The Guardian view on modern writers: the myth of the reclusive author | Editorial

These days, most writers cannot afford to live secluded from their public. But when a very private author like Thomas Harris announces a new novel, there’s always special excitementAuthors – at least as far as their relationship with the public goes – fall into several distinct categories. There are those who wish they had a public at all, who long for an invitation to speak at a book festival, and whose publishers try in vain to tempt journalists to interview them and podcast producers to book them. This category embraces a larger proportion of authors than most people would like to imagine; the average income earned by writers from writing (as opposed to teaching, or other day jobs) is £12,500, according to a recent study.Then there are those who have a sufficient standing to attract the attention of festivals, book clubs and other public events, and a publisher who can be persuaded to fork out travel expenses for them to attend. These events are almost invariably poorly paid, and at their worst – when audience members and sales are few – can be dispiriting. On the other hand, good literary festivals pride themselves on being welcoming and warmly social places, where authors can enjoy swapping solitary hours of writing for intelligent interaction with readers and conversation with colleagues. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #day jobs #recent study #travel expenses #audience members

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Responding to a survey that found the median author income had dropped to £10,500, Publishers Association said the figures were ‘unrecognisable’The Society of Authors has issued a sharply worded challenge to the UK’s biggest publishers after the chief executive of the Publishers Association... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers are paying writers a pittance, say bestselling authors

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[ The Guardian | 2018-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Romance writer's bid to stop authors from using word 'cocky' fails in court

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[ The Guardian | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Observer view on our new tabloid format | Observer editorial

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[ The Guardian | 2018-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Eccles British Library Writer's Award: investing in authors

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[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Asian American authors join forces to help writer Matthew Salesses, whose wife is battling cancer

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[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Irish Author Sally Rooney Wins the UK’s Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer of the Year Prize

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Irish Author Sally Rooney Wins the UK’s Sunday Times/PFD Young Writer Prize

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2017-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The UK’s Sunday Times / PFD Young Writer Competition Opens to Trade Authors and Indies

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Rushdie urges Chinese authorities to release jailed writers

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[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Guardian | 2016-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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