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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Mindy Kaling will reportedly write follow-up to her bestselling book 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?'

During a panel at Austin's South by Southwest conference, Kaling said she is writing another book. Kaling's show 'The Mindy Project' was recently renewed for a third season. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Characters struggle for sleep in new literary works

Both acclaimed author Karen Russell's new novella 'Sleep Donation' and debut author Kenneth Calhoun's novel 'Black Moon' take place in a future world where sleep problems abound. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air March 7, 2014: Jenni Pulos and Lisa Bloom

Jenni Pulos, author of "Grin and Bear It: How to be Happy No Matter What Reality Throws Your Way" (St. Martin's, 9781250028198), will appear on the "Today Show" on Monday, March 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jenni pulos #lisa bloom #today show


Libraries, Authors and Publishers Head to SXSW 2014

SXSW Interactive (March 7-11), the annual tech festival, opens today in Austin, Tex. and expect to see a wide range of publishers and publishing-related events. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers head #opens today #wide range #publishing-related events


Authors on the Air March 6, 2014: Pat Williams

Pat Williams, author of "The Mission is Remission: Hope For Battling Cancer" (HCI, 9780757317828), will appear on "CBS This Morning" on Friday, March 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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VIDEO: Cherub author begins a Rock War

A decade after beginning his successful Cherub series, best-selling children's author, Robert Muchamore, publishes his new book, Rock War. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling children #robert muchamore


London Author Fair’s Debut: Change Agents

Porter Anderson reports on the inaugural London Author Fair conference in Covent Garden and looking at the role agents might play for self-publishers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #covent garden


Authors on the Air March 4, 2014: Jaron Lanier

Jaron Lanier, author of "Who Own the Future" (Simon & Schuster, 9781451654974), will appear on the "Colbert Report" on Tuesday, March 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jaron lanier #simon schuster #colbert report


German Author Christoph Hein Honors US Publisher Sara Bershtel

In this speech, German author Christoph Hein examines the importance of literature and honors Metropolitan Books' publisher Sara Bershtel for her work in bringing German literature to the USA. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air February 25, 2014: Lisa Bloom

Lisa Bloom, author of "Suspicion Nation: The Inside Story of the Trayvon Martin Injustice and Why We Continue to Repeat It" (Counterpoint, 9781619023277), will appear on the "Today Show" and the "Leonard Lopate Show" on Wednesday, February 26. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lisa bloom #suspicion nation #inside story #today show


Should More Top Authors Give Back to Indie Bookstores?

Love him or hate him, you can't fault James Patterson for his generosity, as he's giving some $1 million of his money back to independent bookstores. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air February 24, 2014: Mayim Bialik

Mayim Bialik, author of "Mayim’s Vegan Table" (Da Capo Lifelong, 9780738217048) will appear on the "Wendy Williams Show" on Tuesday, February 25. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The Martian': Author Andy Weir discusses his new sci-fi novel

Weir's debut novel is experiencing good sales and is receiving praise for the scientific detail involved in his tale of an astronaut stranded on Mars. The author says he was inspired by the movie 'Apollo 13,' where it's 'man versus nature... it's all of us against the physical world.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hugh Howey and The Indie Author Revolt

With a debate brewing about how much indie authors can, and do, earn, PW asked Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, to weigh in. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA Adds Programming for Indie Authors

BookExpo America is expanding its offering for indie authors, introducing Author Hub. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air February 20, 2014: General Stanley McChrystal

General Stanley McChrystal, author of "My Share of the Task: A Memoir" (Portfolio Trade, 9781591846826), will appear on the "Colbert Report" on Thursday, February 20. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lynda La Plante writing Prime Suspect prequel

Writer to adapt her new novel, called Tennison, for TV in 2016, the 25th anniversary of the hit ITV drama starring Helen MirrenLynda La Plante is writing a prequel to Prime Suspect which she will adapt for TV in 2016, the 25th anniversary of the hit ITV drama.The prequel will be called Tennison,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air February 18, 2014: Su Meck

Su Meck, author of "I Forgot to Remember: A Memoir of Amnesia" (Simon & Schuster, 9781451685817), will appear on the "Diane Rehm Show" on Wednesday, February 19. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster


Nicolson to write on daughterhood for Chatto

Chatto & Windus is to publish a memoir about daughterhood by social historian Juliet Nicolson... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air February 13, 2014: Andy Weir

Andy Weir, author of "The Martian" (Crown, 9780804139021), will appear on NPR's "Science Friday" on Friday, February 14. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #science friday #andy weir