These days, it is normal for authors to go to writing workshops – or teach them. So why does the idea they produce derivative writers persist?What makes a writer? How do you become one? When I was younger, even asking those questions seemed to disqualify me: a writer isn’t something one becomes, I thought, a writer just is. Despite writing, rewriting and reading all through my 20s, I was no closer to completing, let alone publishing, a novel. I realised I would need help if I was going to succeed, and I applied to several creative writing MAs.This was, depending on who you ask, either a decision that condemned my writing to being forever derivative and tired, or, an important step on the path towards the publication of my first book. The debate about the value of a degree in creative writing has been done, one might think, to death – good writing depends on an innate facility that cannot be taught, versus good writing depends on devoted time, support, and elements of craft that can be studied – yet it continues to rage. This week, a much-lauded debut novel was criticised in a review by an author for its “MA creative writing-speak” and “oh so tediously writing workshop description”. For some, “writing workshop” is shorthand for bad. But why?'One must have in mind between 68 and 73% of the ending' before starting a story, my teacher once advised Related: Buy a cat, stay up late, don't drink: top 10 writers’ tips on writing Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2018-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indies have sprung into action for Independent Bookshop Week, holding Tiger Tea parties, author readings, summer parties and happy hours. The dedicated week of activity in independent bookshops, co-ordinated by The Booksellers Association, runs from 20th-27th June and is designed to encourage... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Late last month, Wyatt Mitchell left The New Yorker for Apple. The question is, why?At the end of May, word quietly slipped that New Yorker creative director Wyatt Mitchell left the publication for a job at Apple. And the man taking his place will be Nicholas Blechman, former art director at The... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2015-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Add AOL to the list of publishers that have gone from selling ads to making ads.AOL has created an internal division called Partner Studio that is charged with creating content for advertisers. Both the name and type of work may sound familiar. AOL-owned Huffington Post has its own in-house... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2015-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Anne Roiphe, a major voice in feminist lit, reflects on her 50-year writing career as her 10th novel is published. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The rise of Instagram and Facebook, which mute video audio by default, is forcing publishers to rethink their video creation strategies. NowThis and Fusion, for example, are creating video that's "volume agnostic", meaning that they can viewers can watch them with the sound on or off and still... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2015-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scottish publishers and book festivals are among the recipients of £2m of funding from Creative Scotland. The arts organisation has awarded grants of between £1,500 and £100,000 to 88 different artists and groups across Scotland, including Freight Books and the Borders Book Festival. Freight... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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YA authors Aaron Hartzler, Ellen Hopkins, Patrick Ness, Lynn Weingarten, and Cammie McGovern came together on May 29 at BEA for a panel discussion titled Talking to Teens About Tough Topics, moderated by Margot Wood of Epic Reads. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Yale University Press will publish the Windham-Campbell Prizes's annual keynote addresses in a new series titled "Why I Write.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On a Saturday BookCon panel, Ellen Hopkins, Patrick Ness, Lauren Oliver, and Jason Reynolds discussed the relationships, characters, themes, and settings of their latest YA novels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A capacity crowd of approximately 1,000 people turned out to watch BEA's curtain-raising event, a highly anticipated conversation between bestselling novelist Jonathan Franzen and Laura Miller of Salon.com. The discussion centered on 'Purity,' Franzen's fifth novel and his first since 2010's... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The religion authority, author, and pioneer in the coverage of spirituality and religion publishing has been diagnosed with inoperable stage 4 lung cancer. Still, she has book projects in the works and no plans to abandon them. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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“Happy Valley” creator Sally Wainwright is to write and direct a drama about the Brontes for BBC1. “To Walk Invisible: The Bronte Sisters” will explore the relationships between Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte and their brother Branwell, who was an alcoholic and drug addict. It will be filmed... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three writers share their thoughts and concerns about sharing deeply personal secrets in a memoir. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Travel rewards programs don't exactly scream "creativity," but FCB Brazil stepped way out of the box to promote the Smiles loyalty platform. Previously affiliated solely with Gol airlines, it's now an independent business attached to a number of other global partners. The agency created Trip... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2015-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After a two-decade hiatus, the author of the bestselling 'Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook' is back with 'New England Open-House Cookbook,' out from Workman in June. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Shindig!’s Jon Mills and Andy Morten on the perils of striking a magazine publishing deal without the proper paperworkJust before Easter, Jon Mills and Andy Morten signed off the 47th issue of Shindig!, the music magazine the two of them have been producing for around 20 years. Although... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We caught up with the whimsical illustrator about productivity, creativity, and why her spirit animal is a "tiny, delusional bird."You've probably seen illustrator Maira Kalman's whimsical, wryly funny work, whether you know it or not. Her supersaturated gouache paintings have graced countless... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2015-04-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The latest issue of the UK literary journal Litro Magazine, released at the London Book Fair, highlights the diversity and character of new Mexican writing. The post Litro Magazine Presents Diversity of New Mexican Writing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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We all know how certain books, read at key moments in our lives, remain memorable and influential for years afterward. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The author of Alternadad and Downward-Facing Death shares how his habits help him work at a healthy clip.Neal Pollack is the author of nine books, a three-time Jeopardy champion, a musician, and a yoga instructor. His newest novel Repeat is "a romantic comedy with some time travel in it," as he... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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