Multiformat narratives open new doors for publishers
thebookseller.com – Friday November 20, 2015
Publishers are continuing to explore new models for the book - using enhanced audio and visual materials, and print-on-demand - as content is curated, sliced, repackaged and evolved in more innovative ways than ever before.
Ahead of the FutureBook Conference (4th December), which features two panels on the “new publishing”, innovators told The Bookseller that new digital products were helping them build on their assets and drive customer engagement. Others warned that publishing risked missing out on these new markets if scaleable and discoverable products were not brought to market. Just last week app developer Touchpress announced it was selling its literary and education apps, and focusing on free music apps designed for the Apple TV platform.
'Translated Into 20 Languages!' Self-published Authors Are Selling Foreign Rights -- Just Like the Big Publishers
huffingtonpost.com – Thursday November 19, 2015
The big traditional publishers often promote their books by highlighting the number of languages the books has been translated into. With the global publishing marketplace easier to access than ever, self-published authors are selling foreign rights to grow their audience around the world and promote the number of foreign rights sales to increase sales at home - just like the big publishers.
Betting Big on Literary Newcomers
wsj.com – Thursday November 19, 2015
Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, a former marketing copywriter in Los Angeles, dreamed for years of becoming a novelist but never had any illusions about earning a living from it. Her goal in writing her first novel, “The Nest,” which she tackled in her early 50s, was merely to finish it.
In a whirlwind week as publishers read the manuscript last December, HarperCollins’s Ecco editorial director Megan Lynch made a pre-emptive offer to publish the novel for at least $1 million. “I never imagined people would respond that way in a million years,” said Ms. Sweeney, 55. The book, about four adult siblings whose anticipated inheritance has all but evaporated because of one brother’s bad behavior, is scheduled to be published next March.
5 Things Every Screenwriter Should Know About Action Writing
huffingtonpost.com – Wednesday November 18, 2015
Action sequences can be a screenwriter's best friend or worst enemy. If you can write them well, you'll be more of a coveted commodity in the eyes of the powers that be. Such a gift will make your spec scripts shine brighter than the rest, thanks to an entertaining and engaging read, and will increase your chances of being considered for key studio writing assignments.
If you can't, well, it's time to start honing that skillset.
How fantasy author Ellen Kushner used TV writing techniques to publish a serialized story online
dailydot.com – Wednesday November 18, 2015
Ellen Kushner’s Swordspoint came out in 1987, subtitled, “A melodrama of manners.” Combining swashbuckling duels, queer romance, and political intrigue, it's since become a cult classic, kicking off the fantasy subgenre of “mannerpunk” and spawning two other novels set in the same nameless city.
Now the series is moving in an unexpected direction: online serialization. Unfolding in weekly installments from authors including Malinda Lo and Alaya Dawn Johnson, Tremontaine is published in text and audio episodes by the subscription service Serialbox.
How to overcome writers' block - and finish writing that chapter
marieclaire.co.uk – Tuesday November 17, 2015
As part of my attempt to do something more productive with my life than watching episodes of The Good Wife back-to-back on Netflix, I’m working on my first ever novel (with the help of Windows 10).
How to win a creative writing competition - top tips
theguardian.com – Monday November 16, 2015
oe Craig, author of the Jimmy Coates spy series and judge of the National Short Story Week young writer competition, has some tips for budding young writers on avoiding common creative writing pitfalls and how to stand out from the crowd
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Monday November 16, 2015
Publishes: Fiction;
Areas include: Historical; Romance; Suspense;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Contemporary
Digital-first romance publisher open to submissions in five sub-genres: romantic suspense, contemporary, paranormal, historical, and spicy romance. Willing to consider novels between 55,000 words and 90,000 words, and novellas between 20,000 and 50,000 words. See website for full submission guidelines and specific submission calls.
A good time to reflect on the art and craft of writing
sandiegouniontribune.com – Sunday November 15, 2015
November is National Writing Month, so today I muse about how some writers write. Ernest Hemingway's first rule for writers was to apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. But not all authors are able to survive with such a simple approach.
Literary Agents Address Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
publishersweekly.com – Friday November 13, 2015
For the second year in a row, the New School in Manhattan, in partnership with the SCBWI-Metro NY chapter, hosted a panel of agents to discuss their jobs, what manuscripts they’re interested in, and share with MFA students and other aspiring writers how best to query them and their colleagues. On the November 10 panel were Heather Flaherty of The Bent Agency, Alexandra Penfold of Upstart Crow Literary, and Alec Shane of Writers House. See below for some highlights from the discussion.
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