-
Athelstone replied to the topic New BBC Radio 4 book programme in the forum Blogs 1 year, 5 months ago
Looks very promising. I shall be donning the headphones when I set about cooking dinner.
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 5 months ago
If it has any impact at all on the publishing world, I would be pleased. I can see that it is galling when an author with a genuine passion for writing, say for a young audience, hones their craft and achieves moderate success, and then watches a celeb waltz in like an unoriginal bargain-basement Roald Dahl, have a small fortune spent on…[Read more]
-
I wholly agree, though in a fit of madness, I thought that an increased gathering of writers might at least get our voices heard, if not have any bearing on sales. It would be a start if some regulation was brought in regards being able to blatantly claim someone else’s work is your own – but too many influential people are on the opposing side to…[Read more]
-
-
Libby started the topic New BBC Radio 4 book programme in the forum Blogs 1 year, 5 months ago
Take Four Books starts today. Looks interesting. An author will talk about the influence of three different writers on their own writing. First up is Graeme Macrae Burnet discussing his Gorski trilogy.
-
Libby started the topic 20% discount for Emma Darwin's Itch of Writing on Substack in the forum Marketplace 1 year, 5 months ago
https://emmadarwin.substack.com/9f42c2c1
To celebrate the Itch’s first birthday on Substack and help spread the word Emma is offering 20% off all new annual or monthly subscriptions. Click the link before 6th December:
-
Sandra replied to the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 5 months ago
My view is that publishers are in it for the money, and celebrity sells more – and more reliably – than as-yet-unknown novelists (potentially supplying a profit which might enable them to take more chances on unknowns?) It might be seen as ‘not fair’, but in my view is more honest to trust readers’ appreciation of well-written novels than bombard…[Read more]
-
Sandra, it isn’t so much a bombardment campaign, rather a sharing of a meme to ask for support. I appreciate the view that regular novelists are enabled to be taken on because of the success of celebrity books, but the avalanche of them in such an unlevel playing field is instrumental in creating this huge imbalance, and I think the dishonesty is…[Read more]
-
I suspect, lacking conviction in my opinions, I’m not a campaigner.
-
I have bowed out of this. My intention was to be supportive, but the feelings stirred and opposing views given have me concluding that I should leave it to published authors and their representatives to fight the battle. Lesson learned.
-
-
-
-
Janette started the topic Is a social media Christmas appeal worthwhile? in the forum Blogs 1 year, 5 months ago
Recently, @Philippa East posted a copy of her letter to the Society of Authors on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2364405197250152&set=pcb.2364405367250135
It refers to the unfair bombardment of celebrity books and their many promotions, especially during a holiday season. Though I am not (yet) published, I wholeheartedly agree…[Read more]
-
Hi @janette, thank you for sharing this. As I’m not on FB I can’t read the whole letter on screen. Are you able to copy and paste it here?
-
Hi Libby and @janette.
Here below is a copy of my original letter to the society of authors.
I think that a “Christmas appeal” letter, encouraging readers and book-buyers to support ordinary authors by avoiding celebrity titles would be great! I’ve been chatting loads about this issue in my various writing networks, so I think that if we were…[Read more]-
I saw your letter, Philippa, and I’m really pleased you voiced what so many of us are feeling.
-
-
-
Thank you, @philippaeast for posting this. @Libby hope you agree with the sentiment.
-
I’m happy to join any communal effort. I’m an associate member of SoA, because I haven’t sold enough books to classify as a full member. Our Monmouth branch of SoA is very active, and as you can imagine, the subject of celebrity authors comes up a lot, particularly in relation to children’s books. A good friend, Claire Fayers, has just scored a…[Read more]
-
On listening to other opinions, both here and on Messenger (FB), I concede that I have perhaps not worded my intentions very well and may have come across as too confrontational. I also apologize to those who feel ‘bombarded’ and will happily remove names from the list of those I have shared into the conversation, or remove the message altogether.…[Read more]
-
I’m sorry you’ve had a bad experience trying to get the message out Janette. I share your and Philippa’s frustration with the celebrity Christmas book, especially now I’m truing to get my funny children’s book under people’s noses. An unfair situation, but one I doubt publishers will be interested in rectifying.
