Headbutts, snark and furious obsession: a toxic history of literary rivalries

When her first book came out, Lulah Ellender became obsessed with an author whose book launched the same week. She reflects on past feuds and how resentment now festers onlineWhen my first book was published last year I wasn’t prepared for how unhinged I would become. I’d expected review-induced nerves and worries that swung from “No one will read it” to “Oh God, someone is actually going to read it”. But I hadn’t foreseen the appearance of a wholly one-sided and indecorous obsession with another author.This author’s book launched in the same week as mine. It was nothing like my book, a memoir based on lists written by my grandmother, so its existence should not have troubled me, yet my writing life somehow became combatively interwoven with his. I had a review in a broadsheet; the next week he had a full-page spread in the same paper. I did a radio interview; he appeared on the same show. Every time I read about his achievements (pretty much every time I checked his social media), it diminished my own. It was like a nasty bruise I couldn’t resist pressing.I didn’t wish him any actual harm. Just, in writer Roxane Gay’s words, “papercuts and abject failure” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #writing life #radio interview

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New Ways to Workshop: A Reading List to Inspire Literary Innovation

In 2016, I was no longer interested in teaching the traditional workshop and felt that my students no longer wanted it. A poet mentioned that in their workshop, they read the poem on the spot and then discuss it together. This was mind-blowing. No reading and re-reading in the week before? No... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-02-17 09:53:21 UTC ]
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2023 PEN America Literary Awards Finalists Announced

PEN America's Literary Award Finalists have been announced. They include books of by debut writers and well-known writers alike. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-02-16 18:42:50 UTC ]
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10 Recent Works of Black History That Everyone Should Read

Reviews editor David Adams recommends 10 excellent works of Black history recently starred by PW. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Beyond Rosa and Harriet: Black History Picture Book Biographies

There is more to Black history than trauma, and these picture book biographies celebrate Black joy, ingenuity, talent, and magnificence — like Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed and Stasia Burrington. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-02-15 11:36:00 UTC ]
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Reykjavik International Literary Festival Names Guest Authors

The 16th edition of Iceland's biennial Reykjavik International Literary Festival has announced its 2023 lineup of authors. The post Reykjavik International Literary Festival Names Guest Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-02-15 08:10:36 UTC ]
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Haymarket Book Publisher Offering Free eBooks on Black History

A Chicago-based independent publisher has responded to the recent attack on Black History by offering free books. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-02-08 16:46:55 UTC ]
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Bedtime Stories From Toni Morrison: Priscilla Gilman on Her Singular Literary Upbringing

Family memoirs are never about one thing. There’s always a compelling domestic story; in her new memoir, The Critic’s Daughter, Priscilla Gilman tells a fascinating story about her dynamic parents and the literary world that they inhabited. But good memoirs always involve a secondary subplot (or... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-02-06 09:54:35 UTC ]
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Peter Turchi on the Power of the Literary Aside

The following first appeared in Lit Hub’s The Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. William Trevor famously described the short story as “the art of the glimpse,” and compression is generally a virtue. But the most engaging and compelling short stories and novels are not necessarily the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-01-27 09:52:28 UTC ]
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2023 PEN America Literary Awards Longlists

The 2023 PEN American Literary Award Longlists have been announced! This year’s awards will confer $350,000 to more than 100 writers. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-01-23 17:48:28 UTC ]
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10 Essential Works in American Indian History

Yale University historian Ned Blackhawk, author of 'The Rediscovery of America,' selects 10 must-read works of Native American history. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-18 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Prince Harry defends tell-all memoir in furious ITV interview

King, queen consort and Prince William all criticised as Harry says silence ‘allows the abuser to abuse’Harry: The Interview review – so horribly sad it could have turned the Queen anti-monarchyPrince Harry launched a broadside at the king, the queen consort, his brother and other royals in a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-09 01:55:15 UTC ]
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United Talent Agency Grows Its Literary Business

With the acquisition of the literary agency Fletcher & Company, UTA added hundreds of authors to its client roster. The deal comes amid consolidation in the entertainment industry. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-01-04 17:18:03 UTC ]
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Big Names in Little Magazines: On Thomas Pynchon’s Very First Literary Journal Appearance

“Thomas Pynchon is a young writer, just twenty, who has previously published fiction in Epoch. He is a Cornell graduate and now lives in Seattle.” Writers know that the time between when a piece is accepted by a literary magazine and when it is actually published can be rather protracted—my... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-21 09:53:25 UTC ]
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Henry Morrison, Longtime Literary Agent, Dies at 86

The longtime agent of Samuel R. Delany, Dean Koontz, and Robert Ludlum died November 2. He was 86. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-19 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary Luminaries Debate Diversity, Publishing's Moral Obligations at PEN Town Hall

During a panel, "Do Publisher’s Have a Moral Obligation to Diversify American Literature?", authors Min Jin Lee, Chris Beha, Roxane Gay and publishing veteran Erroll McDonald weighed in on a central issue in the book business. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Notable Literary Deaths in 2022

To the members of the literary community we lost this year, we say a last thank you, and goodbye. You will be missed. * F. Sionil José, “the grand old man of Philippine letters,” died on January 6 at the age of 97. Terry Teachout, the drama critic of The Wall Street Journal, died on January […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-14 09:59:24 UTC ]
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China Bestsellers: History, Awards, Humor

Awards and screen adaptations drive fiction, while humorous history stokes nonfiction, on China's October bestseller lists from OpenBook. The post China Bestsellers: History, Awards, Humor appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-12-13 17:47:51 UTC ]
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The $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize Names Its 2023 Longlist

The Aspen Words Literary Prize 2023 longlist includes seven fiction debuts and five short-story collections. The post The $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize Names Its 2023 Longlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-12-12 20:25:30 UTC ]
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#ReadingAfrica: Five Writers and Publishers Discuss the Continent’s Boundless Literary Landscape

Africa is a continent of 54 countries and some 1.4 billion people, speaking—and sometimes writing and publishing—in hundreds of languages. The book business on the continent is diverse and eclectic. We convened a group of several top practitioners to get a sample of the triumphs and challenges... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-12-08 09:57:24 UTC ]
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Variety Notches Best Year of Revenue in Its 117-Year History

Entertainment trade publisher Variety, part of Penske Media Corporation, has notched a year of record revenue and reach, partly thanks to capitalizing on heightened consumer interest in the rapidly transforming film and television industry. The publisher posted the highest-ever revenue of its... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2022-12-05 12:11:04 UTC ]
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