Struggling as an author? Stop writing only what you want to write

Earning a living as a writer is as likely as winning the lottery. Instead of writing books and persuading others to buy them, find out what people want to write, then do it for themPhilip Pullman: professional writers set to become ‘an endangered species’ due to low wagesI left school with a burning urge to lead the life of a writer: travelling like Byron, feted like Wilde before his fall, creating laughter like Wodehouse and crafting sentences like Nabokov. I had no professional contacts, so I wrote my masterpieces speculatively, and every path I went down ended with a rejection slip or total silence. The perceived wisdom then, as now, was that earning a living as a writer was about as likely as winning a lottery.Then I discovered the secret of marketing: instead of writing things and trying to persuade people to buy them, I would find out what writing services people needed and offer to provide them. So, at the same time as begging publishers and editors for commissions, I made myself available to anyone who might want to write an article or a book but did not feel able to do it for themselves. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #rejection slip

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Struggling as an author? Stop writing only what you want to write'


Judge Will Toss Part of Authors’ AI Copyright Lawsuit

A federal judge said he will dismiss part of a lawsuit filed by a group of authors including comedian Sarah Silverman that claims Meta’s Llama AI application infringes their copyrights. However, a core claim of the suit—that Meta’s use of unauthorized copies to train its AI model is... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #federal judge #lawsuit filed #unauthorized copies


John le Carré’s son to write new George Smiley novel

Nicholas Cornwell will return his father’s best-loved spy to the page in a new novel set between The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier SpyFans of thriller writer David Cornwell – better known by his pen name John le Carré – may have thought they had seen the last of... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-11-10 14:00:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #george smiley #author died #nick harkaway #le carr #penguin random house


Jenna Bush Hager and Her Sister Barbara Discuss Writing Their New Book

The twin sisters Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Pierce Bush published their third picture book this week. They sat down to discuss fighting, writing and chosen family. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-11-09 10:02:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture book


Stephanie Land on the Routine That Helped Her Write Her New Book in a Month

Stephanie Land’s new book, Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education, is out today, so we asked her a few questions about her routine, writing advice, and how she deals with writers block. Who do you most wish would read your book? Anyone who has authority over a person who... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-07 09:50:56 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephanie land #higher education #writing advice #writers block #memoir


Writing Discipline Envy: Tracy K. Smith Wakes Early and Meditates

Tracy K. Smith’s To Free the Captives: A Plea for the American Soul is available tomorrow, so we asked her a few questions about her readers, when she writes, and her favorite book to recommend to others. * Who do you most wish would read your book? People who are weary of the limits of […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-06 09:56:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #favorite book


Amazon Sues Scammers Targeting Authors

Amazon sues some 20 websites falsely claiming an affiliation with Amazon that are designed to lure authors into paying fees to publish. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


UK: London Book Fair Names Its 2024 ‘Authors of the Day’

London Book Fair names the four author and illustrator talents chosen to be highlighted in in March at the UK's leading trade show. The post UK: London Book Fair Names Its 2024 ‘Authors of the Day’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-10-30 14:04:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post uk #london book fair


'Goosebumps' Author R.L. Stine Reveals His Favorite Scary Books

Celebrate Halloween with these horror-filled reads from the iconic children's book author and learn what Stine's been up to lately. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2023-10-27 20:00:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book author #children's book


Stop Doomscrolling About Israel and Palestine—Read These Books Instead

The Atlantic’s books editor prescribes these titles as antidotes to the quick and dirty ways people are communicating on social media. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2023-10-27 15:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books editor


A Quiet Author’s Written Rebellion: An Interview with Ananda Devi, by Dinah Assouline Stillman

A Quiet Author’s Written Rebellion: An Interview with Ananda Devi, by Dinah Assouline Stillman Interviews [email protected] Wed, 10/25/2023 - 09:46 Photo by Harrikrisna AnendenAnanda Devi is a noted francophone poet, writer, ethnologist,... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2023-10-25 14:46:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sexual encounter #first novel #short stories


To Write Her Debut Novel, Molly McGhee Had to Leave Publishing

On March 11, 2022, Molly McGhee shared a resignation letter on Twitter. She was quitting her job as an assistant editor at Tor, despite the fact that her first acquisition, The Atlas Six, had debuted at number three on the New York Times Bestseller List. She cited “systemwide prejudice against... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-10-20 11:03:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #assistant editor #electric literature #times bestseller


Lauren Groff on Writing Her Own Robinson Crusoe

Books & Books recently had the pleasure of hosting three-time National Book Award finalist and best-selling author Lauren Groff, presenting her new novel, The Vaster Wilds. The New York Times calls it “a lonely novel of hunger and survival.” The brilliant Groff reads from her adventure novel... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-20 08:11:49 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lauren groff #robinson crusoe #vaster wilds #answers questions #best-selling author #national book award


Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books Open Submissions for the 2024 Creative Writing Awards

The awards partnership between Penguin Random House and We Need Diverse Books will award $60,000 in scholarships. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-18 18:22:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #diverse books #penguin random house #random house


Tiffany D. Jackson is Writing a YA Novel About the Marvel Superhero Storm

Tiffany D. Jackson's newest book is YA novel about the Marvel superhero Storm, titled Storm: Dawn of a Goddess. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-17 15:40:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #newest book #ya novel


More than 600 sign open letter decrying cancellation of German event for Palestinian author

After an award ceremony for a Palestinian author at the Frankfurt Book Fair was canceled, more than 600 literary figures have signed an open letter denouncing the decision. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-16 09:00:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #palestinian author #award ceremony #frankfurt book fair


Write Who You Love: J. Ryan Stradal on Memorializing His Mother Through Fiction

Since my first novel was published, at almost every interview and live event, I get asked a version of the same question. Usually people seem just curious, but occasionally there are notes of hostility or amazement. They want to know why, and often how, I write my female protagonists. The answer... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-16 08:50:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #live event #female protagonists #first novel


Palestinian voices ‘shut down’ at Frankfurt Book Fair, say authors

Open letter rebukes LitProm decision to cancel award ceremony for Adania Shibli due to ‘war started by Hamas’Israel-Hamas war: latest news and live updatesSeveral prominent authors and publishers from around the world have accused the Frankfurt Book Fair of “shutting down” Palestinian voices,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-10-15 18:11:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #arab world #israel-hamas war #latest news #palestinian author #annual prize #female writers #latin america #frankfurt book fair


Frankfurt Book Fair Cancels Award Ceremony for Palestinian Author

Organizers cited the Israel-Hamas war as the reason for stepping back from honoring a novel about the 1949 murder of a Palestinian girl by Israeli soldiers. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-10-13 17:01:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #palestinian author #israel-hamas war #stepping back #book fair


Authors join call for Baillie Gifford to divest from fossil fuel

More than 150 writers and industry professionals are asking the firm, which is a leading sponsor of UK literary festivals, to drop their investmentsMore than 150 authors and books industry professionals including Naomi Klein, Robert Macfarlane, Emma Dabiri and Geoff Dyer have signed a statement... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-10-13 11:35:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #statement calling #baillie gifford #industry professionals #robert macfarlane #geoff dyer #open letter #fossil fuels #sponsorship deal #literary festival


How L.A. libraries are supporting the next generation of Latino authors

Latino authors across Los Angeles are taking advantage of the resources offered by local libraries to jump-start their careers. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-11 16:59:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #local libraries #taking advantage #libraries