Some students believe they can be writers without reading. This raises many questions
irishtimes.com – Monday May 4, 2026
Wanting to write without wanting to read is, at best, trying to skip the first stage of an artistic apprenticeship
I read recently, in the context of an essay on expertise in making sushi, about the three stages of Japanese craftsmanship: learning to follow the rules; understanding when and how to break the rules; commanding expertise that rises above the rules.
I’m always suspicious of European summaries of Japanese thinking. A great deal is lost in translation, and the cultural contexts are so different that even an accurate translation might be hard to recognise. Even so, the idea of these stages felt recognisable to me.
I’ve been writing fiction and teaching creative writing for many years. Sometimes I encounter students who believe they can be writers without reading, or without being serious or enthusiastic readers. This raises many questions for me: why would you want to write if you don’t love to read? How do you imagine you will learn to write better if not by reading other writers’ better writing? Where, exactly, do you think writing comes from?
Some people want to “be writers” without wanting to work on writing. The writers they want to be seem to achieve fame and fortune – neither likely outcomes of a life devoted to literature – fuelled by “inspiration” that descends from the heavens with no effort required. They sometimes claim that reading would pollute this inspiration, exerting unwelcome influence on their pure voices.
Rocket Books Ltd. announced as a new independent UK publishing house specialising in video game-related publications
gamespress.com – Thursday April 30, 2026
The company’s first release is “One More Win”, a Ridge Racer Type 4 fanzine by veteran video game writer Andy Kelly.
Bromstairs, UK (May 1st, 2026) – Rocket Books Ltd. was unveiled today as a new independent UK publishing house, specialising in video game-related publications.
The company has been established by Andy Roberts, a veteran game developer and journalist with over 35 years’ industry experience. Cutting his teeth on the legendary Commodore 64 magazine Zzap!64 in the late ‘80s, Roberts went on to write for dozens of UK magazines including Commodore Format, TOTAL!, Future Gamer, PC Format, Planet PC, Planet Game Boy, PlayStation Max, Xnet, Freeloader, and Internet Magazine, as well as the renowned Visual Compendium series of books.
The company has ambitious plans and aims to bring together new and established writers alike with one core tenet: to celebrate video games as an art form. “Rocket Books will focus on unique and captivating perspectives from writers with an intense passion for the medium,” stated CEO Andy Roberts. “We’ve set our sights on fusing passionate and exuberant writing with exceptional design sensibilities, to create products as beautiful as they are compelling.”
Call for Submissions: Literary magazine, The Offing, Is Open and Free to Submit
brittlepaper.com – Thursday April 30, 2026
The Offing, the online literary magazine publishing work at the edges of genre and form, is currently open for submissions. There are no submission fees for 2026, and contributors whose work is accepted are paid between $25 and $100 depending on the department and length of the piece.
The categories currently open are Essay, Insight, Back of the Envelope, and Translation (Poetry). The Essay department welcomes personal essays of any length. Insight seeks creative nonfiction that fuses personal experience with cultural criticism; essays that weave together two unlikely topics to explore what interacting with art, literature, or ideology changed in the writer; the word limit is 5,000. Back of the Envelope is for writing that draws on science and the natural world, in any genre and any length, and is open to writers from both inside and outside the scientific community. The Translation (Poetry) category accepts translated poetry, up to six poems per submission.
New UK Literary Agency Selby Howard Sets Out Its Editorial Mission
firstwriter.com – Thursday April 30, 2026
The launch of the Selby Howard Literary Agency marks the arrival of a new, deliberately boutique presence in the publishing landscape – one built on editorial depth, long‑term author development, and a clear commitment to championing distinctive voices across fiction and nonfiction.
A new agency with an old‑school ethos
Selby Howard enters the industry at a moment when writers are seeking more attentive, strategically minded representation. Rather than chasing scale, the agency positions itself around a traditional, hands‑on model: careful list curation, close editorial collaboration, and a belief that a strong author–agent partnership is the foundation of a sustainable writing career.
