30 July 2018 - What's new
30 July 2018
- ‘Publishing is all about taste. You have other things, but at the centre of everything you do is your taste - and your trust in your taste and your judgement... It's such a difficult job - you need to have the big picture and the detail. An editor who is just an editor thinks only about the text and creating a marvellous book and handing it over - whereas one who is also a publisher has a 360 degree view on a book and they are the engine that drives a book and they get involved in all aspects, particularly publicity...' Alexandra Pringle, editor-in-chief, Bloomsbury Publishing, in Bookbrunch. Our Comment.
- The rather wonderful Manchester Poetry and Fiction Prizes 2018 close on 14 September. Open to all writers internationally, they both have a £17.50 entry fee but the winner gets is a magnificent £10,000 ($13,054) for each prize.
- Tips for writers is our 8-part crash course for writers who are starting out, taking you from Promoting Your Writing (and Yourself), from Self-publishing: is it for you? to Keep up to date and Submission to publishers and agents. 'Think about the market for your book. Research the category and read widely to see what other published writers in this area are doing. Which writers are successful and why? Visit bookshops and analyse what you find there. If you are reading this you are probably already writing, but it really is worth thinking right from the beginning about your readers, as that makes it far more likely you'll eventually find them...'
- Amazon's latest figures are astounding and cement its dominance of the book business, particularly self-publishing, as well as the huge inroads it is making in many other areas. Operating income for the second quarter increased from $628 million in the 2nd quarter of 2017 to $3 billion, whilst net income jumped from $197 million to $2.5 billion...' News Review.
- Which service should I choose to help me get my work into good shape for submission or self-publishing? This is the question our page Which service? answers and it then goes on to give a quick rundown on our 20 editorial services for writers, which is the biggest you can find on the internet.
- Our links: knowing what you want from being published will help you find the best way to achieve it, How do I get my book published? You asked Google - here's the answer | Katy Guest | Opinion | The Guardian; here's a contrary but realistic view, No, you probably don't have a book in you | The Outline; his work has influenced all corners of the genre fiction world, from science fiction to mysteries and thrillers, Imaginary History: PW Talks With George R.R. Martin; and the most popular publishing scam of the 1990s by far, reading fees, Publishing Industry Scams Are Evolving For The Self-Publishing Age.
- Are you thinking of submitting your book to an agent? Try our Finding an Agent page or Your Submission package. Our Submission critique service may also help, as it's essential to get your package into the best possible shape before you start submitting.
- More links: a fascinating look at how difficult it is to pin down a plagiariser Do Great Writers Really Steal? On Plagiarism and Publishing | Literary Hub; an amazing look at the biggest trade publisher in the world, with an enormous list of imprints, At PRH, Producing a Publishing Powerhouse; how some indie authors have benefited hugely from Amazon, Amazon's Kindle Unlimited Is a Boon for Some Authors - The Atlantic; and a literary lion's excursion into popular writing, 50 Years Ago, Kingsley Amis Had a Midlife Crisis and Turned to James Bond for Help - The Millions.
- Are you ready to self-publish your poetry? Have you concluded that, given the scarcity of publishers taking on new work, it's too difficult to find a poetry publisher who will take on your collection? You can get your poetry collection edited for self-publishing or submission to publishers using our unique Poetry Collection Editing Service.
- 'People say, ‘What advice do you have for people who want to be writers?' I say, they don't really need advice, they know they want to be writers, and they're gonna do it. Those people who know that they really want to do this and are cut out for it, they know it.' R L Stine in our Writers' Quotes.
