Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide

Some cultures do not distinguish between fiction and nonfiction – and instead talk of ‘stories’. Is that a barrier to English-language writers and publishers? Or should they just learn to enjoy telling tales?There’s a mighty canyon that runs down the middle of the world of the word, carving through bookshops, libraries and literary prizes, splitting them into fiction and nonfiction. Those who try to build bridges over this fissure may find themselves – like Geoff Dyer – rejecting the terms on which they are read, or, like Sheila Heti, arguing with their own book jackets. Those who are caught on the wrong side of the divide are attacked as frauds, pillioried or even – like James Frey – hounded out of their homes. Related: Julian Barnes: 'Biographical novels are kind of cheesy' The art is in the telling … the best storyteller is the one who recreates the anxiety of expectation and fulfils it[The distinction] serves as a useful guide to the kind of experience the reader is wanting to have Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #literary prizes #build bridges #geoff dyer #sheila heti #book jackets #wrong side #james frey #julian barnes

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Fiction v nonfiction – English literature's made-up divide'


'Dark times' for North East literature bodies

Literature organisations in the North East have said they face difficult times with a combination... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dark times #literature organisations #north east


Reality Returns to Young Adult Literature

Doris Janhsen, publishing director of Germany's Verlag Friedrich Oetinger, predicts that we'll see fewer vampires and zombies in forthcoming YA and teen books. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #teen books


John Murray steps up non-fiction output

John Murray is planning to expand its non-fiction publishing output and has appointed Georgina... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john murray


Orion signs debut by Irish journalist English

Orion has acquired the first two novels from Irish journalist Rachael English. Managing director... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Cottrell Boyce wins Guardian Children's Fiction Prize

Frank Cottrell Boyce’s The Unforgotten Coat, published by Walker, has won the 2012 Guardian... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction prize


650,000 Reasons to Translate Finnish Literature

Looking ahead to Finland's turn as Guest of Honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair, lit organization FILI is offering translation support to international publishers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2012-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international publishers


Women's Prize for Fiction to be 'privately funded' for 2013

Individual donors including Christopher Foyle, Joanna Trollope, ebook site Bilbary, Cherie Blair... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joanna trollope


'Steamy' YA fiction from Piccadilly

Piccadilly Press is claiming to be the first publisher to have harnessed the 50 Shades-generated... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #piccadilly press #ya fiction


PA half year: Fiction ebook sales increased 188%

Sales of digital fiction books increased by 188% in value terms in the first half of the year,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Two Dollar Radio Starts Nonfiction Journal

Eric Obenauf, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Two Dollar Radio, the indie press headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, wants the seven-year-old company to publish more nonfiction, but he doesn’t want to produce more than the five or six titles—primarily fiction—that the publisher currently... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eric obenauf #dollar radio


Serial e-fiction from Amazon

Amazon is planning to take a Charles Dickens approach to publishing with the launch of fiction in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Children's literature is a fast-growing genre thanks to 'Potter' & Co.

The success of 'Harry Potter, 'Twilight' and other has created a halo effect for the entire genre. And kids aren't the only ones doing it.For years, the book industry has been mired in debates about the plight of independent booksellers, the rise of Amazon and the fate of print as it struggles... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter #picture books #halo effect #book industry #independent booksellers


Nook headed for UK as Barnes & Noble goes international, dabbles in the Queen's English

Well, our English friends, today is a good day. Your choice in e-readers is about to get that much better as Barnes & Noble has decided to make your homeland the first stop on its highly-anticipated international tour. The Nook and its associated store will be making their big debut in the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2012-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook store #barnes noble #good day #big debut #james bond #finer details


Apple 'in talks' over Women's Prize for Fiction sponsorship

Apple has held talks with the organisers of the Women's Prize for Fiction with a view to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction sponsorship #held talks


Author expects fiction revolution

The rise of ebooks will "fundamentally change" the types of stories that are written and who they are written by, award-winning author Denise Mina predicts. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2012-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


E-books 30% of US adult fiction trade sales

US publishers' sales of ebooks more than doubled in 2011, meaning that the digital book is... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital book


Duckworth plans Russian literature collection

Indie publisher Duckworth has teamed up with the Read Russia project to create a 125-volume... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2012-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


VIDEO: How interactive books are made

David Begg, CEO of digital publisher Mindshapes, explains how his team turn traditional children's books into digital, interactive ones. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2012-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #interactive books


Media Decoder Blog: Even if News Corp. Divides, the Murdochs' Control Is Undiluted

Critics of the company's dual-class share structure, which gives the Murdoch family 40 percent voting control, registered their concerns that nothing would change if the company split into entertainment and publishing businesses. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2012-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing businesses


U.S. Authors, Nonfiction Hot

The #5 book in Italy in May, Gianluigi Nuzzi’s His Holiness. The Secret Documents of Benedict XVI, has caused international news since its publication. Pope Benedict XVI’s butler, Paolo Gabriele, was arrested late last month on suspicion of releasing dozens of embarrassing letters to Nuzzi... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: ##5 book