Hunger for the new – the engine which powers publishing
thebookseller.com – Wednesday February 17, 2016
If you could time-travel five years back to a typical publishing presentation at a major house, the talk would have been exclusively of brands. What do we seek to publish? Brands. What do we want from agents? Brands. The word delivered with the finality of the Ten Commandments. An unknown author had little chance of competing in that landscape. So went the prevailing theory.

New Screenwriting Contest Emphasizes the Art of the Rewrite
thewrap.com – Friday February 12, 2016

The Finish Line Script Competition offers development notes as well as prizes and mentorship
An innovative new film and TV script competition that emphasizes the art of the rewrite launched this week courtesy of two Hollywood veterans — a longtime literary manager turned script consultant and a well-known music and film producer Michael Patterson.

David Roche appointed chair of New Writing North
thebookseller.com – Thursday February 11, 2016

David Roche has been appointed chair of the board at New Writing North, the development agency for creative writing and reading for the North of England.
Roche has previously worked as c.e.o. of Borders and as group sales and marketing director of HarperCollins. Roche chaired the Booksellers Association and Publishers Association Liaison Group from 2003 to 2005 and was president of the Booksellers Association from 2005 to 2007. He now runs his own company, David Roche Enterprises Ltd, and acts as a consultant, literary agent and non-executive director.
LONE STARS Great “One-Liner” Contributions
firstwriter.com – Sunday February 7, 2016
LONE STARS Magazine has printing space available between the margins of its pages, and is inviting submissions of your most memorable lines from your best works.

Craft of Comedy Writing Conference 2016
comedy.co.uk – Saturday February 6, 2016

The Craft of Comedy Writing Conference is to return for a fourth year.
The highly regarded annual event, which takes place in Llandudno (North Wales), has this year been scheduled for the 8th and 9th April 2016.
The conference aims to help emerging writers find and develop their comedy voice through a series of talks, workshops and related events. It is "for anyone who watches comedy on TV or online or listens to radio comedy and thinks 'I could do that'."

Agency Assistant- Paid Internship
jobs.thebookseller.com – Wednesday February 3, 2016

Bell Lomax Moreton is a literary agency, representing a wide range of distinguished authors and illustrators, writing and illustrating adult fiction, non-fiction and children’s books.
We are able to offer candidates interested in pursuing a career in publishing the opportunity to experience life at the heart of a busy and thriving literary agency. You will work closely with our agents, gaining invaluable first-hand experience of literary and artist agenting, publishing and the media.
Call for short poems: BIG LIT The Stewartry Book Festival April 14-17 2016
firstwriter.com – Sunday January 31, 2016
Short poems are again being sought for display in high street windows over the BIG LIT weekend at the Stewartry Book Festival, April 14-17, 2016.
Poems may be published or unpublished, and should be sent as soon as possible in Palatino 12 point with your name at the bottom, and an acknowledgement if previously published.

Flowstate is a writing app that will delete everything if you stop typing
theverge.com – Thursday January 28, 2016

Flowstate is billed as the "most dangerous app." It’s hyperbole, of course, but there’s a grain of truth to it. The software is a writing and note-taking tool, and it’s a super clean, minimal, and beautiful way to jot down your thoughts, especially on mobile. But its key feature is the ability to set timed writing sessions in which any text you’ve put to the page will disappear if you stop writing for more than seven seconds. Yes, really.

Ascent Aspirations call for submissions
firstwriter.com – Friday January 22, 2016

Ascent Aspirations Magazine is coming back into circulation after a year's vacation. It will now publish poetry only, on a weekly basis, on a page called Friday's Poems.

Wise named new AAA president
thebookseller.com – Thursday January 21, 2016

Senior agent at Curtis Brown, Gordon Wise, has been elected president of the Association of Author's Agents (AAA), following the end of current president Sam Edenborough's term.
Wise, who won the Bookseller Book Industry Awards Agent of the Year gong last year, has served on the AAA committee since 2012.
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