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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Dan Brown on the Writing Life as a Global Megaseller

What's it like to sell over 200 million books worldwide? Dan Brown speaks with Publishing Perspectives about his writing life in the wake of enormous success. The post Dan Brown on the Writing Life as a Global Megaseller appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ALLi unveils 'ethical author' code

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has unveiled its Ethical Author code, which includes guidance on how self-published writers should conduct themselves when it comes to reviews, book promotion and more. Ethical Author... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published writers #book promotion


Authors on the Air November 14, 2014: James Gustave Speth, Daniel P. Bolger

James Gustave Speth, author of 'Angels by the River' (Chelsea Green Publishing, 9781603585859), will appear on NPR’s 'Science Friday' on Friday, November 14. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Author Of "Go The F*ck To Sleep" Tackles New Subject: Kids Who Won't F*cking Eat

In a delightfully profane interview, Adam Mansbach reveals his secrets for keeping your creative edge after a huge hit.In 2011, a children's book parody took the Internet and bookshelves on a glorious joyride of profanity, driven by a nation of parents pulling their collective hair out over... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-11-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #difficult bedtimes #werner herzog #*ck


Publishers Respond to Death of Minister-Author Myles Munroe

The plane crash death of Myles Munroe, prominent minister and prolific author, has saddened his publishers and readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors welcome 'reprieve' for Liverpool libraries

Community groups are set to take over the running of at least seven of the 11 libraries earmarked for closure in Liverpool. Campaigners who have fought to keep the libraries open – including authors Cathy Cassidy and Alan Gibbons – have welcomed the news, but urged that more details on the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #liverpool libraries #libraries open #community groups #alan gibbons


Authors on the Air November 10, 2014: Margarita Carrillo Arron

Margarita Carrillo Arron, author of 'Mexico: The Cookbook' (Phaidon, 9780714867526), will appear on NPR's 'Morning Edition' on Monday, November 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air November 7, 2014: Kim Zetter

Kim Zetter, author of 'Countdown to Zero Day' (Crown, 9780770436179) will appear on 'Marketplace' on Monday, November 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air November 6, 2014: Lara Jo Regan

Lara Jo Regan, author of 'Dogs in Cars' (Countryman Press, 9781581572797) will appear on NBC’s 'Today' on Friday, November 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four Questions for...Author Escort Isabel Keating

Author escort Isabel Keating leaves a legacy as she retires after 35 years of accompanying around the Twin Cities authors on tour. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Livres Hebdo stops measuring online sales

French trade publication Livres Hebdo has scrapped its monthly distance print book sales barometer, which measured online and mail order sales, as an indirect result of Amazon’s refusal to provide any of its data to market research agencies.   This refusal prompted Fnac, the largest cultural... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air November 4, 2014: Eric Lichtblau

Eric Lichtblau, author of 'The Nazis Next Door: How America Became a Safe Haven for Hitler’s Men' (HMH, 9780547669199) will appear on NPR’s 'Fresh Air' on Wednesday, November 5. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Not all authors are bitter about Amazon | @guardianletters

Andrew Wylies attack on Amazon (Top literary agent likens Amazons brutal tactics to Isis, 31 October) portrays an opinion of the company that is directly contrary to my experience as an author.My specialist non-fiction book (Dentist on the Ward: An introduction to the General Hospital for Core... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Are Your Writing Habits?

How do successful authors keep their writing on track? Twenty-three client authors of the The Andrew Lownie Literary Agency outline their writing habits. The post What Are Your Writing Habits? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air November 3, 2014: Simon Rich

Simon Rich, author of 'Spoiled Brats' (Little, Brown, 9780316368629), will appear on WNYC’s 'Leonard Lopate Show' on Monday, November 3, and NBC’s 'Late Night with Seth Meyers' on Tuesday, November 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air October 31, 2014: Michael Connelly, Aasif Mandvi

Michael Connelly, author of 'The Burning Room' (Little, Brown and Company, 9780316225939) will appear on 'CBS This Morning' on Monday, November 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fault in Our Stars author backs literature diversity campaign

We need to reflect the reality of our communities, says The Fault in Our Stars writer John Green in video backing social media-led We Need Diverse Books campaignAll readers need to know that they too can be the heroes of a story, according to the bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john green #diverse books #bestselling author #increase diversity #childrens books


Authors on the Air October 30, 2014: Philippe de Montebello and Martin Gayford

Philippe de Montebello and Martin Gayford, authors of 'Rendez-vous with Art' (Thames & Hudson, 9780500239247), will appear on 'Charlie Rose' on Thursday, October 30. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Death of publisher and author Raleigh Trevelyan

Tributes have been paid to author and former publisher Raleigh Trevelyan, who has died aged 91. Trevelyan, who passed away on October 23rd in Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, worked at Jonathan Cape and Michael Joseph, and also wrote a number of books for Faber, including a wartime memoir and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air October 29, 2014: Chris Baty

Chris Baty, author of 'No Plot? No Problem: A Low-stress, High-velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days' (Chronicle Books, 9781452124773) will appear on KERA-FM's 'Think' radio show Wednesday, October 29. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chronicle books