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 peculiar. Writing itself is a little peculiar.” Atwood’s survey of her profession makes this seem like an understatement: after all, she argues, writers have been placed in close company with the devil and the dead; they have secret identities and hidden doubles; they are death-defying magicians, self-erasing nobodies, even – if you want to get “murky and pretentious” – shamanistic travellers. This book prefers to stay on the side of clarity and self-deprecation, combining evidence drawn from her panoramic reading – one chapter deals with The Tempest, The Wizard of Oz and Klaus Mann’s Mephisto – with her own experiences of the life cycle of an author. She tempers the seriousness of her questions – What is a writer? For whom do writers write? – by poking gentle fun at her trade, describing the machine-like publishing industry as “cog eat cog”, and quietly mocking endless discussion panels. Yet Atwood sees her kind reflected everywhere – from Gilgamesh to The Beast With Five Fingers – and works hard on their behalf: advocate, analyst and always, writer.•To order On Writers and Writing for £7.99 (RRP £9.99) go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call 0330 333 6846. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

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

Other news stories related to: "On Writers and Writing review – Margaret Atwood on her profession"


‘Latinx in Publishing’ Launches in Hispanic Heritage Month

With a goal of supporting and promoting 'Latino/a/x' people and literature in the publishing industry, a new network of book professionals formalizes the group's activities. The post ‘Latinx in Publishing’ Launches in Hispanic Heritage Month appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


FutureBook Digital Census 2016 launches

The Bookseller has launched its annual tracker of the publishing industry's transformation, the FutureBook Digital Census. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Helping children succeed: how the publishing industry can engage reluctant readers

David Salariya, founder of The Salariya Book Company, gives tips on how publishers can engage reluctant readers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Online community provides safe space for women writers

A new hashtag, #women_writers, is providing a safe space for female writers to talk about their literary passions, careers and frustrations in response to sexism within the publishing industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


News Corp. Misses Estimates as Ad Sales Decline

News Corp., the Wall Street Journal and New York Post publisher controlled by billionaire Rupert Murdoch, reported fiscal fourth-quarter profit that missed analysts' estimates as a decline in ad sales outweighed an increase in digital revenue in its real estate business.Earnings, excluding some... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Fiona Carr Joins IPR License as Senior Sales Manager

With nearly twenty years experience in the publishing industry, Fiona Carr joins online rights platform IPR License as Senior Sales Manager. The post Fiona Carr Joins IPR License as Senior Sales Manager appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishing can help bridge North-South divide

There is "a lack of awareness within the publishing industry about the rest of the country”, New Writing North c.e.o Claire Malcolm has alleged, whilst making the business case for signing more writers from the north of England. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A shared ambition to bring forth more diverse voices

We'd like to build bridges between the writing development sector and the publishing industry, to address diversity and to build new readers for contemporary writing, writes Claire Malcolm of New Writing North. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishing needs freedom of movement, says PRH HR boss

Freedom of movement has undoubtedly helped the economic development of the UK and the publishing industry needs to work to "connect its demand for labour with the supply coming across the world". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Icelandic book trade gets a kick from Euro 2016

Iceland’s giant-killing football success in France has produced a surge of interest in the country’s literary outputIceland’s heroic performance in the Euro 2016 football tournament has had a surprising side-effect – a boost for the tiny Nordic country’s publishing industry. The head of the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


What next, after the 'Leave' win?

Literary and talent agent Diane Banks contemplates the next steps for the publishing industry following the UK's vote to leave the European Union. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Former PRH publicity director Higgins-Galsworthy joins Premier

Former Penguin Random House publicity director Natalie Higgins-Galsworthy has joined creative communications agency Premier to enhance its offering to the publishing industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


‘Draw That Roadmap to the World’: The Philippines’ Karina Bolasco

'Our publishing industry is complex and vibrant,' says publisher Karina Bolasco, who speaks on October 18 as The Philippines' analyst in Frankfurt Book Fair's The Markets: Global Publishing Summit. The post ‘Draw That Roadmap to the World’: The Philippines’ Karina Bolasco appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-06-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Keep calm and expect change

Philip Jones reacts to the result of the EU referendum and considers its impact on the publishing industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Publishing 3.0: The Atomization of the Publishing Industry

[Sponsored] Four steps toward harnessing the power of audience data for success. The post Publishing 3.0: The Atomization of the Publishing Industry appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Aussie Booksellers Join Fight Against U.S./U.K. Book Imports

The Australian Booksellers Association has joined with other members of the country's publishing industry to protest a government proposal to allow booksellers to import U.S. and U.K. books without restrictions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Tim Berners-Lee on the Future of Book Publishing

How might Web technology change the publishing industry? Ask the inventor of the World Wide Web. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


At BEA: Poland’s Publishing Industry Is the Market Focus in Chicago

Opportunities and challenges in Poland's publishing market are under discussion this week at BookExpo America, in the wake of a decision against fixed pricing there. The post At BEA: Poland’s Publishing Industry Is the Market Focus in Chicago appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Supreme Court Rejects Google Books Appeal

The decision ends one of the publishing industry's defining legal dramas of the digital age. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Follett Corp. Buys Baker & Taylor

In a major development in the publishing industry's wholesaling segment, Follett Corp. has acquired Baker & Taylor for an undisclosed price. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this