Complete fiction: why 'the short story renaissance' is a myth

With soaring sales, viral hits like Cat Person and a cameo by Tom Hanks, the form seems to be staging a comeback. But did it ever go away?In 2017, almost 50% more short story collections were sold than in the previous year. It was the best year for short stories since 2010. Booksellers are reporting a surge in popularity for the form, commentators note publishers are buying more collections and issuing them with greater care and enthusiasm; in December the newcomer Kristen Roupenian cut five- and seven-figure deals in the UK and US after her New Yorker story “Cat Person” went viral. On top of all that, collections are being reviewed more than ever before, the Sunday Times EFG short story award (worth £30,000) has received its highest ever number of entries and the BBC national short story award continues to grow in popularity. We are experiencing the renaissance of the short story form, right?Wrong; which isn’t to say 2017 wasn’t a good year for the short story – it was, but the “renaissance of the short story” story is an old one that is rolled out year after year. Does that matter? I think it does. By getting caught up in this recurring phantom narrative, and dwelling on press release froth rather than the work being produced, we spurn the opportunity to talk about short stories in a way that might actually deepen how they are understood and engaged with by readers.How can the short story ever have time to wither, given the frequency of its rebirth?In the cases of Tom... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #books sold #complete fiction #cat person #tom hanks #short stories #short story #jojo moyes

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Complete fiction: why 'the short story renaissance' is a myth'


November Religion Bestsellers: Lysa TerKeurst Takes #2; Christmas Stories Dominate

‘It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way,’ the new book by ‘Uninvited’ author Lysa TerKeurst, debuts at #2 in Religion Nonfiction; holiday-themed novels take over in Religion Fiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #religion nonfiction #religion fiction


Man Booker Prize for Fiction Announces Its 2019 Jury

Led by Hay Festival founder Peter Florence, the 2019 Man Booker Prize jury features a pianist and composer, a filmmaker, a broadcaster and a publisher. The post Man Booker Prize for Fiction Announces Its 2019 Jury appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


And Other Stories signs five-book deal with Gerald Murnane

And Other Stories has secured a five-book deal with award-winning Australian author Gerald Murnane. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #five-book deal


Macmillan Children’s wins five-way auction for Dougie Poynter’s non-fiction

Macmillan Children’s Books (MCB) has won the five-way auction for Dougie Poynter’s non-fiction in a two book deal.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #macmillan children #dougie poynter #books mcb #book deal


Sex scenes in movies can be vital to telling the full story

When Philip Roth died in May, a publisher friend of mine admitted, a little sheepishly, that she was sad because from now on it would be impossible to publish books like his again. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2018-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish books


Convenience Store Woman crowned Foyles' Fiction Book of the Year

Books from Granta, Hodder & Stoughton and Pan Macmillan have been unveiled as Foyles’ Books of the Year, with Convenience Store Woman by Japanese author Sayaka Murata taking the fiction crown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction book #hodder stoughton #pan macmillan #fiction crown


Netflix adapts Dahl's stories for original animated series

Netflix will create an original animated series of Roald Dahl stories including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and The Twits. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chocolate factory


Aspen Words Prize Longlist of 16 Titles for 2019 Prize in Issue-Driven Fiction

This is the second year of operation for the Aspen Words Literary Prize, which stresses fiction that has social impact, work specifically addressing contemporary issues. The post Aspen Words Prize Longlist of 16 Titles for 2019 Prize in Issue-Driven Fiction appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #social impact


Have you ever read a pirated book or been affected by piracy? Share your stories

We’d like to hear from people who have downloaded books illegally and those affected by book piracyAccording to the Intellectual Property Office’s latest study of online copyright infringement, 17% of ebooks read online are now pirated – around 4m books. While stereotypes persist that young... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest study #stephen lotinga #publishers association #research shows


The Friend scoops the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction

The 69th National Book Awards took place in New York last night, emphasising the importance of translation and open borders. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine named public's favourite at BAMB Awards

Gail Honeyman’s bestselling debut Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (HarperCollins) has scooped the Books Are My Bag Readers' Choice Award, while Philip Pullman and The Secret Barrister also scored prizes. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eleanor oliphant #gail honeyman #completely fineharpercollins #bag readers #choice award #secret barrister


Carreyrou’s inside story of Theranos scandal named FT/ McKinsey Business Book of the Year

Investigative journalist John Carreyrou has won the £30,000 Financial Times and McKinsey & Company Business Book of the Year Award 2018 for Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup (Picador). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inside story


Prometheus Sells Fiction Imprints to Start Publishing

After entering the fiction market in 2005 with the launch of its Pyr science fiction imprint, Prometheus has sold that imprint and another one to return to its original focus: nonfiction. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #start publishing #fiction market


Newly discovered stories of Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz to Saqi

Saqi Books is publishing a newly discovered collection of short stories by the late author Naguib Mahfouz, who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #saqi books #short stories


Fremantle joins as sponsor of Women's Prize for Fiction

Global TV production company Fremantle has become a sponsor of the Women’s Prize for Fiction for 2019, as the award transforms into a charity. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Janklow & Nesbit reaps the rewards of investing in 'smart non-fiction'

West London-based literary agency Janklow & Nesbit has been one of the progenitors of the "brainy non-fiction" trend of recent vintage, with a number of big books and deals coming from the Will Francis-led outfit. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big books


Books: The Beastie Boys' memoir, fascinating fiction and more book news

Hello, readers! Welcome to this week’s books newsletter from the L.A. Times. I’m Carolyn Kellogg, our books editor, with the word on some fascinating new books. THE BIG REVIEW What was it like to start out in the punk rock scene, be fascinated by the birth of hip-hop and wind up superstars?... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books newsletter #books editor #beastie boys #book news #carolyn kellogg


Orwell Foundation to launch political fiction prize

The Orwell Foundation will next month launch a prize to celebrate novels or short stories that illuminate social and political themes through the art of narrative. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #month launch #short stories


Waterstones formally completes Foyles purchase

Waterstones has confirmed that it has completed the acquistion of Foyles, announced in September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |