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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The UK’s Sunday Times Young Writer Award Names Its 2021 Shortlist

The shortlist for the 2021 Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Trust award includes poetry, nonfiction, and three novels. The post The UK’s Sunday Times Young Writer Award Names Its 2021 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-01-25 12:58:34 UTC ]
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Rider pays tribute to 'Father of Mindfulness' Thich Nhat Hanh

Rider has paid tribute to spiritual leader, bestselling author and pioneer of the mindfulness movement Thich Nhat Hanh, who has died aged 95.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-24 11:23:19 UTC ]
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Books Writers Are Reading In 2022

Want to be a fly on our bookshelf? These are the novels, short stories, essays and cookbooks that writers and editors are reading this year. Continue reading at The Huffington Post

[ The Huffington Post | 2022-01-24 10:45:02 UTC ]
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Azumah Nelson and Nolan vie for Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award

The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Trust Young Writer of the Year Award shortlist has been revealed featuring Megan Nolan, Costa Prize-winning Caleb Azumah Nelson and Cal Flynn among others.     Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-23 07:16:43 UTC ]
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Benjamin Zephaniah | 'To tell the real, honest truth about the history of Britain would mean changing the history books'

The latest book by Benjamin Zephaniah follows a Trinidadian woman who boarded the Windrush to pursue her singing dream. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-22 07:13:29 UTC ]
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Register Today for AAPI Communities in Conversation #2, Featuring Gina Apostol

Apostol, whose latest novel 'Bibliolepsy' earned a starred review from Publisher Weekly, will appear in conversation with librarian Jenna Rae Cabrera from the San Francisco Public Library on Tuesday, February 1, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Registration is free! Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-01-21 05:00:00 UTC ]
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In ‘Last Resort,’ a Writer Turns a Friend’s Story Into a Smash Success

Andrew Lipstein’s entertaining debut novel mines comedy from an aspiring author’s ethically questionable path to publication. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-01-19 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Government delays decision on UK copyright regime changes

The government has decided not to change copyright exhaustion laws for the time being following a consultation which led to a campaign by the industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-18 03:06:52 UTC ]
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8 Books by Queer Writers Who Came of Age in the 90s

The ’90s are back, as if they could ever truly peace out. Between Fear Street and Captain Marvel and the Alanis Morissette musical, the last mostly-offline decade is getting a gargantuan nostalgia polish. For my memoir Sticker—an exploration of my childhood in Charlottesville, Virginia via 20... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2022-01-14 12:00:00 UTC ]
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More than 300 writers and publishers sign letter opposing Policing Bill

More than 300 prominent writers and publishers including Bernardine Evaristo, Alan Hollinghurst and Malorie Blackman have signed a letter to the Times opposing the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill, which is being voted on in the House of Lords over the next two weeks.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-13 12:40:06 UTC ]
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Gay launches fellowship scheme for aspiring writers through Substack

Roxane Gay is launching a new one-year fellowship programme which will see her support three aspiring writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-12 16:04:26 UTC ]
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How love, death and ampersands changed Kathryn Schulz's life

The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer and author of the memoir "Lost and Found" unpacks the meaning and importance of joy and grief — and conjuctions. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-01-10 14:00:30 UTC ]
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AAPI Communities in Conversation #1: Sujata Massey and Naomi Hirahara

In the inaugural discussion, which streamed live on January 4, 2022, Adrienne Cruz of the Azusa City (California) Library spoke with Naomi Hirahara, author of 'Clark & Division,' and Sujata Massey, author of 'The Bombay Prince.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-01-07 05:00:00 UTC ]
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What Is Autobiography? A Conversation with Debut Memoirist Victoria Chang, by Amy Wright

Interviews Victoria Chang’s new collection, Dear Memory, expands the field of the memoir for readers to explore a full-color archive of family photos and historical documents collaged between lines of poetry and letters. It prompts us to ask, with her,... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2022-01-05 19:50:39 UTC ]
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New York's library e-book licensing bill vetoed as Maryland challenge looms

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) has welcomed the decision by New York Governor Kathy Hochul to veto a bill that would have forced publishers and authors to grant e-book licences to libraries under state-imposed terms. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-31 06:31:54 UTC ]
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Romantic fiction writers creating a more diverse happily ever after

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Halls 'enormously proud' of booksellers but warns of challenges ahead

Booksellers Association managing director Meryl Halls says she is "enormously proud" of what booksellers have achieved this year but has raised concerns about "another unsettling stretch" with the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, concerns about inflation and continued issues with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-23 04:11:09 UTC ]
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Challenge on Maryland library e-books law set for February

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[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-22 09:32:19 UTC ]
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Waterstones partners with Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award

Waterstones is partnering with the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award to celebrate the best emerging talent in the UK and Ireland, hosting exclusive accompanying content across all its channels.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-20 08:28:44 UTC ]
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