Bards beware: Fiction-writing AI demanding spot at table of content
japantimes.co.jp – Sunday June 19, 2016
It was a dark, overcast day, with clouds hovering low.
The room was kept at the most appropriate temperatures and humidity, as usual. Yoko sat on a couch in an untidy manner, killing time with a silly game. But she would not talk to me.
I’m bored. I could not be bored more . . .
So begins a short story titled “A day when a computer writes fiction.” The story, in which boredom prods a computer into writing a novel, was created with the help of artificial intelligence.
Will Self: ‘I write first thing, when I can suspend disbelief in the act of making things up’
theguardian.com – Saturday June 18, 2016
When I’m working on a novel I type the initial draft first thing in the morning. Really: first thing. For preference, I have a cigarette ready-rolled and a coffee percolator loaded the night before; then I simply roll out of bed, fuel up and set to it. I believe the dreaming and imagining faculties are closely related, such that wreathed in night-time visions I find it possible to suspend disbelief in the very act of making stuff up, which, in the cold light of day would seem utterly preposterous. I’ve always been a morning writer, and frankly I believe 99% of the difficulties novices experience are as a result of their unwillingness to do the same. Narrative structure, mise en scene, characterisation − you can’t get to grips with these problems unless you’ve put the words on the page.
Want to Succeed in Self-Publishing? It's a Lifetime Learning Experience: Tips from an Indie Author
publishersweekly.com – Saturday June 18, 2016
Although Carole Nelson Douglas has traditionally published more than 60 novels, she wanted more control over her books and decided to go indie. And while she did find the transition challenging – and encountered a “status downgrade” in some of her writers groups -- Publishers Weekly gave her latest, Cat in a Zebra Zoot Suit, a positive review.
What to Look for in a Lit Agent
backstage.com – Saturday June 18, 2016
Charles Kopelman is the vice president and co-head of the Theatrical Literary Division at Abrams Artists Agency. His division represents some of the biggest playwrights in the business.
What should a writer look for in a literary agent?
It’s a very personal relationship. It’s someone who can help them with a writer’s material, someone who can introduce them to collaborators if they are interested in working with different people, as well as introduce them to literary managers or artistic directors. We look for people with a singular voice that is not run-of-the-mill.
24 things that everyone goes through when writing their first novel
metro.co.uk – Friday June 17, 2016
Everyone has one novel in them – but when you sit down to actually crack on with your masterpiece, little do you know the journey that you are about to embark on.
While whacking out a story might seem like something easy to fill up some spare time, your first book soon takes on a life of its own. Your dreams of success, your eagerness to finish and your desperation for people to enjoy the story and characters you have crafted combine to turn the project into a bit of a beast.
Poems still sought for Welcome to Leicester
firstwriter.com – Friday June 17, 2016
Poems are sought for the Welcome to Leicester anthology. The deadline for submissions of poems on the theme of messages or stories about the city of Leicester is July 15, 2016.
Submissions can be made by email to poetry@leicesterwrites.co.uk or by post. Only previously published poems can be accepted.
Female-focused new writing company the Coterie launches
thestage.co.uk – Thursday June 16, 2016
A new theatre company with a focus on nurturing female playwrights has been launched.
Created by director Caitlin McLeod, the Coterie will initially focus on commissioning three new plays by women over a period of a year and a half, to allow time for the scripts to be fully developed.
Should You Track Word Count While Writing a Novel? Yes, No, and Maybe So
huffingtonpost.com – Wednesday June 15, 2016
If you eavesdrop on a conversation between writers, it’s easy to mistake talk about craft for something else. Marathons, maybe.
“I had such a slow day. Only 500 in two hours!”
“Mine went well. I topped 2000 before lunch!”
What are these writers despairing or gloating over? Word count. Some authors—particularly those high-stepping their way through a fantasy, romance, or mystery series—count words every day as a way of meeting their deadlines.
A Tale of Two Cultures: Children's Publishing in France and America
publishersweekly.com – Wednesday June 15, 2016
French and American children’s book publishers gathered on June 9 for the Franco-American Children’s Book Publisher Conference at the French Embassy in New York City. The event was the second of its kind to be held at the embassy, following a conference last year focused on Franco-American comics and graphic novel publishing. Panelists from both France and America spoke about the children’s book industry in their respective countries, challenges relating to publishing works in translation, as well as differences of aesthetic and content in French and American children’s titles. The conference culminated with an evening presentation by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Jean-Marc Ayrault, who honored Françoise Mouly, publisher of Toon Books.
The Best Writing Advice I Ever Got
motto.time.com – Tuesday June 14, 2016
On my honeymoon, as my wife and I were sitting in a piazza in Italy, she asked me: “What would you regret never having done on your deathbed?” Before I could think twice, I said, “Writing a novel and getting it published.”
“When we get home, you need to start taking two hours a day to make it happen,” she said. And that was that. I had shared with her my deepest anxiety, and now I was on the hook to overcome it.
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