This week in fiction: Ottessa Moshfegh on writing predators and their victims
newyorker.com – Monday October 17, 2016
The inspiration for writing “An Honest Woman” came when I met someone who was so physically unattractive I felt sorry for him, and so I kept mum and polite while he lamely attempted to seduce me. I never called attention to the fact that his motivations were transparent and that, by ignoring him, I was protecting his dignity. I was in denial, and he was delusional.
The 2016 Guide to Creative Writing Guides
publishersweekly.com – Saturday October 15, 2016
Almost as long as there have been writers, there have been books that offer instruction, guidance, and advice on how to write. From Plato’s Phaedrus to the letters and journals of great practitioners such as Emily Dickinson, John Keats, and Rainer Maria Rilke, and 20th-century monuments of the genre such as Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own, writing guides have sat steadfast on aspiring writers’ nightstands, ready to inspire and instruct. Think of these books as kind of the homeschool version of M.F.A. programs.
10 Writing Prompts To Get You Started On Your Next Manuscript
bustle.com – Thursday October 13, 2016
The best part about writing for yourself, and not for a class, is that there's no teacher to tell you what to write... but the worst part aboutwriting for yourself is also that there's no teacher to tell you what to write. Even the most accomplished writers occasionally find themselves staring at a blinking cursor on a blank screen. Inspiration doesn't always strike on command. So here are a few helpful writing prompts, to get you started when you can't quite find the right words.
As American editors sharpen their pencils, some advice on writing short
poynter.org – Thursday October 13, 2016
If two examples constitute a trend, then a movement is afoot among editors to encourage short writing. It began at The Washington Post, where an editor argued that many stories could be tighter. Before you could say “Strunk and White,” an editor at The Wall Street Journal made the same case.
What came next was predictable, and, from the point of view of us long-winded scribes, delectable. A writer declared, essentially, “Editor, heal thyself,” creating a marked-up version of the memo to cut its clutter.
New Magazine Listing
firstwriter.com – Wednesday October 12, 2016
Publishes: Poetry;
Markets: Adult;
Preferred styles: Literary
Literary magazine publishing mainly poetry, but will consider reflective prose up to 500 words (especially expository blank verse). First-time contributors (unless in Israel) should submit by post with SASE.
Irish publishing body criticises €100 charge for manuscripts
irishtimes.com – Tuesday October 11, 2016
The body which represents Irish publishers has said it does not support a publisher’s controversial plan to charge writers €100 per submission.
Liberties Press publisher Seán O’Keeffe has remained defiant over his proposal to charge €100 per submitted manuscript, except when submitted by a recognised literary agent.
He tweeted at the weekend: “Thanks for the comments on our submissions policy on Friday and over the weekend. The policy won’t be changing.”
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Tuesday October 11, 2016
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas include: Biography; Historical; Religious; Self-Help; Short Stories;
Markets: Adult; Children's; Family; Youth
Publishes books for a varied audience, that conform to Torah-observant Jewish values. Send complete ms by email as Word, DavkaWriter, RTF, or PDF files, with cover letter and author contact details. See website for full details.
What really happens to manuscripts sent to publishers?
abc.net.au – Monday October 10, 2016
There's a lot of mystery surrounding the book publishing process. But what really happens to the slush pile of unsolicited manuscripts that are sent to publishers by wannabe writers?
New Publisher Listing
firstwriter.com – Monday October 10, 2016
Publishes: Fiction; Nonfiction;
Areas include: Autobiography; Biography; Crime; Erotic; Fantasy; Historical; Horror; Military; Politics; Romance; Short Stories; Thrillers; Travel;
Markets: Adult; Children's; Youth
A Singapore-registered award-winning independent publisher of English-language books and ebooks on Asia, with its editorial office in the UK. Welcomes submissions with Asian (particularly Southeast Asian) themes from agents direct, or from published and unpublished authors via online submission system via website.
BBC National Short Story winner – a plea to publishers to take risks
theguardian.com – Friday October 7, 2016
Since winning the BBC National Short Story award this week for “Disappearances”, I have been asked whether I am writing a novel. This is something that happens to short story writers. I have responded obliquely. There are good reasons for this: most importantly, one of the exciting aspects of writing is finding the form appropriate to the subject you are exploring – whatever it may be.
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