Writers' Newsletter

Issue #170
May 2017

Some of this month's news for writers from around the web.

Horowitz's UK publisher says it did not warn author off creating black character

thebookseller.com – Monday May 22, 2017

Anthony Horowitz's children's publisher, Walker, has said it would not instruct authors on whether or not to include characters of a different race or background in their books. Walker's assertion follows Horowitz's claim he was "warned off" by publishers from writing a black character in an upcoming book out of concern it would be "inappropriate" for him as a white writer. 

[Read the full article]

New £10,000 award for indie publishers launches

thebookseller.com – Thursday May 11, 2017

The Clarissa Luard Award, a new £10,000 award for independent publishing, has been set up by Arts Council England to recognise the contribution that small publishers make to literature and to celebrate the "adventurousness, innovative spirit and creativity" of independent literary publishing.

[Read the full article]

Religion Publishers See Growth in Children’s Books

publishersweekly.com – Wednesday May 10, 2017

New research shows that storybook Bibles, board books, and children’s devotionals are among the most popular books on the market in religion today, and Christian publishers are taking heed.

NPD BookScan presented a report at the 2016 Children’s Book Summit that revealed a compound annual growth rate of 4% in the children’s market from 2004-2015. (At the time the report was issued, BookScan was owned by Nielsen; in January, NPD Group acquired the research company.) Children’s religion book sales have jumped 22% from 2013-2016, according to BookScan (which tracks roughly 80% of print sales). The same report indicated that 11 of the top 20 bestselling religion titles from 2015-2016 were board books, while six were Bible storybooks.

[Read the full article]

A selection of the new listings added to firstwriter.com this month.

New Literary Agency Listing

firstwriter.com – Tuesday April 25, 2017

Handles: Fiction; Nonfiction
Areas: Autobiography; Biography; Cookery; Crime; Health; Historical; Lifestyle; Mystery; Psychology; Science; Suspense; Technology; Thrillers; Women's Interests
Markets: Adult; Children's; Youth

Agency handling speakers and authors. Will consider all fiction and nonfiction, but particularly interested in General fiction, Mystery/suspense/thriller/crime, Women's fiction, Children's and YA (fiction); and Biography/memoir, Technology, Science, History, Personal development, Health (including popular psychology), Cookery and lifestyle (nonfiction). Send query by email only. See website for full guidelines.

[See the full listing]

New Magazine Listing

firstwriter.com – Wednesday May 24, 2017

Publishes: Articles; Essays; Features; Fiction; Interviews; News; Nonfiction; Poetry; Reference; Reviews; Scripts; 
Areas include: Adventure; Biography; Crime; Design; Drama; Entertainment; Gothic; Historical; Hobbies; How-to; Humour; Leisure; Literature; Photography; Politics; Psychology; Romance; Self-Help; Short Stories; Sociology; Spiritual; Theatre; Travel; 
Markets: Adult; Family; Youth

We publish only unpublished pieces of art. Work published on personal blogs are however considered.

A new startup to introduce new poets and authors with an online journal published monthly. We are currently running an online journal. With time we have plans to switch to the print journal. However, the copyright stays with the author of the text. We have no problems with simultaneous submissions, so long as we are informed about the use elsewhere. And naturally, we shall inform you if and when your contribution goes to the press.

[See the full listing]

New Publisher Listing

firstwriter.com – Tuesday May 23, 2017

Publishes: Fiction; 
Areas include: Short Stories; 
Markets: Adult

Short story publisher aiming to put the short story at the heart of contemporary narrative culture. Stories should be between 1,500 and 8,000 words. No micro-fiction or novellas. See website for full submission guidelines.

[See the full listing]

Some of this month's articles for writers from around the web.

5 ways publishers can (and should) influence the rise of AI

thebookseller.com – Wednesday May 24, 2017

The book industry has a key role to play in the development of artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is about to eat the world, decimate all our jobs, hack our brains and eradicate the human race... according to many commentators. Fortunately we have time to avert this potential technical apocalypse, and book publishers and authors are in a good position to step up and play an important role.

Here are the top five areas where publishers can take a part in this key moment of technological and human evolution.

[Read the full article]

How to avoid clichés in your writing

poynter.org – Tuesday May 23, 2017

Roy Peter Clark writes, "Clichés can multiply and take over your story like text-eating bacteria."

Playing your cards close to your vest…whistling past the graveyard…minding your p’s and q’s…facing the music…toeing the line…putting your nose to the grindstone…swimming against the tide…

[Read the full article]

Fast, Cheap, and Good: What Publishing Compromises Are You Making?

publishersweekly.com – Saturday May 20, 2017

When I worked in publishing in the late 1990s, my boss often repeated the business maxim, “Fast, cheap, and good—pick two.” This is the belief that it’s impossible to produce something of high quality very quickly and at low cost. Companies have to prioritize two of these and sacrifice the third.

[Read the full article]

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