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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Booker winner to pen Dead Man Talking for the Quick Reads initiative, which offers books by mainstream authors that are the same in every respect but simply shorter and easierThe Man Booker prize-winning novelist Roddy Doyles new novel will be written for the one-in-six adults in the UK who... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scottish book production company Palimpsest is to become a publisher in its own right, with new... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pistorius's manager and agent Peet van Zyl says his client will write a book, but the law may not let him. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Group representing Donna Tartt, Stephen King and others says Amazon tactics have driven sales down by at least 50%Some of the worlds most famous authors escalated their heated dispute with Amazon on Monday, publishing a letter to retailers board warning of the ugly history of blocking book... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Start with One Direction and see where they take you your daydreams could snare you a book dealHow to write a bestselling novelHow to write a killer scriptShare pictures of where you writeThis article is a preview from the September issue of the Guardians monthly activities magazine, Do... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Courier Corp. has sold the assets of its Creative Homeowner publishing subsidiary to Fox Chapel Publishing for an undisclosed price. The deal involves over 100 titles in home design, home improvement, landscaping and gardening. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children’s laureate Malorie Blackman has said she will not be silenced following a barrage... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gregory's book will be released sometime in 2015, according to publisher Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can a one-size-fits-all, low-price, consumer-dominated sales model support a diverse, innovative, challenging literary output?It is either an existential threat to intellectual freedom or a rustbelt media industry meeting its comeuppance at the hands of disruptive technology. The battle between... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The character of Alex Vause, portrayed by actress Laura Prepon on the show, is based on Wolters. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins has signed a book exploring the golden age of crime writing by author Martin... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Julian Gough is using Kickstarter to part-fund a writing research trip to Las Vegas. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stanfords is to hold a Travel Writers Festival at the Destinations Show in London next year.... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sorry guys, I can't tweet this picture of a cat wearing a party hat right now, because I'm #amwriting. I'm in a coffee shop, you see, with my laptop and notebook proudly displayed so that anyone who walks past will know that I'm #amwriting a novel.... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2014-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How taking monotasking to an extreme can help you tackle ambitious projects.Every March, Randi Zuckerberg goes on a spring break. Last year she went to New York; the year before she went to Tokyo. But unlike your standard vacation, Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Zuckerberg Media (and sister of... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2014-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wattpad has upgraded its copyright protection to Creative Commons 4.0, offering fans the ability to remix millions of stories into new content with permission. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kenyan Okwiri Oduor has won the 15th Caine Prize for African Writing, often described as Africa’s leading literary award. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher Bragelonne has found extraordinary success selling what others in France might deign to be untouchable, including fantasy, romance, and ebooks. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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J K Rowling has written a new piece about a thirty-something Harry Potter and his friends at the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five-year-old Lydia Port-Burke has self-published a fairy tale now available in the UK. Proceeds for the book will go to BBC Children in Need. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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