Its launch statement emphasises a focus on craft, clarity of vision, and the kind of tailored advocacy that can be difficult to find in larger, high‑volume agencies. The agency aims to work with writers at all stages – debut authors looking for guidance, mid‑career writers seeking renewed direction, and established names wanting a more personal approach.
New Literary Agent Listing: Helena Maybery
firstwriter.com – Thursday April 30, 2026
Handles crime and thriller fiction with a focus on domestic suspense, complex characters, vivid storytelling, and high‑stakes narratives. Seeks upmarket and female‑focused book club fiction featuring distinctive voices and emotionally engaging journeys across relationships, power dynamics, and contemporary life. Interested in commercial love stories from sweeping weepies to witty rom‑coms. Reads genre‑blending work that combines elements of crime, satire, or literary fiction to create something unexpected. In nonfiction, reads memoirs illuminating historical moments as well as writing on food and culinary culture.
50 Word Fiction competition: write a story featuring a computer
scottishbooktrust.com – Wednesday April 29, 2026
Each month, we'll provide a prompt to get you started, but where the story goes from there is entirely up to you.
The 50 Word Fiction competition includes four categories: adult writers, all-age Gaelic writers, young writers aged 5–11 and young writers aged 12–18. The entries will be judged by a panel and the four winning stories will be published on our website roughly two weeks after the closing date.
A prize will be awarded to a writer in each category, should they be located in the UK, and we're very happy to offer a certificate (printed or digital, depending on your preference) as well as the below:
New Publisher Listing: Avery Hill Publishing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday April 29, 2026
Publishes graphic novels and comics across literary, experimental, and contemporary fiction, including surreal, slice of life, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, horror, humour, and memoir‑style work, with a focus on distinctive visual storytelling and independent voices. No unsolicited submissions. Accepts pitches only from creators they have expressed an interest in previously, or who they follow on social media.
Quills at the ready: Five steps to writing a poem
news.fiu.edu – Tuesday April 28, 2026
"Hope" is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
– Emily Dickinson
Poems are powerful, magical and mysterious. They show us life in novel ways.
“A poem is an offering,” says poet and professor Julie Marie Wade. It can sneak up on readers to show them something familiar in an unfamiliar manner. “It might be different for everybody in the room,” Wade explains, “but there’s something to take from [a poem] as a reader and appreciator of our shared world.”
Psychology professor Shannon Pruden also praises poetry’s ability to present various points of view, thereby engendering empathy: “I think reading and writing poetry allows you to understand the perspective of other people, which ultimately leads to a much more complex understanding of emotions and emotional development. Poetry allows you to make that leap.”
Explore creativity and take your children’s book idea to the next level
news.suffolkvillage.info – Tuesday April 28, 2026
Budding children’s writers are invited to develop their craft as an author or illustrator.
The Writing Children’s Literature Day event has been organised by the University of Suffolk’s English team in partnership with The Hold, in Ipswich, home of Suffolk Archives.
Specialist workshops, talks and Q&As with authors, illustrators and literary agents from Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency, the largest specialist agency for children’s books in the UK, will help those attending hone skills, gain insider tips and learn more about the children’s book industry.
Lindsey Scott, the course leader for MA Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Suffolk, said: “Children’s literature has a unique power; the right book at the right moment can ignite a curiosity in a young reader that can help shape who they become. That’s what makes writing for children so important, and so thrilling.
“Many talented writers have a story inside them but don’t know how to take it to the next level. Having the guidance of an experienced literary agent can be transformative; helping them refine their pitch, find their audience and turn that idea into a published book.
New Magazine Listing: Grande Dame Literary & Art Journal
firstwriter.com – Tuesday April 28, 2026
Online journal dedicated to supporting women writers and artists. Writers from every corner of the world, range from emerging voices to self-published novelists to award-winning, traditionally published authors. Our contributors span generations, from teens to writers in their nineties. We believe every woman is a self-defined Grande Dame, and that spirit is what guides our publication.
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