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 ]
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Chopra book to Amazon in "game-changing" deal

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 07/11/2011 - 08:45 Amazon has acquired a memoir by bestselling author Dr Deepak Chopra and his brother Dr Sanjiv Chopra. Amazon's Larry Kirshbaum and David Oldawer at Amazon's New York publishing imprint bought world English rights for... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NEA Studies Writers Statistics

Writers and authors are better educated and earn more on average than the rest of the U.S. workforce, according to a study by the National Endowment for the Arts, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The study, “Artists and Art Workers in the United... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Foyles to close One New Change today

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 02/11/2011 - 14:06 Foyles has brought the closure of its One New Change branch forward by five months, announcing its last day of trade as today (2nd November). The mini-chain originally announced last month it would shut down in April next year... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PA conference to study changing international markets

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 27/10/2011 - 09:00 The Publishers Association's international conference will focus on issues such as export sales and the growth of the English language, with speakers to include Barnes and Noble vice-president of digital content Theresa... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Cuts Publishers Out of the Mix, Makes Deals With Writers

Releasing a book on one of the world’s largest publishing marketplaces could help your company. Here's a quick guide to the basics of self-publishing. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Commonwealth Writers Prizes relaunch

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Wed, 19/10/2011 - 16:37 The Commonwealth Writers prizes have relaunched today (19th October) with a new community website aimed at “connecting and inspiring new authors”. The new site is a free-to-join forum for aspiring writers to get advice from... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Another Editorial Shift Change For SPIN Media

SPIN Media announced three new changes to its editorial staff: Caryn Ganz as online editor-in-chief, Christopher R. Weingarten as senior editor and David Bevan as associate editor. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Foyles to close One New Change store

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Wed, 05/10/2011 - 09:00 Foyles will close its One New Change branch when its lease expires in April 2012 to "free up resources" for its forthcoming Stratford branch and recently opened Bristol shop. The booksellers at Foyles One New Change will be... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Another Rodale Exec’s Exit Points to Changes at Publisher

Gregg Michaelson, the integrated marketing president and chief marketing office with Rodale, has left the company. Michaelson was with the publisher since 2001, beginning his tenure with Rodale’s book division. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Campaigners question IOW council's 'community libraries'

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Mon, 26/09/2011 - 15:12 The Isle of Wight council has said five libraries originally scheduled for closure last June will become "community libraries" and will not be closed. But campaigners have branded plans to hand the libraries over to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BISG discusses WBN US and digital changes

Written By: Gayle Feldman Publication Date: Wed, 21/09/2011 - 09:16 The debut of World Book Night US, coinciding with the UK’s second go-round on 23rd April 2012, was introduced in a keynote at the Book Industry Study Group a.g.m. in New York. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BISG discuss WBN US and digital changes

Written By: Gayle Feldman Publication Date: Wed, 21/09/2011 - 09:16 The debut of World Book Night U.S., coinciding with the U.K.’s second go-round next April 23rd, was introduced in a keynote at the Book Industry Study Group AGM in New York. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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From Bible Stories to Buddha Mind

If the Bible is the dairy section of religion publishing, then Bible stories for children are milk cartons sized for kid consumption. Children’s religion publishing sells a lot of those cartons, but it also offers a wide variety of books on topics beyond the Bible, such as good manners,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Old Bookstores, New Challenges

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone's managers await buying change

Written By: Lisa Campbell and Graeme Neill Publication Date: Fri, 29/07/2011 - 09:25 Store managers at Waterstone’s have been reacting with mixed feelings and some confusion to James Daunt’s plans to reintroduce centralised buying into the chain bookseller, as they await more details about the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indigo fires Canadian publishers' anger over changing terms

Written By: M J Deschamps in Ottawa Publication Date: Fri, 22/07/2011 - 15:02 Canadian publishers have attacked the decision by Indigo Books & Music, the country's biggest bookshop chain, to stock fewer books and evaluate returns on a shorter time frame. They claim it is putting extra... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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F + W Media Acquires The Writers Store

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"Waterstone's approach to buying must change" - Daunt

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Mon, 18/07/2011 - 09:25 Waterstone's managing director James Daunt has told staff "its approach to buying must change" and said he plans a "complete overhaul" of the chain's infrastructure. In an email to staff, Daunt said it was essential an... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kent wins Libraries Change Lives award

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Wed, 13/07/2011 - 08:41 This year's CILIP Libraries Change Lives award has been won by Kent county council's 'Making the Difference' project. The project welcomes adults with learning disabilities into libraries. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Community-run libraries ‘could charge’

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 24/06/2011 - 08:29 Book borrowers at community-run libraries could be charged for the privilege in future, according to guidance issued by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The Department for Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS)... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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