‘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 ]
News tagged with: #ve read #main character #rarely deliver #novelists

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘A smorgasbord of unlikability’: the authors helping ‘sad girl lit’ grow up'


Ether for Authors: United We Divide

The week's web buzz: Ann Patchett encourages authors to work with traditional publishers and gets rebuffed, a map of the five paths to publishing, the true costs of author services, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Script Lit Turns Unused Screenplays Into e-Novellas

Looking to transform Hollywood’s pile of unproduced scripts into publishable ebooks, James West, a motion-picture industry entrepreneur, has launched Script Lit. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Solutions Gets Extension

Judge Denise Cote has granted a request by Author Solutions and Penguin to extend the deadline to respond to the class action lawsuit filed against the two to June 21. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Patchett: 'Authors must work with trade'

Orange Prize-winner Ann Patchett has warned that authors who decide to shun traditional... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Archie Comics Grows Book Side

Like most comics publishers, Archie Comics, home to America’s favorite fictional redheaded teenager, has historically focused its distribution on newsstand sales and the comics specialty market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin signs A Girl Called Jack

Penguin has signed world rights in a cookbook from the budget food blogger Jack Monroe. Michael... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Would Someone Take Advantage of America’s Most Beloved Author?

Author Harper Lee, now 87-years-old, is suing the son-in-law of her former literary agent after he "duped" her into signing over rights to her beloved classic "To Kill a Mockingbird." Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's new China app store could help pave way for Kindle products

Amazon.com has updated its mobile app store to include support for its Chinese customers, in a sign that the U.S. company could be preparing to sell its Kindle e-readers and tablets in the country.The update effectively launches a new version of Amazon's app store built in the Chinese language.... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin puts Phillips in to head Author Solutions

Penguin has moved Andrew Phillips over to become c.e.o. of self-publishing business Author... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors embark on Roman charity walk

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Thatcher, Le Carré and TV stars help book sales rebound

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comma launches free lit app Gimbal

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Female authors lead book longlist

The longlist for the sixth Desmond Elliott Prize, which honours the best in debut fiction, is unveiled, with seven of the 10 novels by women. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple docked $118,000 by Chinese court for violating authors' copyrights

Apple will have to pay three Chinese authors a total of $118,000 for stocking their books in its App Store without a proper say-so, according to China Daily. A court ruled that it was Apple's job to verify that third-party uploads met copyright requirements and that it had the means to do so... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At LBF, Authors Encouraged to Think Like Entrepreneurs

Self-publishing has taken hold in the UK and two authors at the London Book Fair encouraged writers to consider DIY, offering observations and advice applicable to all. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors draw up 'manifesto' to save Venice's bookshops

Authors have called on the Venice Biennale to "mobilise intelligence and artistic talent... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Silent Wife author dies

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: A Mighty Metaphor Is Our Industry

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors campaign to save Venice's bookshops

British novelist Michelle Lovric and Strega Prize-winner Tiziano Scarpa are among a large group... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lebanese-Canadian Author Rawi Hage’s Winding Road to Success

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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