How to write a book
cambridgenetwork.co.uk – Monday May 3, 2021
Whenever I go anywhere, meet anyone, and introduce myself, a comment authors are pretty much guaranteed to hear is:
- I've always wanted to write a book.
If that's you, and there's a book hiding inside you, longing to come out...
This is how to go about writing it.
One word of warning first.
What I'm not going to talk about are the ingredients of a book, the characters, settings, plot, research, all that.
This blog specifically focuses on how to motivate yourself to write a book, and ways to deal with some of the most common concerns.
If these help, there are plenty of resources to help you do the actual writing. I'll mention a couple later.
The publishing industry has turned into modern-day book burners
nypost.com – Sunday May 2, 2021
Serious accusations have been made against Blake Bailey, the author of an acclaimed new biography of Philip Roth. Bailey has not been convicted of anything, or even criminally charged, yet the book’s publisher, W.W. Norton, announced it was withdrawing the book from print. That doesn’t make sense and it’s a terrible precedent.
Harvey Weinstein is a convicted rapist, but does that mean no one should ever be allowed to see “The English Patient,” “Clerks,” “Pulp Fiction” or “The King’s Speech” again? Roman Polanski does not deny he carried out a gruesome sex attack on a 13-year-old girl in 1977. Should we pull everything he’s ever done off the cultural shelf and throw it on the bonfire? We’d lose “Chinatown,” “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Tenant.” The French philosopher Michel Foucault, who died in 1984, raped thousands of boys as young as 8 in Tunisia in the 1960s, according to a shocking recent claim by writer Guy Sorman, who knew him then. Should all of Foucault’s books be taken off the shelves, or can we acknowledge that we are not endorsing a man’s character when we allow his books to exist?
I dread writing any kind of romantic scene – or, even worse, anything remotely sexy
irishtimes.com – Saturday May 1, 2021
I literally dread having to write romantic scenes of any description. Of all the aspects of writing a book, for me, it is without a doubt the hardest thing I have to do. I’m not talking about the more extreme, bodice-ripping, “leave little to the imagination” type of scene – I could never even attempt that. I’m talking about a more pedestrian, everyday sort of romance.
But it doesn’t matter, I still dread writing any kind of romantic scene and even worse, if there is anything remotely sexy going on it’s absolutely mortifying!
As I sit and type, casting characters in some sort of embrace, or state of undress, I cringe inwardly as my fingers hit the keyboard, imagining people I know turning the pages and wondering if by any chance I’m describing myself or one of my previous misadventures. I will put off the inevitable for as long as physically possible, skipping over any romantic parts and leaving large gaps in the text, deferring the writing of those scenes until a later date, hoping that somehow, magically, I will be better able to rattle off those scenes without duress.
Nosy Crow, the ONLY book publisher ever to win TWO Queen's Awards for Enterprise for International Trade
prnewswire.co.uk – Thursday April 29, 2021
Nosy Crow, the UK's fastest-growing independent children's publisher, today celebrates a second consecutive Queen's Award for Enterprise for International Trade, the most prestigious business award in the UK.
It is the only book publisher ever to win a second award and the only publisher to have won one in the last 10 years.
Nosy Crow is one of 205 organisations nationally to be recognised with a prestigious Queen's Award this year and, within that, one of 122 recognised for its excellence in International Trade.
Employing 56 people, Nosy Crow is a multi-award-winning publisher of child-focused, parent-friendly children's books and eBooks for ages 0–12. It began publishing in 2011 and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
The 21 top tips for becoming a bestselling author
theage.com.au – Thursday April 29, 2021
Gone are the days when international fiction and non-fiction dominated our bestseller lists. As Australian authors such as Jane Harper, Liane Moriarty, Trent Dalton, Craig Silvey, Kate Grenville, Richard Flanagan, Tara June Winch and many more clock up sales, international recognition and screen deals, it’s no surprise that thousands of would-be writers are tapping away on their laptops.
There is no one-size-fits-all route to publication. Publishers choose authors based on a whole range of practical and subjective criteria, although the quality of the work is understandably crucial.
But aspiring authors can increase their chances of finding a publisher. Here are some insider tips; some dos and don’ts that can help smooth the way.
Being prepared is as important as being creative. There can be a lot to do even before you start writing. Above all, take your time so you produce your best work possible before you look for an agent or publisher. Paraphrasing Alexander Hamilton, don’t throw away your shot.
Felicity Bryan Publishing Mentorship Scheme launched
thebookseller.com – Tuesday April 27, 2021
The Felicity Bryan Publishing Mentorship Scheme has been launched, created in honour of the renowned literary agent who died in June 2020.
An annual paid three-month mentorship programme, the scheme is aimed at anyone from an underrepresented background who is interested in pursuing a career in the publishing industry.
The mentee will be paid the Oxford Living Wage for the duration of the mentorship and there will be a stipend available to cover the cost of accommodation. The scheme is supported by Bryan's family, and “reflects her own energetic nurturing of talent and potential in young people starting out on their careers”.
Fast-Growing Independent Publishers, 2021
publishersweekly.com – Sunday April 25, 2021
Launched in 2013 to publish digital editions of out-of-print genre fiction from the 1960s and ’70s, Las Vegas’s Wolfpack Publishing reports that while revenue growth was steady in its first five years, its strongest growth was between 2018 and 2020. In this period, 90% of Wolfpack’s sales were books in digital formats. The company does things its own way, releasing titles weekly, president and CEO Mike Bray says, rather than seasonally. “We publish four to eight titles a week, both fresh stuff and reissues.”
Though Wolfpack’s list focuses on westerns, it has been supplementing its offerings with adventure, mystery, and historical fiction releases. And series are an essential component in its business model, publisher Rachel Del Grosso says, explaining, “When we are approached by any author or agent, the first thing we’re looking at is how many titles the author is bringing to the table. We invest in an author, not a single book.”
New Literary Agent Listing: Stefanie Rossitto
firstwriter.com – Wednesday April 21, 2021
Currently looking for historical fiction, and funny, witty, modern romances. She also enjoys anything and everything medieval as well as exciting historical romances and/or fiction based on real characters.
Revolutionary New Writing School May Signal the Death of the Traditional MFA Writing Program
prnewswire.com – Tuesday April 20, 2021
SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bay Area Writer and former Marin County Poet Laureate Albert Flynn DeSilver, Founder of Brilliant Writer, LLC, today announced the opening of his innovative new writing program. The Mindful Authors Accelerator goes beyond conventional MFA writing programs to offer practical tools for project completion, a supportive community, and lifetime access to the community and course materials.
"Many writers have told me how frustrated they were by academic classes or one-off writing seminars that inspired them but didn't help them finish that novel or memoir they've been burning to write," DeSilver said. "And most didn't have $40,000 or more to spend on an educational offering."
Literary Scammers are the Weirdest Scammers
insidehook.com – Tuesday April 20, 2021
Late last year, The New York Times recounted the tale of an odd case of impersonation. The article, written by Elizabeth A. Harris and Nicole Perlroth, recounted “a mysterious international phishing scam that has been tricking writers, editors, agents and anyone in their orbit into sharing unpublished book manuscripts.” Weird, right? Well, an even stranger scam has come to light in the literary world — though this one looks to be a bit more financially lucrative for whomever pulled it off.
Someone has been impersonating prize-winning writers in an effort to claim their winnings for themselves. And in a few cases, it’s worked.
Get the free newsletter | Submit a news item or article | Get Writers' News for your website
