In non-fiction, she enjoys being guided by a warm, expert voice through topics such as history, religion, war, art, literary criticism, travel, pop culture, and food. More specifically, she's often drawn to personal narratives which upend monolithic constructions of cultural or national identity. For novels, send email with a synopsis and 10,000 words. For nonfiction, if you are an expert in your field, it's fine to contact her at an earlier stage of development.
Bournemouth Writing Sanctuary launches for authors
bournemouthecho.co.uk – Tuesday March 11, 2025
A new three-day writing experience for authors at all stages of their journey is launching in Bournemouth.
The Bournemouth Writing Sanctuary will offer dedicated time, expert guidance, and creative inspiration to writers from Friday, June 27 to Sunday, June 29.
The event will be held at Patch in Bournemouth and is designed to provide a distraction-free environment for authors to focus on their manuscripts.
The sanctuary will offer a blend of structured workshops, independent writing time and networking opportunities.
Claire Fuller, winner of the Costa Novel Award and finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction, will lead the Friday session, guiding writers in honing their storytelling craft and key plot points.
New SFF imprint Bloomsbury Archer 'out to make some real publishing magic'
thebookseller.com – Tuesday March 11, 2025
Bloomsbury is launching a new science fiction and fantasy imprint, Bloomsbury Archer, which it says will cross "the constellation of speculative fiction", helmed by publishing director Vicky Leech Mateos. The ‘Archer’ derives from the existing Bloomsbury emblem of Diana, Roman goddess of the hunt, and references the new imprint’s "pursuit of the very best storytelling and new stars".
Leech Mateos will build a list that covers fantasy, science fiction, crossover stories, speculative romance, horror and mythological retellings. The US branch will be led by publishing director Noa Wheeler (editor of Bloomsbury’s current biggest brand, Sarah J Maas) and senior director of marketing and publicity Erica Barmash.
The list kicks off with Samantha Shannon’s Among the Burning Flowers, a prequel to the Roots of Chaos series, which will be released in September 2025. Shannon’s full backlist will also move under the new imprint.
Romance Writing Festival
bournemouthecho.co.uk – Tuesday March 11, 2025
One-day festival celebrating romance writing, offering a mix of panel discussions, agent 1-2-1s, workshops, activities and networking opportunities.
Sunday Times bestselling authors Milly Johnson and Paige Toon will headline the inaugural Romance Writing Festival, taking place in Bournemouth on 18th October 2025. They join fellow Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde on an impressive programme featuring award-winning authors, editors, literary agents, and publishers.
The one-day event is dedicated to romance writing, offering a mix of panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities. Attendees can also book one-to-one sessions with agents and editors or take part in free activities designed to inspire writers at all stages of their journey.
Held at the seafront Grade-11-listed Royal Bath Hotel, the festival will host a marketplace where delegates can meet and mingle with authors, agents, and publishers. Additional activities include Proof Parties, book launches, beach walks, romance-themed literary walks of Bournemouth’s famous authors, and yoga on the beach. Writers will also have the exclusive opportunity to enjoy afternoon tea with editors.
Maven voyage: Amanda Harris unveils her new agency at London Book Fair
thebookseller.com – Tuesday March 11, 2025
Former YMU books division managing director Amanda Harris is launching her new “fresh take” on representation, Maven Literary Management, at today’s London Book Fair.
Harris had previously announced her departure from YMU, which she joined in 2019, in July last of year.
Harris will bring over a host of existing and new clients to Maven. In non-fiction that includes Professor Noel “the Supervet” Fitzpatrick, pop singer and MILF author Paloma Faith, food writer Kathryn Bruton, cookery book star/influencer Christina Kynigos and King’s College London nutritional science professor Sarah Berry.
The fiction list features romantasy author Megan Scott, journalist turned 2025 debut historical novelist Emma Cowing, and Blindboy Boatclub, AKA David Chambers, the Limerick-born satirist, podcaster and presenter whose critically-lauded debut collection of short stories, Topographia Hibernica, hit the bestseller lists on both sides of the Irish Sea.
New Publisher Listing: Perspectives Books
firstwriter.com – Tuesday March 11, 2025
Predominately seeking autobiographical works but will consider fiction also. Novels should be more than 70,000 words and less than 140,000. Also accepts short stories up to 8,000 words. Open minded with regard to the subject of short stories and will consider submissions across all genres.
Former Igloo Books CEO Paul Gregory co-launches new children’s publisher with Vemag-Medien
thebookseller.com – Monday March 10, 2025
Paul Gregory, the former chief executive of Igloo Books, and German publisher Vemag-Medien have launched a new children’s publishing company called Three Wishes as a joint-venture.
Gregory, who stepped down from his role at Igloo Books after six years at the start of 2024, will act as managing director of Three Wishes, which will focus on format innovation, original ideas and stylish design with the aim of bringing “never-seen-before concepts to the global market”.
He told The Bookseller that with Vemag-Medien’s sales “confined to Europe and [with] limited access to English-language markets, Vemag and I saw an opportunity to expand their sales network” with the creation of Three Wishes, which will target the global English-language and co-edition markets and expand the reach of Vemag beyond continental Europe.
Kiya Evans joins Paper Literary as associate agent
thebookseller.com – Monday March 10, 2025
Kiya Evans has joined Paper Literary as an associate agent after five years at Mushens Entertainment, where she started as an intern in 2020 before becoming Juliet Mushens’ assistant in 2021 and being promoted to associate agent in 2023.
Evans has worked on books with authors including Richard Osman, Jessie Burton, Abigail Dean and Saara El-Arifi. She has also begun building her own list of clients, including Annie Summerlee, whose debut romantasy The Book of Blood and Roses sold in major pre-empts in both the UK and US, as well as in multiple international territories, and will be published in January 2026.
Evans will be supporting agents Catherine Cho and Katie Greenstreet on the Paper Literary list and continue to build her own roster of clients. Her first day at Paper Literary will be 24th March.
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