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 ]
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Always Writing: Spotlight on Pam Muñoz Ryan

The author’s new middle grade novel, Solimar, follows the adventures of a soon-to-be 15-year-old Mexican royal who can predict the future and must work to protect her country’s fragile natural world. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-28 05:00:00 UTC ]
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George Saunders on Overcoming Uncertainty in Writing

The following first appeared in Lit Hub’s The Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. It is from Story Club with George Saunders, a Substack publication and literary community where Saunders offers weekly discussions of the craft of the short story. Both free and paid subscriptions are... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-02-25 09:51:07 UTC ]
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Three Religion Presses Name New Top Executives

Three publishing veterans—all women with extensive backgrounds in editing, acquisitions, and management —will take over leading roles at Westminster John Knox, Brazos, and Liturgical in challenging times for the church and society. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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How Writing a Children’s Book is an Antidote to Doomsday Thinking

An unspoken tradition hints that going to the source is good for the story you want to write. The trouble often is that we have no idea what that source may be. Sometimes we think it is sheer research and we spend time in libraries. Often, we think it’s where the action of the proposed […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-02-22 09:52:32 UTC ]
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News UK explores cashing in on crypto boom with NFTs

Sun publisher examining whether classic front pages and exclusive photos can have lucrative second lifeRupert Murdoch’s publishing arm is considering making a move into the frothy market of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, by turning the Times and the Sun’s extensive archive of photos, cartoons and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-02-16 15:06:14 UTC ]
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British Council Literature Seminar Berlin - Now Neu NI: Contemporary Writing from Northern Ireland

After previous seminars showcased work from Scotland and Wales, this year the focus is on writing from Northern Ireland. Chaired by novelist and non-fiction writer Glenn Patterson, director at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast – a familiar and popular name for British... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2022-02-16 12:14:57 UTC ]
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Megan Walsh on Yan Lianke and Fiction Writing in China

This is Underreported with Nicholas Lemann, from the publishing imprint Columbia Global Reports. We don’t just publish books; we use books to start conversations about topics that weren’t getting the attention they deserved. At least, until we took them on. This podcast is your audio connection... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-02-11 09:55:06 UTC ]
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Tom Dupree, Former Bantam and HarperCollins Editor, Dies at 72

Tom Dupree, who was a senior editor at Bantam for much of the 1990s and later an executive editor at HarperCollins, died of in his New York home on February 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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How Reading John McPhee’s Book on Tennis Helped Me Write About Skateboarding

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” –Arthur Ashe * Years ago, when I was still a budding fiction writer, I published an essay about how hard skateboarding is to write about. I focused on a few novelists who had skater characters in their books but who clearly didn’t skate […] Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-02-09 09:55:45 UTC ]
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Jason Epstein, Legendary Editor and Book Biz Innovator, Dies at 93

The longtime Random House editor, who combined a deep passion for books with a shrewd business mind and, as a result, made multiple major contributions to 20th Century literary and publishing history, died on February 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-02-07 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Good Vibes for King as Hay House sales top one million

Vex King's personal development book Good Vibes, Good Life has now sold one million copies globally, according to publisher Hay House, alongside clocking up 100 weeks on the Sunday Times non-fiction paperback bestsellers list. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-02-01 07:43:37 UTC ]
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Scheffler ousts Ross at the top of annual illustrator chart as big brand creatives rule

Axel Scheffler has usurped Tony Ross in the list of 2021’s most lucrative illustrators through Nielsen BookScan’s TCM.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-29 03:07:14 UTC ]
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For Rep. Raskin, personal grief and national trauma collided

The Maryland congressman reflects on his son's suicide and, days later, the insurrection at the Capitol. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-01-28 13:00:06 UTC ]
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WATCH: Leanne Brown and Hawa Hassan on Writing Food Through the Lens of Self-Care

Leanne Brown’s wildly popular, IACP award-winning and The New York Times bestselling cookbook Good and Cheap: Eat Well on $4/Day showed us that kitchen skill and resourcefulness, not budget, is the key to great food. Greenlight is delighted to welcome Brown back for the launch of her new... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-01-27 09:49:53 UTC ]
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Dutch Writing Campaign returns for fourth year

The Dutch Foundation for Literature has announced the New Dutch Writing campaign will return to the UK for the fourth year.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-25 17:20:43 UTC ]
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Top draw as sector smashes annual record

The Graphic Novels sector has been in the ascent in recent years, and a concerted push into the UK market by Manga lists bore fruit once again in 2021 Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-22 17:43:55 UTC ]
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Former Sydney Morning Herald editor Lisa Davies appointed as new AAP chief executive

Emma Cowdroy to step down from heading newswire service that was saved from attempted closure by shareholders including News Corp and NineThe former Sydney Morning Herald editor, Lisa Davies, has been appointed as the chief executive of Australian Associated Press.The move comes as Emma Cowdroy... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-01-20 22:44:00 UTC ]
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She has a bestseller and hit Netflix series. But Stephanie Land's 'Maid' isn't just about being a 'palatable poor person'

Stephanie Land, the author of 'Maid,' joins the L.A. Times Book Club on Jan. 25. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2022-01-19 19:34:16 UTC ]
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Hot Key Books snaps up two from sister writing duo

Hot Key Books has snapped up two new books from sister writing duo Katharine and Elizabeth Corr. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-19 18:16:51 UTC ]
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Pinch of Nom train thunders on as Yanagihara tops Original Fiction

Kay Featherstone and Kate Allinson's Pinch of Nom Comfort Food (Bluebird) has reigned in the UK Official Top 50 number one spot for a fifth week in total, shifting 33,624 copies last week. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-18 10:37:05 UTC ]
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