‘A smorgasbord of unlikability’: the authors helping ‘sad girl lit’ grow up

In this post-Fleabag world, publishing has become obsessed with the inner turmoils of messy millennials – but isn’t it time they pulled themselves together? Meet the novelists subverting the clichesYou’ve probably come across this woman: she is unfulfilled in her career, has been abandoned by at least one man, she is aimless and lamenting the obstacles in her life (of which, in reality, there don’t appear to be many). She is not just miserable, she’s a mess; self-absorbed and full of self-loathing.If you’ve read a book by a woman, about a woman, that has been published in the last five years, then it’s overwhelmingly likely that this woman was the protagonist. The narrative likely circled around this character’s sadness, her passive struggle to overcome it, and little else. Typically, such stories have notes of darkness but will rarely deliver the actual thing. Usually the main character (like the author) will be middle-class, if not incredibly wealthy. Almost always she will be white. The book’s cover will probably feature a devastated-looking woman with her hair covering her face or her head cradled in her hands. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-08 15:19:43 UTC ]
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Other Publishing stories related to: '‘A smorgasbord of unlikability’: the authors helping ‘sad girl lit’ grow up'


Prince Harry and Meghan buy film rights to Canadian author Carley Fortune's romantic novel

A Canadian author says a production company belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has bought the screen rights for her romantic novel. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-08-08 18:39:04 UTC ]
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What the sale of a major American book publisher means for authors, the industry — and you

Book publisher Simon & Schuster's sale to investment firm KKR is novel in many ways, but also part of a long-term trend. History tells us to expect the unexpected. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-08-08 17:35:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publisher


Feminist Book Club Experiences Second Break-In & Needs Help to Recover

What was meant to help create a worker-owned coop in Feminist Book Club has turned into a need to recuperate from a series of office break-ins. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-08-08 14:41:31 UTC ]
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“How To Care for a Human Girl” is the Novel for the Post-Roe Era 

Ashley Wurzbacher’s debut novel How To Care for a Human Girl jumps with both feet into the debate over reproductive rights. When two sisters find themselves pregnant not long after their mother’s death, Jada choses an abortion, while Maddie drifts into the sticky embrace of a crisis pregnancy... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-08-08 11:00:00 UTC ]
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As New Law Looms, Follett Asks Publishers to Help ‘Rate’ Their Own Books for Sale in Texas

With a lawsuit pending to block a controversial new "book rating" law from taking effect in Texas, publishers and industry groups are balking at a request from the nation's largest school distributor to help rate their own titles for sale in the state. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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These 8 books will help soothe your climate anxiety by focusing on the little things

In a climate crisis that feels huge and hopeless, these eight books — essays, fiction, memoir and poetry on the wild — will help you focus on small things Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-08-04 13:00:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small things #climate anxiety #climate crisis #memoir


Lit Hub Daily: August 4, 2023

How author Aimie K. Runyan found a new way to approach story for her “reluctant reader” children. | Lit Hub Parenting “My wife was actually kind of freaked out by how happy I was during that time.” Adrian Tomine on the delight of collaborating on the film adaptation of his graphic novel... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-04 10:30:27 UTC ]
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In an Open Loft in Gowanus, Six Authors and Artists Collaborate and Commune

For the children’s book creators Doug Salati, Brian Floca, Sophie Blackall, Rowboat Watkins, Johnny Marciano and Dasha Tolstikova, the light-filled space has become much more than just a place to work. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-08-03 09:01:00 UTC ]
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Lit Hub Daily: August 2, 2023

Julie Schumacher on 30 years of correspondence with her late friend, Melissa Bank: “I feel the impulse to write to her when I see the coil of postage stamps on my desk, or when I read a book that I wish she could read.” | Lit Hub Memoir When the Beatles found their voice. | […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-08-02 10:30:58 UTC ]
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Gene Luen Yang to Headline 2023 Neustadt Lit Fest at OU

Gene Luen Yang to Headline 2023 Neustadt Lit Fest at OU News and Events [email protected] Fri, 07/28/2023 - 10:38 World Literature Today, the University of Oklahoma’s award-winning magazine of international literature and culture, will award the... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2023-07-28 15:38:00 UTC ]
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Bruce Handy on Becoming a Children’s Picture Book Author in His 60s

“Writing for kids had long been an ambition of mine, but until recently I didn’t know it had long been an ambition.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-07-28 09:00:25 UTC ]
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Bruce Handy on Becoming a Children’s Picture Book Author in His 60s

“Writing for kids had long been an ambition of mine, but until recently I didn’t know it had long been an ambition.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-07-28 09:00:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bruce handy #picture book


Children's Author Becomes a 'Loudmouth' for Banned Books

Author Leah Johnson isn't simply speaking up against censorship—she's putting banned books into people's hands, and will open Loudmouth Books in Indianapolis in late September. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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How to watch bestselling author Luis Alberto Urrea at the L.A. Times Book Club

Luis Alberto Urrea, author of 'Good Night, Irene,' joins L.A. Times Book Club readers live on July 19. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-07-19 20:38:21 UTC ]
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14 free tools: Obscure yet helpful software from Adobe, Microsoft, and more

Many of the biggest software makers are known for their expensive, but nevertheless popular purchase programs. Yet many of these companies also offer free software with some surprisingly useful features. Yes, even giants like Adobe and Microsoft! This article will introduce you to these... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2023-07-19 12:30:00 UTC ]
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An A-Z Alphabet of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors of Color

Looking to diversify your reading list? Then this alphabet of SFF authors of color is a great place to start! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-19 10:37:00 UTC ]
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Margaret Atwood among thousands of authors demanding compensation from AI companies

Margaret Atwood, James Patterson and Suzanne Collins are among thousands of writers endorsing an open letter from the Authors Guild urging AI companies to obtain permission before incorporating copyrighted work into their technologies. ... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-07-18 21:52:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #margaret atwood #ai companies #james patterson #suzanne collins #writers endorsing #open letter #obtain permission #authors guild


‘There’s an industry-wide mental health crisis’: authors and publishers on why the books sector needs to change

After a survey revealed the stresses that authors face when placed in the spotlight for the first time, publishing houses and industry bodies have pledged extra training and pastoral careAuthor and publisher welfare has been a hot topic in the books industry of late. Publishing houses, trade... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-18 15:13:43 UTC ]
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Lit Hub Daily: July 18, 2023

“Once I can’t rely on sight to write anymore, will I, like Borges, no longer be quite sure who is writing this page?” Andrew Leland on Jorge Luis Borges’ blindness and his own. | Lit Hub Memoir It’s a banger week for new books, starting with a new Whitehead. | The Hub Alfred J. Naddaff […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-07-18 10:30:16 UTC ]
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Authors Join the Brewing Legal Battle Over AI

Two new class action copyright lawsuits ramp up the growing scrutiny of large language models and other generative artificial intelligence tools. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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