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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Meet the Champion of Debut Authors

If you are a debut author or a literary fiction and nonfiction stan, you’ve likely heard of Debutiful. Adam Vitcavage launched the podcast and website dedicated to highlighting the work of debut authors in January 2019. It has since become a beacon in the literary community, helping over 100,000... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-01-18 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital Book World 2023: The Future of AI Writing and Audio

According to multiple presenters at the Digital Book World conference, ChatGPT has potential to remake the way people write and streamline production and editing, while AI voice replication promises affordable audiobook adaptations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital Book World 2023: The Future of AI Writing and Audio

Manhattan on the rocks: A novel's dual homage to '90s New York and a legendary author

In his debut novel 'Vintage Contemporaries,' Dan Kois tracks two friends with big dreams in '90s New York and pays homage to late author Laurie Colwin. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-01-13 14:00:22 UTC ]
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8 Brilliant Dark Academia Books by Authors of Color

Want to read more dark and twisty stories with academic settings? Dive into 8 brilliant dark academia books written by authors of color! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-01-12 11:32:00 UTC ]
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Kelcey Ervick Brings an Athlete’s Discipline to Writing

In one of my favorite pages of The Keeper, Kelcey Ervick‘s graphic memoir about her time as a goalie in the early days of Title IX, Ervick is, at this point, no longer a teenage soccer player. Time has passed, and she’s now a wife and a mother trying to take herself seriously as a … The post... Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2023-01-11 11:00:04 UTC ]
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Authors Sue Alleged ‘Predatory’ Publisher Over Unpaid Royalties

Coordinated by the Authors Guild, the suit claims that Authors’ Place Press and its predecessor Motivational Press have failed to fulfill their contractual obligations and have refused to pay or properly account for royalties earned. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Jean Paré, Best-Selling ‘Everyday’ Cookbook Author, Dies at 95

With easy-to-follow recipes developed in her native Canada, she became one of the world’s top cookbook authors, publishing more than 30 million copies. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-01-09 20:19:55 UTC ]
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In his own write: Prince Harry’s ghostwriter is so famous that George Clooney made a film of his life

JR Moehringer, biographer to stars such as Andre Agassi and a doyen of the genre, was an obvious choice for the Duke of SussexWhen Prince Harry chose to work with ghostwriter JR Moehringer on his institution-shaking memoir, Spare, he was not taking half measures. The American writer and Pulitzer... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-07 18:42:05 UTC ]
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Why Travel Writing is a Form of Memoir and How Covid Has Changed How We See the World

Hosted by Andrew Keen, Keen On features conversations with some of the world’s leading thinkers and writers about the economic, political, and technological issues being discussed in the news, right now. In this episode, Andrew is joined by Pico Iyer, the author of The Half Known Life: In Search... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-01-06 09:52:43 UTC ]
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Why AI audiobook narrators could win over some authors and readers, despite the vocal bumps

Apple and Google’s AI turn in a booming market may sound less than human and raise the ire of voiceover actors, but it has cost benefits For the first few seconds, the narrator of Kristen Ethridge’s new romance audiobook, Shelter from the Storm, sounds like a human being. The voice is light and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-01-05 06:41:18 UTC ]
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A new indie bookstore named for Octavia Butler is opening in the author’s hometown.

Here’s a piece of good literary news to start the year: a new independent bookstore named after the legendary Octavia E. Butler is opening in Pasadena, California, where the late Sci-Fi icon was born and raised. I took the leap and quit my job to open my very own bookstore. Octavia’s Bookshelf... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-01-03 17:31:27 UTC ]
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Top-selling Canadian cookbook author Jean Paré dies in Edmonton at age 95

Jean Paré, a farm girl from a small village in rural Alberta, and who gained worldwide fame for her Company's Coming cookbook series, has died. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-12-27 15:54:46 UTC ]
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French comic book author Fabcaro to pen next Asterix

Author says he will remain faithful to the characters in 40th volume of series, due out next yearThe French comic book series Asterix will turn a new page for its forthcoming 40th volume, with a new writer chosen to pen next year’s instalment, the publisher has said.The French novelist and comic... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-20 08:21:03 UTC ]
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HC Union Update: Authors Co-Host Rally at Harper Headquarters; Agents 'Overwhelmingly' Support Strike

Authors including Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, R. F. Kuang, and Molly McGhee rally with HarperCollins union workers outside the company's headquarters on December 16. Meanwhile, nearly 80% of literary agents responding to a recent poll said they support the ongoing strike. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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New Releases from Popular Religion Authors

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Urges New York Governor to Sign Freelance Isn’t Free Act into Law

The bill is a crucial step to protect freelancers based in New York and hired by New York-based companies from wage theft, said Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger in a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Children’s Book Author Tomie dePaola and Activist Icon John Lewis on 2023 USPS Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service announced new subjects for 2023 stamps: children's book author Tomie dePaola and civil rights activist John Lewis. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-14 18:11:26 UTC ]
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The Hardest Part of Writing My Memoir Was Telling My Family About It

You should watch Euphoria, a friend told me while we were on a walk during our young daughters’ dance class. I wasn’t sure why she would suggest this. Particularly in the context of our conversation: I was confiding in her about the anxiety that felt like it had been boiling inside of me for... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2022-12-13 12:05:00 UTC ]
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