By encouraging the young to publish fan fiction, story-sharing startup Movellas is tackling English children's low literacy levelsLiteracy levels among English young adults compare poorly with those in other industrialised countries, according to an OECD survey last autumn which ranked England a "must try harder" 22nd out of 24 in tests for literacy.Turning this around is a challenge that appeals to Movellas, an online story-sharing startup. Taking to heart the maxim that "reading for pleasure" is vital to a child's educational attainment, the company's founders believe that encouraging young people to write about their passions and share those stories with others can have a positive effect on literacy.In other words, if your daughter's writing One Direction fan fiction on her phone, she could be on her way to an A* at English GCSE. Or, at the very least, a book deal. "Movellian" Emily Baker's 1D-inspired Loving the Band was snapped up by Penguin. Helen Hiorns's The Name on Your Wrist was published by Random House after she won the inaugural young movellist of the year, sponsored by Sony and judged by children's laureate Malorie Blackman.High-profile success stories can help build its user base (200,000 and growing), but Movellas does more than sell the dream of literary fame.When surveyed, 50% of respondents said Movellas had made them enjoy reading more; 70% enjoyed writing more. Importantly, 20% of its users get free school meals (about the national average). Only 25%... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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By encouraging the young to publish fan fiction, story-sharing startup Movellas is tackling English children's low literacy levelsLiteracy levels among English young adults compare poorly with those in other industrialised countries, according to an OECD survey last autumn which ranked England a... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2014-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘The Vixen’ offers an illuminating reflection on the slippery nature of truth in America, then and now. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-07-06 15:13:54 UTC ]
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Looking to get that novel you've been plugging away at in your "spare time" published with ease? Well, Evernote now offers an option for doing just that, thanks to a partnership with FastPencil. The note-taking and productivity repository allows you... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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If we are fortunate, then this past week may come to be seen as a turning point: the victory of president-elect Joe Biden; the announcement of a potential vaccine; the lifting of the most severe Covid-19 restrictions in Wales; and the moment at which the industry found its voice and declared... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-12 20:45:59 UTC ]
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The former Disney executive Ben Sherwood and Joanna Coles, the former Hearst content chief, are being given a minority stake in the digital tabloid. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-04-15 13:00:12 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster appears to be thriving as it turns 100, a book restorer reveals the surprising secrets of her work, and more news. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-04-11 13:56:20 UTC ]
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The milestone comes after a particularly turbulent period, when the publisher was put up for sale and bought by a private equity firm. Since then, investments have boosted morale and helped it grow. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2024-04-10 15:26:51 UTC ]
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Nine digital publishing execs that spoke with Digiday said they are investing in other social platforms like Instagram and TikTok to grow their reach. But the question remains if these strategies can actually make up the social referral deficit. Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2024-04-10 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Princeton University Press has won the 2024 R.R. Hawkins Award for excellence in scholarly publishing for 'The Voices of Nature: How and Why Animals Communicate' by Nicolas Mathevon—the second year in a row the press has taken honor home. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-27 04:00:00 UTC ]
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As the middle grade graphic novel category has grown in recent years, the number of graphic adaptations of middle grade books has exploded. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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As the middle grade graphic novel category has grown in recent years, the number of graphic adaptations of middle grade books has exploded. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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During Winter Institute's closing keynote in Cincinnati, author and presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin praised indie booksellers and discussed her deeply personal new book, 'An Unfinished Love Story.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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A strong holiday shopping season, an improved fulfillment operation, and cost cuts including an estimated 27,000 layoffs resulted in a $30 billion profit for Amazon in 2023 following a loss of $2.7 billion in 2022. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The Mac, formerly the more austere Macintosh, turns 40 today, putting Apple’s longest-running product squarely in middle age. But like someone who sees the back half of their life approaching and gets in marathon-runner shape, the Mac is in the strongest place it’s been for decades. From a... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2024-01-24 16:15:20 UTC ]
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Mid-century encyclopaedias claimed the power to decide what counted as knowledge and what didn’t – much as online publishing platforms and social media companies do today. Continue reading at The Conversation
[ The Conversation | 2024-01-09 17:02:30 UTC ]
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In her farewell as a PW columnist, Sari Feldman reflects on the importance of reading instruction, inspired by her new full-time gig: grandmother. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-12-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Wow your favorite book lover this holiday season and sweep them off their feet with these seven absolutely extra bookish gift ideas.- Leah Rachel von Essen Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2023-11-29 11:32:00 UTC ]
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Categorising fiction may help to sell books, but it says little about how writers write or readers readIn her Reith lecture of 2017, recently published for the first time in a posthumous collection of nonfiction, A Memoir of My Former Self, Hilary Mantel recalled the beginnings of her career as... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-11-27 12:30:00 UTC ]
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Amid ongoing challenges, Black authors and editors are creating the love stories they want to read. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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“The world here beats faster than a hummingbird’s wings,” writes Alexandra Chang in her new collection Tomb Sweeping. Chang, the author of Days of Distraction and a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 recipient, writes poignantly about tenuous connection. In these stories, a wealthy housewife... Continue reading at Electric Literature
[ Electric Literature | 2023-11-02 11:00:00 UTC ]
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