Do we need an indie kitemark?
thebookseller.com – Tuesday December 3, 2024
There’s anarchy in the air. From Taylor Swift to Influx Press to Substack, artists are breaking rules, indie publishers are appealing directly to the public, and online platforms powered by author agency are springing up everywhere.
Only last week, Hamish McKensie announced we’d hit the four million mark of paid subscriptions. I say “we” because I’m part of the Substack revolution. I’m up to my spuds in it, riding the wave of indie authors finding new avenues to publish, reach readers and build community. Notice I didn’t say “sell”. Stand by, I’ll get to that. And I’ll get to the Kitemark, too. But first, a little back story.
Mubi Moves into Book Publishing with Mubi Editions Imprint
publishersweekly.com – Tuesday December 3, 2024
Mubi, the film distributor, production company, and streaming service founded in 2007 by Efe Cakarel, will launch a publishing arm, Mubi Editions, next April, focusing on titles on cinema and the arts.
Based in London and New York and led by Daniel Kasman, VP of editorial content at Mubi, the imprint will publish two to three titles in its in inaugural year, with plans to expand its list in future years. Distributed Art Publishers will distribute for the imprint in the U.S. and Canada, with Thames & Hudson distributing to the rest of the global market, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Turkey.
New Publishing Imprint Listing: Monoray
firstwriter.com – Monday December 2, 2024
Publishes narrative non-fiction at its most immersive, inspiring and entertaining. Our authors have lived every moment of the stories they want to tell, and we are proud to bring these stories into the world. From the arts to politics and sport; from spiritual memoir to business; from socially conscious polemic to history or even crime – whatever the subject, our books always have a highly distinctive and authentic author voice and aim each time to be breakout bestsellers.
Startup Mocked for Charging $5,000 to "Edit" Book Manuscripts Using AI
futurism.com – Monday December 2, 2024
A startup called Spines apparently wants to use AI to edit and publish 8,000 books in 2025 — though no word on whether they'll be any good.
There are several issues with the premise. First, AI is a notoriously untalented wordsmith. It will undoubtedly struggle with the myriad tasks Spines assigns to it, including "proofreads, cover designs, formats, publishes, and... distributing your book in just a couple of weeks," according to the venture's website.
Oh, and then there's the issue of Spines embarrassing itself publicly.
"A great example of how no one can find actual uses for LLMs that aren't scams for grifts," short story writer Lincoln Michel wrote of the flap on X-formerly-Twitter. "Quite literally the LAST thing publishing needs is... AI regurgitations."
8 Agents Who Represent Poets
subclub.substack.com – Thursday November 28, 2024
For the last several years, I’ve periodically taught a publishing industry course for the graduate creative writing program at Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies, of which I’m faculty director.
One of the assignments is an agent query letter, pitching either a work-in-progress or a manuscript the student hopes to write in the near future.
My sense is that this assignment is among the most useful for students, in part because query letters strike them as residing somewhere between “tedious task” and “necessary evil” on the writing-life spectrum.
An agent query letter generally contains these components:
New Literary Agent Listing: Sally M. Kim
firstwriter.com – Thursday November 28, 2024
Please send fiction and non-fiction submissions in the following categories: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and graphic novels. Across all categories, she is especially eager to see authentic explorations of underrepresented cultures, relationships, and identities. No rhyming picture books, horror, sports, or time travel.
How to Get Published as a Writer
tapinto.net – Tuesday November 26, 2024
Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of traditional and self-publishing routes, approaching literary agents, how to submit a query letter, and submission processes.
This empowering workshop tailored for aspiring authors seeking insight into the complex world of publishing. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of traditional and self-publishing routes, approaching literary agents, how to submit a query letter, and submission processes. Whether you're a debut novelist, seasoned writer, or curious beginner, "How to Get Published as a Writer" equips you with the knowledge and tools needed to confidently navigate your publishing journey and achieve your literary goals.
Literary Agent: North West agency launches fifth annual All You Read is Love festive book drive
prolificnorth.co.uk – Tuesday November 26, 2024
Full-service marketing agency, Agent, has donated over £50,000 worth of children’s books since launching All You Read is Love in 2020 and is hoping 2024 will be the campaign’s biggest year yet.
Agent, which has studios in Liverpool and Manchester, launched its All You Read is Love campaign in 2020 and has donated brand-new books to underprivileged children across the region over the last four years, including works from well-known authors, emerging talent and voices from BAME and LGBTQ+ communities.
98 Recently Opened Submission Calls, Upcoming Deadlines, Contests, Theme Calls & More
subclub.substack.com – Tuesday November 26, 2024
Welcome to Sub Club’s Where to Submit This Week! Our weekly report of up-to-date submission opportunities for writers.
This week, we’ve got:
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4 Recently Opened Submission Calls
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57 Last Chance to Submit
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18 Theme Calls To Inspire You!
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5 Lit mags that are always open for submissions
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14 Vetted writing contests closing this week
New Literary Agent Listing: Rachel Goldblatt
firstwriter.com – Sunday November 24, 2024
In terms of fiction, I’m particularly drawn to character and voice driven narratives that make me feel deeply and think hard about the world around us. If the writing is compelling, agile, atmospheric and intelligent I can fall for any kind of story, but I especially enjoy those that have a strong sense of time and place, are clear and bold in their intent and style and that interrogate what it means to be human. I love books that explore complicated or outsider characters, complex family dynamics, the domestic space, modern life, relationships in all forms, identity and the female experience. I always love reading clever novels with a dark edge. I want to read absorbing narrative non-fiction that challenges and broadens our perspective and offers a fresh take on or new approach to big subjects. I am especially drawn to literary biography and criticism as well as books about nature, art, history and contemporary social issues, and I'm always interested in extraordinary stories about real people or events. I also enjoy reading creative, formally inventive memoir and life writing.
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