The Cif community challenges its writers – and can change their minds | Seth Freedman

Georgina Henry's kind but firm encouragement to go below the line on my pieces has transformed my life as well as my idealsFor a wide-eyed, wannabe writer, being cast into the Cif lions' den induced fear and pride in equal measure. The chance to contribute to such a paradigm-shifting project was one any budding journalist would jump at, but at the same time there was no hiding from the army of commenters ready to tear each and every article to shreds in the threads below. And since I was writing about the most incendiary topic under the Cif sun, the venom and vitriol would start flying from the minute the publish button was pressed on each of my pieces.Despite alarmingly inauspicious beginnings – ending my debut BTL comment with a sneering "Whatever mate – I write, you read …" – it soon became apparent that the Cif process was a two-way street. The site's original editor, Georgina Henry, encouraged me to participate in the threads from day one, telling me firmly but kindly that venturing below the line was "more than good form – they expect it". To her and her burgeoning ranks of readers and commenters, writers' jobs had only just begun when their pieces were put up on the site; the real work took place in the lengthy and vociferous threads that followed.No sooner had I started joining in the debate I found – like so many others – that I just couldn't stop. The addictive nature of the Cif beast meant I always wanted to respond, forever craved the last word, couldn't help... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #earliest days #crude prototype

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Cif community challenges its writers – and can change their minds | Seth Freedman'


James Agee's legacy changes with discovery of new text

The literary community has long believed that Agee's work 'Let Us Now Praise Famous Men' was rejected by Fortune magazine for its cryptic narrative, but a newly discovered typescript indicates that may not be the case. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary community #long believed #fortune magazine


Community Starts at the Homepage: A Cure for the Common Comment

Commenting has been a featured element on content-focused websites for several years now. Yet, many publishers are burying the comment feed at the bottom of a page, hoping it won’t distract readers away from the headlined stories. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hodder steps up online communities

Hodder is stepping up its online consumer engagement programme. Three new community hubs are... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online communities #community hubs


Lampard pushes Summer Reading Challenge

England footballer Frank Lampard has become a champion of The Reading  Agency’s Summer... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reading agency


Interactive book to 'open' kids' minds

An interactive children's book to help kids think outside the box is the May showcase winner of data competition Mix & Mash. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #interactive children


Distribution: Midpoint and Changing Lives Press Agree

Midpoint Trade Books has signed a distribution deal with Changing Lives Press, a New York-based publisher of self-help titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #distribution deal


Amazon's Kindle Worlds will allow writers to sell fan fiction

The digital publishing platform will let fans write, publish, and sell the stories they've written based on popular books, TV shows, and more. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kindle worlds #popular books #tv shows


Pearson makes "significant changes" to structure

Pearson has revealed “significant changes” to its organisational structure and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #organisational structure


ACE: Libraries should be 'hub' of communities

Arts Council England’s Envisioning the Library of the Future project has concluded that... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #future project


Amazon launches Kindle Worlds publishing platform for fan fiction, will pay royalties to writers and rights holders

Amazon's taken a number of steps to bring different types of content to the Kindle Store, and it's now venturing into an area that has a long history with the internet: fan fiction. The company's today announced Kindle Worlds, a new publishing platform that promises to pay writers royalties for... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #warner bros #alloy entertainment #gossip girl #vampire diaries #finer details #press release #kindle worlds


'Wonderful' shortlists for Food Writers awards

The Guild of Food Writers Awards shortlists include a “wonderful diversity of subject... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wonderful diversity


Big Data and MOOCs Herald Change for Academic Publishers

This year's US Innovations Seminar of the International Association of STM Publishers focused on the impact of data mining, MOOCs and new author/researcher tools. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big data #academic publishers #data mining


Book Marketing Q&A: Wiley’s Jeanenne Ray on Building Reader Communities

Jeanenne Ray, Senior Marketing Manager at Wiley, will speak at the Reaching Readers conference about how publishers can build strong readers communities. Here is a sneak preview of her talk. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sneak preview


O’Reilly Announces Closure of Tools of Change Conference and Blog

O'Reilly Media will close down its popular digital publishing conference, Tools of Change, but Tim O'Reilly promises to continue innovating the publishing process. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #change conference #reilly media #continue innovating #publishing process


Writer Colvin on Orwell shortlist

Journalist killed in Syria is shortlisted for Orwell Book Prize, which celebrates political writing. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2013-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orwell shortlist


Publishers' online communities to double

Publisher–generated online communities, such as HarperCollins’ InkPop, Gollancz... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online communities


10 most challenged books list for 2012 includes some newcomers

The most-challenged book series of 2012 was the 'Captain Underpants' books by Dav Pilkey. Former list-toppers 'ttyl' and 'The Hunger Games' are missing from the list entirely. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-04-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #captain underpants #dav pilkey #hunger games


Unpublished writer wins Historical Novel Society award, heads to LBF

A previously unpublished writer has won the inaugural Historical Novel Society International... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Online translation tools changing lives

You might use Google Translate to read a hard-to-find Manga comic book or to decipher an obscure recipe for authentic Polish blintzes. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Ten Ways Self-Publishing Has Changed Everything

At The Guardian, Alison Baverstock, author of the guide to self-publishing, The Naked Author, listed the ways in which self-publishing has changed the world. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |