How to cope with writer's block

Author Angie Sage doesn’t really believe in writer’s block except as a roundabout way of admitting you’ve run out of ideas. Here are her top tips on how to get started again! ‘Writer’s block’ is a weird phrase. It implies that writing is an arcane art that channels a mysterious force—a force which may, like a drain, become blocked by malevolent forces beyond the writer’s control.You can probably guess that I don’t believe in writer’s block. But what I know for sure is that if you write you will at some time – shh, don’t tell anyone – run out of ideas. This is kind of embarrassing for a writer and the temptation to give up and sit by the fire with a bar of chocolate and a nice book that someone else has gone to the trouble of writing is sometimes too much. If you call this state ‘writer’s block’ the chances are that your family will tiptoe around you very respectfully and possibly even ask if you fancy a chocolate éclair as well. Related: Darke by Angie Sage – review Related: How to win a creative writing competition - top tips Related: How do I get involved in the Guardian children's books site? Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Male writers continue to dominate literary criticism, Vida study finds

Women buy two-thirds of books sold but magazine reviews are centred on male authors and critics – though picture is beginning to changeThe continuing bias towards men in the British and American literary establishment has been confirmed by a study released on Tuesday.Vida, a US organisation... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Turkey blocks Facebook, YouTube and Twitter; Zuckerberg caves in, Google fights back

Today Turkey blocked access to a number of websites including YouTube and Twitter. The ban came after the sites published images of a prosecutor being taken hostage at a court in Istanbul earlier in the week. Google has vowed to getting things back up and running, but it's not the same story for... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2015-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BuzzFeed Launches Emerging Writers Fellowship: An Interview with Literary Editor Saeed Jones

BuzzFeed is going literary. The ever-growing media company launched BuzzFeed Books in December of 2013, and this year it is launching several projects under new Literary Editor Saeed Jones. First up is the BuzzFeed Emerging Writers Fellowship pr ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Coffee House Press Uses $100K Grant to Build Up Writers Residency Program

Coffee House Press in Minneapolis has just received a $100,000 grant from the Bush Foundation. The press said it intend to use much of the grant money its In the Stacks residency program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stirring the Plot: New Cookbooks Offer Recipes from Top Mystery Writers

In two new books out this spring, mystery writers provide recipes from their lives, and the lives of their characters. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing

Self-published gay erotica writer M.P. Rey reveals his joy at moving from the dusty shelves of hidden rainbow-flag bookstores to better status on Amazon. The post Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pre-Roll Video Ads a Leading Catalyst to Ad-Blocking Growth

A new Wells Fargo Securities report put ad blocking right alongside viewability as a top challenge facing the digital publishing ecosystem.The report asked whether ad blocking is an existential threat or "just a 'Europe thing'" and netted out somewhere in the middle: "We believe the rapid rise... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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St. Patrick's Day: New York City residents can get a free book by an Irish writer

The Irish Arts Center in New York City will be handing out thousands of books by Irish writers to NYC residents on the holiday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bangladeshis protest after atheist writer Avijit Roy hacked to death

Hundreds rally against fundamentalism in Dhaka as Islamists claim responsibility for murder of prominent US-Bangladeshi bloggerHundreds of people have taken to the streets of Dhaka in protest at the murder of a prominent secular American blogger of Bangladeshi origin who was hacked to death with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Headline signs title from comedy writer Shaw

Headline has acquired a humour title by comedy writer Dale Shaw. Editor Richard Roper pre-empted world rights to F**k This Journal (Betterness Through Bitterness) by Dale Shaw from Jamie Coleman at Greene & Heaton. Headline is describing the book as a “hilarious and subversive take on the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why all writers are vain

I’ve met, interviewed and shared stages with many authors over the years, and seen all too many signs of pride and oversensitivity to criticism. There is an inherent egotism in believing your voice matters – but that’s no reason not to put pen to paperMany years ago, when I had just started... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here's how New England bookstores are coping with the snow

Some stores are trying to bring in customers with special discounts, while others in particularly hard-hit areas like Boston are working hard just to keep their locations open. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business

Publisher Deborah Emin argues that as publishing professionals, we should want writers to understand each stage of the process: how they are acquired, marketed and sold. The post Why Writers Need to Know the Publishing Business appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Watch Closely as Adoption of Ad Blocking Tech Grows

Ad blocking technology presents a growing threat to digital publishers and ad-tech companies -- and they're starting to pay close attention.Ad blocking technology removes ads from the internet via a browser extension. There are a number of such extensions -- the two most notable being Adblock... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Susan Golomb Joining Writers House

Veteran literary agent Susan Golomb, whose clients include Jonathan Franzen and William T. Vollmann, will be starting at Writers House on March 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Women writers dominate Waterstones kids' shortlist

Female authors account for the vast majority of this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize this year, with 15 of the 18 titles written by women (see full shortlists below). The prize is divided into three categories – best illustrated book, best fiction for 5-12s and best book for teens –... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Male writers feature on RNA shortlists

Three male authors are among the many writers shortlisted for the Romantic Novel Awards 2015 (full lists below), which are traditionally overwhelmingly dominated by women. Stephen Burke is shortlisted in the Historical Romantic Novel category for his novel The Good Italian by (Hodder &... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European publishers assess the threat of ad blocking

We aslked Dazed Group, News U.K., Mashable and Monrif Group what they think about the ominous subject of ad blocking. The post European publishers assess the threat of ad blocking appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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B&N Names 2014 Discover Great New Writers Finalists

The program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, recognizes great fiction and nonfiction debuts from authors at the start of their careers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On Writers and Writing review – Margaret Atwood on her profession

Drawing on her panoramic reading and her experiences of the authorly life cycle, Atwood surveys her trade with a mix of seriousness and gentle fun“You may find the subject a little peculiar,” warns Margaret Atwood, before she discusses the writer’s relationship with mortality. “It is a little... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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