The first-person essays boom: top editors on why confessional writing matters

A Slate piece on first-person writing has prompted debate in the digital media community. We asked editors at BuzzFeed, Jezebel and other leading sites to weigh in on the importance of such pieces – and why there is a gender divideOn Monday, Laura Bennett’s Slate piece on the boom of first-person essay writing sparked a fierce online debate between editors and writers: how can one best work between the vulnerability of a writer and the traffic goal of an editor? What’s the line between publishing someone’s personal experience and exploitation?In response to Bennett’s piece, we asked senior editors at several publications known for publishing first-person stories about what they value in them, how they look after their writers, and why it is that so many confessional stories seem to be written by women, and not men.This route to publication and a book/movie deal simply is not open for non-white womenAnd now Pollitt’s up at bat. Her three previous essay collections gathered brilliant commentary on welfare, abortion, surrogate motherhood, Iraq, gay marriage and health care, mostly from the pages of The Nation. But with “Learning to Drive,” she gets personal, and shameless. She has decided to wave her dirty laundry (among which she found unidentified striped panties) and confesses to “Webstalking” her longtime, live-in, womanizing former boyfriend. (Take that, you rat!) It’s hard to tell if she’s coming into her own, trying to sell more books or has lost it entirely. Or... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #gay marriage #health care #dirty laundry #ve heard

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The first-person essays boom: top editors on why confessional writing matters'


Seeing Stars: Top Spirituality and Religion Book Reviews, April 2015

A lyrical consideration of finding God in everyday experiences, and a story of evolving from the 'crusader complex' to a more considered faith are among PW's spirituality and religion picks for April. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #finding god


Does it matter if Joseph Mitchell embellished his journalism?

He is long known to have used composite characters and a new biography will reveal more embellishments – but perhaps that’s the magic of his workOver the weekend, the feathers of American literary journalists ruffled lightly in the breeze of a review that appeared in the New York Review of... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #roman empire


Ed McCann appointed as managing editor of Ireland's INM group

He replaces Michael Denieffe, who is retiring after 45 years with the companyEd McCann has been appointed as managing editor of the Irish-based newspaper publisher, Independent News and Media (INM). He replaces Michael Denieffe, who is retiring after 45 years with the company.McCann was deputy... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #managing editor #independent news #deputy editor #belfast telegraph #daily mirror #irish independent


April 2015: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review

Our April 2015 selection of reviews from BlueInk Review, a service which reviews self-published books. The post April 2015: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top reviews #self-published books #blueink review


Colouring books for adults top Amazon bestseller list

Surge in popularity of genre attributed to ‘anti-stress’ benefits and nostalgiaThe bestselling title on Amazon in the US right now is not Harper Lee’s hugely anticipated second novel, Go Set a Watchman, or George RR Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series, or even Zoella’s much-mocked but... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee #hugely anticipated #girl online #bestseller lists #secret garden


An Editor at Heart: Digital Spotlight 2015

For all of the innovative new digital products aimed at consumers, digital has continued to revolutionize the behind-the-scenes work of publishers. But editorial staff will tell you that they could use a little more help. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #editorial staff


BuzzFeed Launches Emerging Writers Fellowship: An Interview with Literary Editor Saeed Jones

BuzzFeed is going literary. The ever-growing media company launched BuzzFeed Books in December of 2013, and this year it is launching several projects under new Literary Editor Saeed Jones. First up is the BuzzFeed Emerging Writers Fellowship pr ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Does bigger mean better for UE's popular 'Boom' speakers?

It's taken me years to overcome my vinyl-based anachronistic tendencies. I've been particularly reluctant to buy digital music files; to me it's right up there with ebooks -- spending good money on "virtual" products. Still, the accessibility of dig... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Davidson wins James Herbert Award for Horror Writing

Craig Davidson, writing under the pseudonym Nick Cutter, has been named the winner of the inaugural James Herbert Award for Horror Writing for his book The Troop (Headline). The award was set up in honour of the late horror writer James Herbert, and aims to discover and publicise a new... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #exciting talent


Stirring the Plot: New Cookbooks Offer Recipes from Top Mystery Writers

In two new books out this spring, mystery writers provide recipes from their lives, and the lives of their characters. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Debuts Top February Charts

New titles dominated the top spots on bestseller lists across international markets last month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #titles dominated #top spots #bestseller lists #international markets


Keys to Writing Books for Very Young Readers

The cherished French children’s book author and editor of hundreds of books Grégoire Solotareff offers his tips for creating books fore very young readers. The post Keys to Writing Books for Very Young Readers appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writing books #young readers #book author


Hawks, butterflies, coasts and footpaths: how nature writing turned to literary gold

Books about the natural world are now huge sellers, tapping into a new appreciation for the countryside and scepticism about material wealthBondage is so last year. Publishers who spent much of the past year in search of the next Fifty Shades of Grey are now seeking to exploit another literary... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #british public #nature writing #past couple #publishing world #commercial success


Bukowski on writing for Canongate

Canongate will publish three books by the late American author Charles Bukowski, based on his letters. Publishing director Francis Bickmore signed the books in a deal with Catherine Barbosa-Ross at HarperCollins US. On Writing is a collection based on previously unpublished letters, and will... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Digital Engagement Tops Talks at BookNet Canada Tech Forum

At the annual event, held last week in Toronto, industry leaders addressed various aspects of digital development in publishing, from ebook pricing and reader engagement to bundling and podcasts. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #annual event #digital development #ebook pricing #reader engagement


Lauren Oliver, author of Delirium trilogy: 'Writing is compulsive for me'

The bestselling young adult author wrote her first published novel on a BlackBerry while commuting. Now she has a fan base ardent enough to complain about the way she ended one bookLauren Oliver, a bestselling young adult writer whose latest book, Vanishing Girls, was published in the US last... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #early work #mfa program #york university #long time


Andrew Sharples' top 10 war memoirs

From thrilling accounts of derring-do to bitter descriptions of the human fallout, here are 10 memoirs of conflict which inspired and moved meI’ve always been fascinated by war. From the earliest age, I loved reading books on the subject and was captivated by stories of courage and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #human cost


Don't Wait for NewFront Pitches: Here are the Top Beauty and Style Channels on YouTube (and How Much They Earn)

As companies from BuzzFeed to Hulu prepare to pitch advertisers on their "premium"video series at the Digital Content NewFronts, it's perhaps time for a reminder that plenty of, well, arguably non-premium content creators are already good friends with marketers.So here's a look at 20 of the most... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #video series #publishing frequency


Sheila Barry on Publishing Children’s Books That Matter

Sheila Barry of Canada's Groundwood Books, discusses the challenges of consistently publishing an engaging variety of books to children of all ages. The post Sheila Barry on Publishing Children’s Books That Matter appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #groundwood books #matter appeared #publishing children #sheila barry


Google Change Allows Company Statements to Top News Searches

(Reuters) - A little-noticed change in the way Google selects search results has allowed company statements to top the list of news links shown when users search for information on businesses.   The measure may cost news publishers web traffic a ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reuters -