When the pope offers writing advice, should you listen?
theguardian.com – Friday October 25, 2019
Pope Francis offered the staff of the Vatican some writing advice in September: “Give up using adjectives” – and also adverbs, as in phrases such as “authentically Christian”, to which he declared himself allergic. I suppose if there’s anyone you can’t condemn for pontificating like this, it’s the pontiff. Yet his advice annoyed me, as did some newly published tips aimed at scientists from the novelist Cormac McCarthy, who turns out to have been giving behind-the-scenes editorial advice to leading researchers for years. “Remove extra words or commas whenever you can,” reads McCarthy’s advice (as paraphrased by two of his academic collaborators). Also: “Don’t overelaborate.” Though he’s less of a stickler than Francis when it comes to adjectives: “Only use an adjective if it’s relevant.” In short, we’re back to William Strunk and EB White’s famous advice in The Elements Of Style: “Omit needless words.”
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday October 24, 2019
Publishes: Fiction;
Areas include: Crime; Historical; Mystery; Suspense; Women's Interests;
Markets: Adult
Send synopsis and first three chapters (or 50 pages) as Word document attachments by email. See website for full guidelines.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Thursday October 24, 2019
Publishes: Fiction; Interviews; Nonfiction; Poetry; Reviews;
Areas include: Criticism; Literature; Short Stories;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Literary journal publishing poems, short fiction, nonfiction, critical work, book reviews, and interviews.
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday October 23, 2019
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction; Poetry;
Areas include: Autobiography; Biography;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Independent press that aims to publish daring new literary writing by the most exciting authors working today. Send a pitch through the website submission system, including covering letter, details about you and your writing, literary CV, info on how you can help promote your book, and your contact details. See website for full guidelines.
Hera Books, Beaumont and O’Donoghue shortlisted for RNA awards
thebookseller.com – Tuesday October 22, 2019
Hera Books founders Keshini Naidoo and Lindsay Mooney, agent Diana Beaumont and Promising Young Women author Caroline O’Donoghue are some of the professionals who have made the shortlists for the Romantic Novelists’ Association's annual Industry Awards for 2019.
The RNA Industry Awards are voted on by its membership to recognise and to celebrate the variety of professionals whose work goes into supporting and promoting the genre of romantic fiction.
Literary agent Emily Hickman: ‘First and foremost, we are passionate advocates for our clients’
thestage.co.uk – Monday October 21, 2019
Representing writers and directors for stage and screen, Emily Hickman also manages the dramatic rights of authors at The Agency. Having most recently worked with Marina Carr on Blood Wedding, she tells Ruth Comerford what it takes to manage clients…
How did you become an agent?
I was always really passionate about theatre; I did a lot of student drama at university. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do specifically so I wrote to lots of theatres and was lucky to get an internship at the Donmar Warehouse, which was amazing and led to a role working in its casting and development department. I started doing a bit of script reading and realised that what I’d really like to do is work with writers in some capacity. I assisted another agent and his clients for several years before I started taking on my own clients alongside his, and built my own list. It took many years.
Karl Ove Knausgaard's latest work to remain unseen until 2114
theguardian.com – Sunday October 20, 2019
Karl Ove Knausgaard, who detailed the minutiae of his own life in the six-volume autobiographical novel My Struggle, has taken on a new challenge: the Norwegian writer is to become the sixth contributor to the Future Library, which collects works by contemporary authors that will remain unread until 2114.
The Future Library is described as a “living, breathing, organic artwork, unfolding over 100 years” by its creator, the Scottish artist Katie Paterson. It currently consists of 1,000 spruce trees that were planted in Oslo’s Nordmarka forest in 2014. After a century, they will be cut down and turned into paper. On this, the manuscripts by participating authors including Margaret Atwood, David Mitchell and Elif Shafak, will finally be printed.
Knausgaard is the first Norwegian writer to contribute to the project; Paterson called him “one of the most exceptional authors of the 21st century”.
Stephen King's mansion in the town that influenced It to host writing retreats
independent.co.uk – Friday October 18, 2019
Stephen King's home in Bagnor, Maine is being turned into a writer's retreat after the author and his wife, Tabitha, were granted permission to rezone the mansion as a non-profit.
The building will now become an archive of King's work, where visits will be possible by appointment, and host up to five writers at a time. The family are unlikely to be home while the writers' residencies are ongoing.
City councillor Ben Sprague told Rolling Stone: "The King family has been wonderful to the city of Bangor over time and have donated literally millions of dollars to various causes in the community.
Eurospan acquires Transatlantic Publishers Group
thebookseller.com – Thursday October 17, 2019
Eurospan has acquired academic and educational sales agency Transatlantic Publishers Group for an undisclosed sum.
TGP offers US specialist academic and technical presses sales and marketing services in Europe and the Middle East. The agency was founded in 2002 and current clients include American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Industrial Press, SAP Press and Kendall-Hunt Publishing.
Transatlantic m.d. Mark Chaloner will be stepping down from his post after a brief handover period. TPG will continue to use Orca Book Services for warehousing and fulfillment services in place of Eurospan’s sister distribution company Turpin Books.
Mundy sets up UK outpost of ACM US
thebookseller.com – Thursday October 17, 2019
Toby Mundy is to head up the new British arm of the US-based Aevitas Creative Management (ACM), with industry veterans Trevor Dolby and Natalie Jerome among the agents joining him.
Mundy will merge his Toby Mundy Associates (TMA), the agency he launched in 2014, with the newly-minted ACM UK and act as the British outpost’s chairman and c.e.o.
Mundy said he loved running TMA, but “by being part of something larger, we will be able to offer our clients more”. He added: “I think long-term success in this industry comes from great people working in a great culture. The creative, collaborative, and collegial atmosphere at ACM has been foundational to its success and I believe that by working with the outstanding team in the US, we can build something similar here.”
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