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 ]
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Spotify’s new audiobook streaming could have ‘devastating effect’, says Society of Authors

The industry body says the music giant’s move to make more than 150,000 titles available has not been discussed with authors and may compete with salesThe Society of Authors (SoA) has said it is “deeply concerned” about Spotify’s new audiobook provision. The industry body cited “the devastating... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-10-11 15:40:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors soa #music streaming #audiobook streaming #devastating effect #industry body #deeply concerned #audiobook


Salman Rushdie to Write Memoir About Stabbing Attack

Rushdie, who was grievously injured onstage last year, said the forthcoming book was a way “to answer violence with art.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-10-11 14:10:29 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #salman rushdie #answer violence #memoir


How to Write a Memoir While Dying

Writers are often advised to write as if we are dying. Awake to our mortality, the theory goes, we will write with urgency and acuity about what matters. We will write honestly, vulnerably, bravely without fear of judgement. We will write for the pure readers: ourselves and our loved ones. We... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-10-11 08:50:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #memoir


16 New Books by Indigenous Authors You Should Be Reading

Encompassing a wide range of genres from historical fiction to fantasy to poetry to investigative journalism to memoir, this exciting abundance of books published in 2023 by emerging and acclaimed Native writers speak to the rich diversity of the Indigenous experience. From meditations on the... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-10-09 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading appeared #indigenous authors #wide range #investigative journalism #lasting impact #climate change #electric literature #historical fiction


IngramSpark: A Decade of Amplifying Indie Authors and Publishers

For ten years, IngramSpark has been at the forefront of the rapidly changing self-publishing landscape. Now they’re looking ahead to the next 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Pratchett power: from lost stories to new adaptations, how the late Discworld author lives on

It’s 40 years since The Colour of Magic hit the shelves. As newly unearthed short stories are published, fans and friends celebrate the late author’s enduring legacy“Of all the dead authors in the world, Terry Pratchett is the most alive,” said John Lloyd at the author’s memorial in 2015. This... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-10-07 10:00:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #good omens #neil gaiman #graphic novel #short stories


Bestselling author Naomi Wood wins 2023 BBC national short story award

The UEA creative writing lecturer won for Comorbidities, which judging chair Reeta Chakrabarti called a ‘sparkling gem’ that tackles serious issues with a ‘light and wry touch’• Read the story belowNaomi Wood has won the 2023 BBC national short story award for Comorbidities, a story about a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-26 19:00:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #judging chair #bestselling author


Leading Christian Authors Look to Little Readers

Christian-living megaselling authors, renowned Bible scholars, Christian fiction stars, and more are eager to open the doors to faith for little ones with new books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon restricts authors from self-publishing more than three books a day after AI concerns

The company announced the new limitations after an influx of suspected AI-generated material was listed for sale but said that ‘very few’ publishers will be affectedAmazon has created a new rule limiting the number of books that authors can self-publish on its site to three a day, after an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-20 16:22:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #company announced #recent months #kindle #self-publish


Sharjah Book Authority Announces its 2023 Publishers Conference

The three-day Publishers Conference professional program this year runs October 29 to 31, just ahead of Sharjah International Book Fair. The post Sharjah Book Authority Announces its 2023 Publishers Conference appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-09-18 17:22:40 UTC ]
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'Big Bang of Numbers' – The Conversation's book club explores how math alone could create the universe with author Manil Suri

A book-length thought experiment uses math to investigate some of life’s big questions. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2023-09-18 12:19:43 UTC ]
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TikTok Cookbook Authors

A growing number of video stars are using their online clout to break into the publishing world. And they’re changing the shape of the American cookbook. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-09-18 09:01:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #growing number #video stars #publishing world #cookbook


These drag performers say protests, threats won't stop them from reading to kids at storytime events

Drag performers who read stories to children at libraries across Canada have faced an increase in protests calling the events destructive for kids, and in some cases, even threats of violence. But the king and queens say they won't let that stop them, because storytimes are about joy and literacy. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-09-16 08:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read stories #libraries


More Authors, Including Michael Chabon, Sue AI Developers Over Copyright

The claims in the new suits are nearly identical to claims in two previous author class actions filed over the summer by writers, alleging the companies used unauthorized copies of their books to train their AI models. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #unauthorized copies


How Does a Best-Selling Author Name Her Characters?

Lisa Jewell puts a great deal of thought into the monikers she chooses for the people who populate her books. Here are her rules of thumb. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-09-07 09:02:29 UTC ]
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Claire Keegan: ‘I can’t explain my work. I just write stories’

The much-acclaimed Irish author of Small Things Like These on her quietly devastating new story and why George Saunders wouldn’t read it aloud for a podcastClaire Keegan’s five books to date run to just 700 pages and some 140,000 words. “I love to see prose being written economically,” she tells... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-02 17:00:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #decade ago #creative writing #things happen #devastating effect #stay quiet #irish author


Sarah Young, ‘Jesus Calling’ Author, Dies at 77

Bestselling author Sarah Young, whose 2004 title 'Jesus Calling' is one of the most successful devotionals of all time, died on September 1. She was 77. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sarah young #jesus calling #successful devotionals #bestselling author


Society of Authors calls use of bad reviews for book blurbs ‘morally questionable’

After several critics complained of being quoted out of context on the covers of Jordan Peterson’s new book, the industry body has spoken out against the practiceThe Society of Authors (SoA) has spoken out against publishers misrepresenting negative reviews on book covers and the UK publisher... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-01 06:02:22 UTC ]
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‘Jesus Calling’ Author Sarah Young’s Health is ‘Rapidly Failing’

Sarah Young, author of ‘Jesus Calling—’one of the most successful devotionals of all time—is experiencing a health crisis, as confirmed by her publisher, Thomas Nelson. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adelaide Books Continues to Ignore Author Complaints

Earlier this year, Adelaide Books owner Stevan Nikolic promised the Authors Guild he would act to fix numerous complaints lodged against his company. That promise has mostly gone unfulfilled. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-08-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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