-
-
Bella posted an update 1 year, 5 months ago
Does anyone have any experience of pitching a non-fiction title to publishers or agents? I’m part of a small team (mostly North American) writing a book about Complex PTSD. We’re reaching the stage of having a decent manuscript and would like to try pitching it even if we do end up self-publishing. But none of us really has a clue…
-
I have an old school friend who I’m still in contact with. He was senior non-fiction editor for Penguin Random House in Canada, and although he’s just retired he knows the business inside out and still manages a couple of clients for them. I’ll see what he says.
-
That’s very kind. Thank you. In particular because the team leader is based in Canada! So if he had any pointers specific to Canada that would not be an issue for us.
-
Hi Bella, I’ve sent you a message.
-
-
-
-
Janette posted an update 1 year, 5 months ago
Good to see so many taking part in the Winter comp. I’ve been wrestling with two ideas though one appears to have risen above the other. I was ready to post it … but late corrections reminded me to be a little less hasty and allow some thinking time, when I’ll probably change my mind again.
-
I’ve been struggling to come up with anything, because my initial idea seems beyond my ability. I’m going to try something simpler.
-
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly competition- November 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 5 months ago
This is not my take on the headline, but I’ve posted it here because I could not come up with anything more ludicrous.
“Short hair hints may be ‘sabotage” study finds.
Publishing her research on the ’Science Direct’ website, under the heading ‘Personality and individual Differences’ Danielle Sulikowski details how women were asked to giv…[Read more]
-
Seagreen started the topic Monthly competition- November 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Find an item of news – online, in the local paper, or on TV – and, in no more than 500 words, write the background story.
-
Seagreen replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Thanks, Knicky, for the challenge and for seeing something in my effort I wasn’t sure was there.
Thanks also to Terrie, Libby and Alex. I would have been more than happy to say I’d written any one of yours ☺️
-
Terrie replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Thank you for setting Octobers comp, Knicks.
I enjoy seeing how differently we all approach the monthly challenges. this months were wonderfully varied.
Congratulations to Seagreen for such an atmospheric winning offering.
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Congratulations to Seagreen, and to everyone else who supplied an entertaining and impressive piece to October’s comp. And to Knicks for setting it,
-
Libby replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Congratulations, Seagreen! Thank you, Knicks, for a great prompt and your judge’s insights.
-
Knicks replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Heya lovelies,
Apologies for the day-late decision making. I’ve been oout and aboout with my egg, enjoying our midterm break from work and school, and foolishly saved the reading until the final day of the month because I wanted to take in each piece at the same time, rather than read as submitted, and also to give everyone who could, a chance to…[Read more]
-
Athelstone replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Darn it! Missed it! A fab selection though.
-
Alex replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Stevie
There was an empty spot on the sparkling, granite countertop where the coffee maker should be.
“Where’s the coffee maker?” I asked.
Alice slipped a saucer in the dish rack. “I tossed it.”
“You did what?”
“It caught fire this morning.”
“It does that from time to time. Unplug it, blow on it twice, and it will be fine.”
“You can’t…[Read more]
-
Sandra replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
Apologies, Knicks, I’m not going to submit anything this month – torn three ways with something that will not knit.
-
Libby replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
What’s Brought to the Table
796 words
Grace was sitting on the floor of Lily’s bedroom, leaning against Lily’s wardrobe. She looked at Lily, who was lying on her single bed with her arms spread wide like an act of supplication.
Lily had just said she was aiming for paradoxy. Grace wondered what psychodrama had produced this.…[Read more]
-
Terrie replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 6 months ago
A rhyming effort from me for this challenge
<u>All in my head</u>
Emotion, bright as a shooting star, trails across the bowl of dark-light, caught
crackling and spluttering, straining against the speckle and spackle of midnight thought.
I feel it drift, almost mutely, into a cascade of unspoken dreams, tumbling, and falling
slowly, into an…[Read more]
- Load More
Skip to content
