@libby
Active 2 days, 18 hours ago-
Libby replied to the topic The latest in vanity publishing in the forum Marketplace 1 year, 9 months ago
Hi @janette
I agree it could bring self-pub into disrepute though the large number of self-pub books on Amazon that seem not to have had human editing, regardless of the availability of AI, is already doing that.
The publishing industry can seem very off-putting. I’ve never tried to be published by it so I haven’t been through that particular…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic The latest in vanity publishing in the forum Marketplace 1 year, 9 months ago
If you haven’t seen it before this report from April 2022 on paid-for publishing is interesting and depressing. I can’t remember if it mentions AI. A questionnaire was sent to authors who’d paid for an all-in editorial and publishing package. These weren’t indie authors paying for their own editors, cover designers etc and doing the hard work of…[Read more]
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Libby started the topic The latest in vanity publishing in the forum Marketplace 1 year, 9 months ago
It was only a question of time. I’m surprised it’s taken this long. Perhaps there are other ‘offers’ that haven’t hit the newspapers.
Writers condemn startup’s plans to publish 8,000 books next year using AI | Books | The Guardian
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I share your sentiments, Libby, as I do the statement from Bluesky (in the body of the report). This is wholly about money, bypassing the love of writing and reading altogether. Sadly, I feel it could also have a knock-on effect on self-publishing, causing increased distrust in the quality you can find there. I hope I am wrong, but I’m becoming…[Read more]
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Libby started the topic New BBC Radio 4 book programme in the forum Blogs 1 year, 9 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.
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Libby started the topic 20% discount for Emma Darwin's Itch of Writing on Substack in the forum Marketplace 1 year, 9 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:
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Libby posted a new activity comment 1 year, 9 months ago
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?
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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.
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 10 months ago
Congratulations, Seagreen! Thank you, Knicks, for a great prompt and your judge’s insights.
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly Comp – October 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 10 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]
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Libby posted a new activity comment 1 year, 11 months ago
I’m up for it, Ath. I find the comp helpful and reading other people’s stories helps my writing too. What about setting a choice of three general topics but without the choices about objects – would that make your and Jules’ lives easier? So, I don’t know, a story concerning either love, crime or war. Maybe too a longer deadline for joining the…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly competition, September 2024 in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 11 months ago
Thanks, Sandra. I’ve started a story – it probably works better with the After the Funeral theme. I doubt I’ll manage two stories. September is a busy month 🙂 I like it, the busyness and back to school feeling.
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Libby posted a new activity comment 1 year, 11 months ago
Which isn’t to deny the pressured commercial environment they work it, just that authors can be turned down for seemingly odd or circular reasons, the ‘nobody reads stories about [insert topic of novel]’ type of response.
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I think you’re right on all points. I know that it’s probably more a tendency of agents from the larger, more commercial agencies, and that it isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it’s clearly a factor. We live in a world where many shops and stores no longer choose what to stock; the algorithms determine what is or is not delivered to the shelves. So…[Read more]
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Libby posted a new activity comment 1 year, 11 months ago
I think it’s hard to know how to pick well. As with Richard’s experience of agents, it seems the unadmitted part of their job description is to have narrow vision. We know they will want MSs that are often versions of what already sells but they don’t add that this discrimination can be taken to a fine degree.
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Which isn’t to deny the pressured commercial environment they work it, just that authors can be turned down for seemingly odd or circular reasons, the ‘nobody reads stories about [insert topic of novel]’ type of response.
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I think you’re right on all points. I know that it’s probably more a tendency of agents from the larger, more commercial agencies, and that it isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it’s clearly a factor. We live in a world where many shops and stores no longer choose what to stock; the algorithms determine what is or is not delivered to the shelves. So…[Read more]
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Libby started the topic Substack in the forum Coffee Shop 1 year, 11 months ago
Substack has settled in my life. I don’t publish posts and I rarely comment on or even record a like on other people’s posts. But for me it’s a useful and interesting resource on ‘how to write better’ – the nuts and bolts stuff of the craft – and a reinforcement of the impetus to write in the first place. The latter is the exciting part, though…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic Thirty Days in the forum
Beta Reading 1 year, 11 months agoHi Ath, I’d be pleased to read Thirty Days if I’m the kind of reader you’re looking for. My experience of speculative fiction is limited. For instance I loved M John Harrison’s The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again but soon gave up the first novel in his Viriconium series. That tipped too far into fantasy for me.
Feel free to see what other offers…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic August 2024 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 12 months ago
There’s a fabulous selection of entries in the August comp, and again it’s hard to pick one winner!
@Seagreen: This very enjoyable story reveals the rich history of a relationship, shown with a clever use of Elizabeth English and rhythm. There’s a satisfyingly wide range of emotion, including the delicious LOL comedy of “Thine exuberance I shall…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic August 2024 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 12 months ago
A terrific set of comp entries. I’ll be along tomorrow morning to reveal the winner.
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Libby replied to the topic August 2024 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 1 year, 12 months ago
Hi Sandra, I was thinking that too!!
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Libby replied to the topic August 2024 monthly competition in the forum Monthly Competition 2 years ago
Reminder! The monthly competition closes at midnight on Saturday, 31st August.
Anyone can enter.
Here’s the task:
Our summer weather so far has been an ever-changing experience, almost one extreme to another. For the August comp please write a story about changeability titled ‘Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?’ Thee can refer to a perso…[Read more]
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