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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“The Book of Form and Emptiness” is a tale of sorrow, danger and tentative redemption for a boy who hears the voices of inanimate objects. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-09-25 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Beyoncé, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Malala and more are profiled in DC's "Wonderful Women of the World," a 200-page anthology honoring Wonder Woman's 80th birthday. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-09-24 13:00:59 UTC ]
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Anne-Marie Slaughter shares how she examined her own behavior, flaws and biases. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-09-24 12:00:00 UTC ]
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YZ Chin’s novel is a multilayered story about a woman trying to understand who she is on her own and where she belongs in the world. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-09-06 12:00:00 UTC ]
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The newsletter platform has poached big names including Salman Rushdie along with a slew of comic book authors from DC and MarvelThe subscription newsletter platform Substack announced on Wednesday it had signed an exclusive deal with Salman Rushdie – but he is just the latest in a growing... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-09-03 08:00:22 UTC ]
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News Corp co-chairman declines Senate communications committee invitation. Plus: Daily Telegraph names and shames ‘index case’Lachlan Murdoch will be en route to reopen Fox News offices in Los Angeles on Monday when the Senate media inquiry reconvenes to consider YouTube’s temporary ban on Sky... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-09-03 03:21:06 UTC ]
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Music publishers have been on a spending spree in recent years, buying the catalogs and copyrights for songs of famous musicians at a frantic pace. Last December, Universal Music Publishing Group bought up Bob Dylan’s entire discography in a deal estimated at more than $300 million. Similarly,... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2021-08-22 16:00:37 UTC ]
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Big news for booksellers, or even aspiring booksellers: The Times Union has reported that Owl Pen Books, a bookstore nestled in the hills of Washington County, is for sale, along with its 40,000 titles. As perhaps hinted by its location, it’s not just any bookstore: it’s a remodeled hog pen and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2021-08-20 17:01:40 UTC ]
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“The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream,” by Dean Jobb, re-creates the homicidal doctor’s heartless life in short, highly dramatic chapters. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-08-11 16:06:45 UTC ]
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These days, just being an author from Taiwan could dash your chances of getting a book published in China Continue reading at ABC News
[ ABC News | 2021-08-11 14:32:35 UTC ]
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Kenyan manga artist Shin explains his passion for Japanese comics and what it takes to make a great one. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2021-08-05 14:24:09 UTC ]
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Kenyan manga artist Shin explains his passion for Japanese comics and what it takes to make a great one. Continue reading at BBC News
[ BBC News | 2021-08-05 14:24:09 UTC ]
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How Richard Lange went from literary short stories to crime fiction and his new gothic horror tale, 'Rovers,' about a '70s vampire biker gang. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-07-26 13:00:38 UTC ]
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Despite an outlandish conceit, Rachel Yoder’s debut is a reminder of the shared experiences of motherhood. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-07-26 10:30:22 UTC ]
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With help from Harry Potter, the Magic School Bus and the Baby-Sitters Club, he created the largest publisher and distributor of children’s books. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2021-06-08 11:45:51 UTC ]
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Though Black Girls Book Club (BGBC) founders Melissa Cummings-Quarry and Natalie A Carter inked the deal for their upcoming first book last year, it was not quite a recent development. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-05-28 23:44:22 UTC ]
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The creator of the Subpar Parks Instagram account offers tips on how to make the most of a park visit. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-05-27 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Unwanted variations in judgments undermine fairness and can waste time and money. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-05-21 07:18:00 UTC ]
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Nearly 20 years after Said’s death, Timothy Brennan revisits the professor’s life. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2021-04-28 13:00:00 UTC ]
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“Second Place” borrows its story line from a 1930s-era memoir about D.H. Lawrence, but its themes are quintessential Cusk. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2021-04-26 17:28:26 UTC ]
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