Helena Coggan is only 15, and yet her debut novel has all the assurance of a writer in mid-stride. If young writers can overcome the stare of the blank page – and take care with characterisation – they can stand as an inspiration to allHelena Coggan’s debut, The Catalyst, is an accomplished first novel: a fantasy-dystopia featuring strong characterisation and sophisticated world-building. The plot might be somewhat event-saturated, especially towards the end, but to me, the book has the assurance of a writer in mid-stride, rather than the occasional fumbles and missteps of a first attempt. This would be unusual in most debut novels; in a 15-year-old’s, it’s nearly unparalleled.This is not to say that teenagers can’t or shouldn’t write. Young writers can be both prolific and self-critical – and story-sharing sites such as Wattpad and Movellas make it easy to invite outside scrutiny. Many teenagers start out wearing fan-fiction water-wings, before plunging into the creation of characters and settings from scratch. But few of even the most popular teen authors are ready to make the leap into the exposed format of the traditionally published book. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2015-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
Ah, 35, that mystical line between emerging writers and… old ones. Though I move ever further in the wrong direction from said line I am nonetheless happy to celebrate this latest crop of “young” writers, announced today by the National Book Foundation, as they contemplate the imminence of their... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2024-03-19 14:46:03 UTC ]
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An April report by the UK-based publishing site, The Bookseller, showed that more than half of the debut authors they surveyed said the experience of publishing a book adversely affected their mental health. Further reporting from The Guardian reveals that (some) publishers have quickly... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2023-07-19 19:03:31 UTC ]
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‘The issue was the first of its kind. Trust me, it said. I know what I am talking about. These young writers are the future of literature. Watch. History will prove me right.’ A history of the list, with reflections from Bill Buford and other editors. The post <em>Granta</em>’s... Continue reading at Granta
[ Granta | 2023-03-21 19:02:26 UTC ]
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Unpublished authors in their 60s, 70s and 80s are now at a premium in the book world – with radical, edgy women in high demandThe literary world is often accused of an obsession with youth, from multiple awards targeted at authors under 40 to publishers who hunt for new voices exclusively among... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-02-25 07:00:46 UTC ]
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The following first appeared in Lit Hub’s Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. * While writing my first novel, I was hungry for advice, like many young writers, and soaked up tenets like write every day or wake up before work to go to your desk or hit 1000 words every session. But these... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-12 09:55:05 UTC ]
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In her series of columns Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, debut author of Yinka, Where is Your Huzband? (Viking), reveals all about the reality behind the dream of being published. I’m staring at the blinking cursor at the top of the blank page. Sooo much has happened since my last column. Gosh,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-30 02:26:29 UTC ]
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As it is award season, I wanted to write a piece about celebrating your wins and being proud of yourself – but every time I sat down to do so I ended up deleting what I had written and staring at a blank page. Imposter syndrome can strike at any point, and it’s effects can be crippling.... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-22 11:56:04 UTC ]
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Nobel Prize-winning author Sir Kazuo Ishiguro has revealed concerns that young writers are “self-censoring” to avoid an “anonymous lynch mob that turns up online and makes their lives a misery”. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-01 15:01:44 UTC ]
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Wattpad has increasingly become a very popular platform among young writers. Allowing anyone to share their works and providing a route for aspiring authors to be discovered by the publishing industry, it has become a compelling route for those to looking to develop professionally as a writer... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-24 03:00:18 UTC ]
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In post 11/8 America, the citizenry became more aware, more active, more willing to submit themselves to self-examination. Yet while the world of journals both print (Freeman’s), and online (Guernica, Lit Hub, Electric Literature), have increased their commitment to the exploration of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-16 08:49:50 UTC ]
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Here is the shortlist for this year’s Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize. In its fifteenth year, the Dylan Thomas Prize is one of the UK’s most prestigious literary awards, as well as the largest literary prize for young writers (that means age 39 and under). Congratulations to the finalists!... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-07 13:39:50 UTC ]
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Daniel A. Gross writes about what happened after he was offered ten thousand dollars as part of a new—and secretive—award for young writers. Continue reading at New Yorker
[ New Yorker | 2019-06-16 09:00:00 UTC ]
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You don’t have to completely trust that you’re up to snuff. You just need to trust people who believe that you are. A couple years ago, my mentor and friend Stephen Key asked if I’d be interested in writing for Entrepreneur, the online magazine he’d been contributing to for years. “They’re... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2017-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two Faber & Faber releases are among the expanded shortlist announced this weekend (October 29) for the Irish and UK author 35 or younger. The post The Sunday Times Prize Jury Names Five Young Writers to Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Capturing one of the richest purses for young writers, Australian Fiona McFarlane wins the Dylan Thomas for work called 'stunning' and 'unforgettable.' The post Australian Fiona McFarlane’s ‘The High Places’ Wins Wales’ Dylan Thomas Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As Nikesh Shukla crowdfunds for a new essay collection, he talks about why young writers need to be given a platform. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The University of East London is launching a new literary fiction prize for young adults, the CityLife Prize for Fiction for Young Writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PEN International has released the longlist for its 2016 New Voices Award for young writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Past winners of the The Sunday Times/Peters Fraser & Dunlop Young Writers of the Year Award share their writing tips and their favourite books written by writers aged 35 and under. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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