‘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'


Medium's New Collaborative Publishing Feature Encourages Authors To Create Better Things, Together

Medium's hypothesis has always been that people create better things when they work together. The publishing platform's newest tool helps its authors do just that. Biz Stone and Ev Williams' founding mantra for Medium, the publishing platform they launched last August, was, "People create... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can Self-Publishing Help Circumvent Censorship?

The internet has opened up new pathways for writers looking to circumvent state censors. This is especially true in countries like China, where internet use if booming. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Girls Aloud star signs book deal

Kimberley Walsh signs deal to write autobiography, promising to reveal what it was like in Girls Aloud. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital revenues to grow 15% in 2013

Online publishers predict digital revenue will grow by 15% year on year in 2013, according to the annual census from the Association of Online Publishers (AOP). Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 Tips for Self-published Authors to Maximize Rights and Licensing Deals

Hannah Sheppard, creative director at IPR License, reminds self-publishers that getting the basics right are key when pursuing international rights deals. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published authors #licensing deals #hannah sheppard #creative director #ipr license


PublishNews Brazil: Breakfast at LBF, Int’l Authors to Attend Rio Fair

Publishing news from Brazil: The London Book Fair will host a networking breakfast for those interested in Brazil, numerous international authors confirmed for Rio's book fair, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S brings author Faulkner to commuters

Simon & Schuster has partnered with CBS Outdoor to bring its author chef Lisa Faulkner’... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Choc Lit signs two ahead of LBF

Choc Lit has acquired two new novels, Angela Britnell's The Way to a Hero's Heart and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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SOA criticises new Pearson author payment scheme

The Society of Authors has criticised a decision by Pearson to change the way it pays some of its... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Argentine Isol Takes Home World’s Largest Children’s Lit Prize

The Argentine illustrator known as “Isol” has won the world’s largest award for children’s literature, the SEK 5m (roughly $766,000) Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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French plans for helping bookshops revealed

French Culture Minister Aurélie Filippetti has unveiled part of the government’s... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Elizabeth Gilbert asks fans to help her choose a new book cover

'Eat, Pray, Love' author Elizabeth Gilbert is using her Facebook page to allow fans to pick the cover of her new novel. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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French author survey: digital still not a factor

Just 4% of French authors have signed digital contracts for their most recent books and a third... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's new imprints give opportunities to debut authors, short story writers

Amazon's Little A imprint will release novels, memoirs, and story collections, while Day One will focus on short stories and new writers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The outrage and sadness of Google Reader's demise

Pope Who? White smoke over the Vatican doesn't stand a chance as a trending topic next to the black cloud over one of Google's most beloved products. Google Reader has landed on the company's sunset list, and will wink out of existence on July 1. Problem is, Reader is not as widely beloved as... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Niche authors hit' by Amazon's ebook royalty rates

The Telegraph has claimed niche authors are being unfairly hit by Amazon’s self-publishing... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's author Patricia MacLachlan honors Newtown residents with new book

MacLachlan, author of 'Sarah, Plain and Tall,' said she was inspired to write a picture book after talking with her friend, an illustrator who lives in Newtown. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: The Stay-Seated Writers’ Conference

Porter Anderson's curation publishing buzz takes in the IndieReCon virtual conference, questions B&N's future, and looks atbuying your way to the top of the bestseller list. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ciara Geraghty on chick lit, love, and details

Irish author Ciara Geraghty (her first name's pronounced "Keira") started writing when she was 34 and hasn't stopped since, despite the advent of children and husband. Ciara writes novels that are light and laced with humour (she rightly rejects the label "chick lit") despite hefty subject... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Auctioning Borders’ Old Signage to Help Booksellers in Need

Formerly part of Borders, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation has given some $4.1 million to 2,700 individuals since 1996. Now, they're auctioning Borders' old signage. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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