
New Literary Agent Listing: Ciara McEllin
firstwriter.com – Thursday July 10, 2025

I read widely across book club, upmarket and literary fiction. Within these areas, I am drawn to novels that examine family and relationship dynamics, sexuality, identity, and vulnerability. I am keen to hear from writers who take a fresh approach to these themes, whether that be a new perspective on a traditional narrative or a focus on characters and voices that remain underrepresented. At the moment I am particularly eager to see: sexy, sensual and seductive stories that explore desire and sexual boundaries not often represented; an atmospheric and existential thriller; an intoxicating coming of-age-tale that captures the aliveness, intelligence and wildness of girlhood; stories exploring an Australia or Ireland that is rarely seen in literature. In nonfiction, I enjoy narrative, memoir and essay collections. I am interested in hearing from experts, academics, critics and journalists writing about society, culture and food, and I am excited by writers seeking to revise, reshape or revolutionise the conversation in their area of expertise.

New Publisher Listing: Red Planet Books
firstwriter.com – Wednesday July 9, 2025

An independent publishing company based in Cornwall specialising in books about music.

The Secrets to Writing Unforgettable Villains
nofilmschool.com – Tuesday July 8, 2025

When you're working on a screenplay, you spend so much time making sure the hero pops out and the plot makes sense that oftentimes, the villains can be left behind.
But if you want a movie or a TV show to really stand out in the audience's mind, or attract some great actors, you need the villain to be unforgettable.
Today, I want to look into the YouTube video I watched about how screenwriter James A. Hurst works to create memorable villains.
Let's dive in.
Create an Unforgettable Villain
Look, screenwriting is hard. It can take me forever to finish a script and to really craft it in a way that connects with an audience.
So if people have "tricks" or "shortcuts" to do this stuff, I'm all ears. That's why I was pumped to watch this video.

New Literary Agency Listing: Betancourt Literary
firstwriter.com – Monday July 7, 2025

We believe powerful storytelling deserves powerful support. Our agency is dedicated to representing bold voices and unforgettable narratives in mystery, psychological thrillers, romance, women’s fiction, literary fiction, and select non-fiction.
The agency was founded by a USA Today bestselling mystery author and experienced publishing professional. She holds a bachelor's degree in Communications and is currently earning her J.D., bringing both creativity and legal insight to the business of books. Her many years of writing experience allows her to advocate strategically and compassionately for the authors she represents.
She created this agency with a single mission: to empower authors. Whether you're seeking your first publishing deal or are ready to elevate your career, we offer the transparency, guidance, and enthusiasm every writer deserves.
We don’t just shop books—we build careers.

New Literary Agent Listing: Gabrielle Demblon
firstwriter.com – Wednesday July 2, 2025

I’m looking for literary and upmarket fiction, particularly with queer themes or from unusual / underrepresented perspectives, as well as select thrillers and nonfiction. I’m open to debut authors at all life stages. I’m looking for literary speculative/high concept fiction from queer/female/transnational perspectives. In crime, I’m looking for a fun, pulpy thriller with a high concept twist or standout setting. In nonfiction, I’m drawn to popular science, politics, and true crime. I’m also looking to work with experts and influencers specialising in personal style, nutrition, psychology, relationships, personal finance, career guidance, parenting and alternative family formation.

Reading Force is delighted to welcome submissions from adults, children and young people to its 2025 Memoir Writing Competition
cobseo.org.uk – Monday June 30, 2025

Reading Force is delighted to welcome submissions from adults, children and young people to its 2025 Memoir Writing Competition. First prize is a publishing contract with Pen & Sword Ltd.
The shared-reading charity has launched its 2025 writing competition and warmly welcomes entries from anyone and everyone in the tri-service community, including spouses and partners, children and young people, serving personnel, and veterans. Entries can be submitted until 31st August and winners will be announced in January 2026.
Reading Force is thrilled to have launched another writing competition because they were so impressed and moved by the entries in their first competition in 2022, and wanted to give another opportunity for the Forces community to voice their stories – be they about moving home, memorable events in service, special friendships and relationships, children and young people’s experiences of military life, the ups and downs and everything between.

New Publisher Listing: Cicada
firstwriter.com – Monday June 30, 2025

A New York Times Award winning children’s book publisher based in London. We started out making adult art and design books, but now specialise in beautiful, high-end books for kids aged 4–11. We have an eclectic list that includes activity books, picture books and non-fiction.

"Your main character doesn’t need to be perfect but they must be relatable": Brilliant writing advice from a top literary agent
goodhousekeeping.com – Saturday June 28, 2025

As the literary agent to some of the best writers around - Sara Collins (winner of the Costa Debut fiction award), Jing-Jing Lee, Jennie Godfrey, Bryony Gordon and Candice Carty-Williams are among her clients - Nelle Andrew knows pretty much everything there is to know about what makes a good book. Here she shares some of the best writing advice from her 20 year career.
1 Creating believable characters
The characters should drive the story, not the other way around. Make your main character compelling, with flaws, desires and agency. Readers should care what happens next because they care about who it’s happening to. I fall in love with the voice first. If the voice doesn’t hook me, I won’t keep reading, so ensure your narrative voice is distinctive, confident and consistent. Your protagonist doesn’t need to be perfect, but they must be relatable and motivated. Avoid stereotypes: nuance and specificity will set your characters apart.
2 Show, don’t tell
Avoid overly expositional writing. Every sentence should serve a purpose – either to develop a character, advance the plot or build atmosphere. Use action, dialogue and internal thoughts to reveal emotions and themes. Avoid telling the reader what to feel – let the story, and the characters within it, evoke feelings. And don’t overwrite; clarity, rhythm and authenticity matter more than big words.

The Odd Over the Obvious
slate.com – Saturday June 28, 2025

This spring’s hot topic of conversation for my colleagues in higher ed was that “Everyone Is Cheating Their Way Through College” article in New York magazine. Most of the fellow professors I spoke with about this were horrified by how often students now can and do let A.I. write their papers. Others are joining their students in asking, Why not?
A surprising coalition—William Shakespeare and 17th-century scribes, as well as 21st-century elementary school teachers, anti-fascist scholars, and epidemiologists—would tell you why not.
A key principle for 17th-century scholars transcribing or translating classical or biblical texts was lectio difficilior potior: The reading that is stranger is stronger. If a word differs between two versions of the text you’re working on, you should actually choose the one that seems to make less sense. That surprising word choice is likelier to have been the original author’s meaning, because it’s likelier that a previous copyist, translator, or (eventually) typesetter replaced a surprising word with one that was more predictable than vice versa. The wisdom was: Don’t let an easy, commonsensical option erase a unique and potentially more interesting and challenging statement.

Calling all aspiring authors! Here's your chance to win a one-to-one session with a literary agent - plus £1,500
goodhousekeeping.com – Thursday June 26, 2025

Do you have a brilliant idea for a book but need help getting it down on paper? GH has teamed up with literary agent Nelle Andrew from Rachel Mills Literary agency to give readers the chance to win valuable feedback on their writing, plus support in finishing their novel.
We’re after someone whose work is unpublished and is without a literary agent. Entries can be in any genre of adult fiction (not children’s or YA, short stories, poetry, drama or plays, or any non-fiction). The winning entry will be the one that grabs our attention, shows the most promise and leaves us wanting to read more.
First prize is £1,500, plus a one-onone, hour-long mentoring session with Nelle, and an extract will be published by GH online. Six readers will get written feedback from a literary agent. So get writing!
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