Literary fiction conveys the human character | Letters

Helen Cross, Andy Stelman, Mark Stewart and Richard Adams respond to a recent Guardian article by Tim LottAs someone whose tiny, grimy literary novels have attracted the interest of the film industry, the truth is the opposite of what Tim Lott (Why should we subsidise writers who’ve lost the plot?, 2 January) suggests; it’s the screenwriter who needs the literary novelist. Plot is easy to learn (and even easier to flog to impressionable students excited by the supposed glamour of the writing life), but impossible to make work on the page without an ability to master what the novel can uniquely convey: the deep mysteries of human interiority. Or, as the screenwriters say, character.Helen CrossFlamborough, East Yorkshire• Tim Lott clearly has not heard of, nor read: Adam Thorpe (Ulverton), Graham Swift (Waterland and Mothering Sunday), Sebastian Barry (A Long, Long Way and Days Without End), Colm Tóibín (Norah Webster), Kamila Shamsie (Home Fire), Salley Vickers (Miss Garnet’s Angel) and many other contemporary British and Irish authors who maintain and expand a “great tradition” of fictional output.Andy StelmanBishop’s Castle, Shropshire Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #mothering sunday #sebastian barry #irish authors

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Literary fiction conveys the human character | Letters'


Hachette Children’s hires literary scouts

Hachette Children’s has hired Maria B Campbell Associates as literary scouts to the group. Maria B Campbell Associates, which was already acting as a scout for YA imprint Atom Books, will now look for books for imprints Hodder Children's Books, Orchard Books, Orion Children's Books, Little,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orchard books #brown books #hachette children #campbell associates #literary scouts #orion children #young readers #quercus children


'Don't be a prima donna, Doris' … and other advice. UEA opens writers' letters

The University of East Anglia is publishing archived private correspondence from novelists such as Doris Lessing, JD Salinger and WG Sebald to inspire today’s students of creative writing“Don’t,” a young Doris Lessing is advised as she tries to find a publisher for her first novel, The Grass is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #east anglia #nobel prize


Andrew McCarthy will make his fiction debut with a young adult novel

Good news for '80s kids who preferred Blane McDonough to Duckie Dale: "Pretty in Pink" star Andrew McCarthy, who went from Brat Pack actor to travel writer and television director, is coming out with his first novel. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction debut #young adult #television director


Ursula Le Guin Debuts Online Fiction Workshop

The National Book Award lifetime achievement winner, who said she no longer has "the stamina" for classroom teaching, wants to guide aspiring writers via her Book View Cafe blog. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Does the age of an author matter when writing YA fiction?

The Book Doctor goes right back to beginnings of YA and teen fiction in the 1950s and 1960s to investigate whether author age has anything to do with reader experienceI saw several really young writers at the Young Adult Literature Convention (Yalc) who seem to know just what their readers are... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #teen fiction #young writers #young authors #malorie blackman #helena coggan #role models


PW Asks: Readers Bullish on New Fiction

This week we asked readers whether now is a good time to be in love with fiction--are great new books being written? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw asks #asked readers #good time


PW Asks: Is This A Good Era for New Fiction

Is this a good time to be a new fiction fanatic? Is great fiction of all kinds being written by new authors? PW wants to know what you think. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pw asks #great fiction #good time


Recommended Reading: Science fiction's influence on hip-hop music

Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. The Subversive Science Fi... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recommended reading #science fiction #long-form writing


Bloomsbury buys ‘Pug’ young fiction series

Bloomsbury Children’s Books has acquired a three-book young fiction series about a pug dog from debut author Laura James. Ellen Holgate, editorial director at Bloomsbury Children’s Books, acquired world rights from Gill McLay at the Bath Literary Agency. The first book, Captain Pug, is about... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bloomsbury children #ellen holgate


Girl on the Train breaks Brown’s Original Fiction record

Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train (Doubleday) passed the 800,000 unit mark across all formats in the UK and Ireland last week as it became the first book since Nielsen BookScan records began to earn 20 Original Fiction number ones. Hawkins’ run of 20 non-consecutive numbers ones broke the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paula hawkins #dan brown


Trio of Literary Agencies Merge Into an Italian Super Agency

Three literary agencies in Italy — Marco Vigevani, the International Literary Agency, and Luigi Bernabo — merged to form The Italian Literary Agency. The post Trio of Literary Agencies Merge Into an Italian Super Agency appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary agencies


Abingdon Fiction Axed Amid Poor Book Sales

After a downturn in fiction sales, Abingdon is closing its fiction program and broadening its Christian Living line. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fiction sales


Loft Literary Center Names New Executive Director

The renowned literary center in downtown Minneapolis announced this morning that Britt Udesen will be its new executive director, succeeding Jocelyn Hale. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Second Mellon grant for Open Library of Humanities

Birkbeck, part of the University of London, has been awarded a grant of $741,000 (£476,372) to “cement and expand a new model for open-access publishing in the humanities disciplines”. The grant, from the Andrew W Mellon Foundation, will go towards the Open Library of Humanities (OLH) platform... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mellon grant #mellon foundation


Man Booker, Independent Foreign Fiction Prize Combine

In 2016, the new prize will transition to an annual award recognizing a work translated into English. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #man booker #work translated


Restless Books’ Publisher Searches for Cuban Science Fiction

As the USA and Cuba reestablish diplomatic relations, literary relations are also flourishing: Restless Books will release a series of Cuban sci-fi books. The post Restless Books’ Publisher Searches for Cuban Science Fiction appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #restless books #literary relations


Franklin defends trade non-fiction publishing

Profile m.d. Andrew Franklin has defended UK trade publishers against criticism that they are not producing good non-fiction books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #andrew franklin


Non-fiction publishing in the UK is in fine health, actually

Contrary to Sam Leith’s complaints last week, commercial publishers continue to take risks, and put out great and original workIn his article last week, Sam Leith deplored the state of mainstream trade publishing, saying it was “getting dumber by the day”, in contrast to the university presses... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sam leith #university presses #golden age #profile books


How do I become ... a literary agent

A keen business mind and real commitment to the publishing industry are vital for a job that is all about selling – shy and retiring types need not apply Gordon Wise has been a literary agent at Curtis Brown for 10 years, and has a wide range of clients, from celebrities like Miranda Hart to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #miranda hart #armistead maupin #winding path #barnes noble #small publishers


Robertson joins Viking non-fiction

Emily Robertson has been appointed as editor for non-fiction at Viking. Robertson, who was previously at Hodder, will be acquiring across narrative and illustrated non-fiction at the Penguin General imprint. She will report to Viking publisher Joel Rickett. Viking said Robertson would help... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #emily robertson #personal development