15 January 2024 - What's new
15 January 2024
- ‘I enjoyed being a journalist. It was fun and my press pass got me into police departments, which was invaluable as a crime writer. But my plan was always to write novels... I'm way beyond just writing a good tight plot puzzle whodunnit. You've got to have something that makes you feel like there's a higher game to it. It almost feels like a duty, with this amazing life I've been given, not to mail it in...' Michael Connelly, author of 38 novels, including The Black Echo and Resurrection Walk, which have sold 85 million copies worldwide, in The Times.
- Our latest new article in the Ask the Editor series is Ask the editor 9: Why do I need a report? 'Writing is, in some respects, an isolated and isolating occupation; but it doesn't have to be. Feedback, particularly if it comes from an informed, professional reader, is invaluable. However confident you are in your own abilities, a fresh pair of eyes can only help, spotting characteristics and quirks of your writing that you perhaps haven't noticed before, and pointing out ways in which your work can be even better. I think a good report is an advantage to every writer, but there are two groups of authors for whom they are especially useful...'
- ‘The People's Friend's 155th Anniversary Bursary Competition closes on 5 February. UK entries only, over 18. There is no entry fee and the prize for writing a story in one of three categories is a £10,000 writing bursary.
- Three other competitions are still open.
- If you're looking for a report on your manuscript, how do you work out which one of our three reports would suit you best? Which Report? includes our latest top-of-the range service, the Editor's Report Plus, introduced by popular demand to provide even more detail. This very substantial report takes the form of a chapter-by-chapter breakdown and many writers have found that this detail helps them to get their book right. Through our specialist children's editors we can offer reports on children's books.
- Links on new technology and AI: An AI-generated imitation of her book appeared on Amazon, Scammy AI-Generated Books Are Flooding Amazon | WIRED; last year was the biggest ever for History & Military in Britain since accurate records began, The Bookseller - Features - Podcasts help historical titles soar in 2023 as publishers look to tie-ins and audio originals; if a publisher's titles aren't available on Amazon, it might as well close shop and find a new line of business, Throwing the Book at Amazon's Monopoly Hold on Publishing | The Nation; and millions of its articles "used to train chatbots that now compete with it", AI: Copyright Challenges Now Include a New York Times Lawsuit.
- From our Endorsements page: 'I've used two services with this company: The Editor's Plus Report and the Writer's Edit. I am completely satisfied with the service I received and said service has led to the completion and publication of my first novel: Lightforce. I would recommend any of these services to any aspiring author.' Jason Handleman, author of Lightforce (Everything Changes Book 1)
- How to get your book translated into English (without it costing the earth) asks writers who are not native English speakers with a manuscript which needs polishing or translating: "If your English is good enough, what about translating your book yourself or writing in English, and then getting your work polished and copy edited by a professional editor who is a native English speaker?" This could be a cost-effective way of reaching the international English-speaking market, using our English Language Editing service.
- Top Ten Tips for Nonfiction Writers from from Julie Wheelwright, programme director, MA Creative Writing Nonfiction, City University, London: 'Story, story, story. Make sure that your story can sustain several chapters and tens of thousands of words. Keep asking yourself: Why would anyone want to read this story? Show rather than tell. With narrative nonfiction writing you should have plenty of opportunities to develop drama...'
- Links to writers' stories and craft: in this article, we're sharing tools and techniques you can use to overcome psychological barriers, and push yourself to write your best work yet, Top tips to help you achieve your writing goals in 2024 | National Centre for Writing | NCW; Mari Hannah on the close-to-home events behind her new novel, Who knew Georgina? When The Fury of Beijing is published at the start of the new year, it will be the 19th book in the Ava Lee series, Ian Hamilton On The Joys and Sorrows of Finishing a Series ‹ CrimeReads; and Maria Frances has drawn on a true story for her novel Daughters of Warsaw, Irena Sendler: a woman of selfless courage.
- Our 22 services for writers, which we think is the largest available on the web.
- Our 19 Factsheets from the legendary Michael Legat are full of tips for the new writer or anyone who is trying to get their book published. From Literary agents to Copyright, from Libel to Submissions, this series is full of essential background information.
- Working with an agent: 'Don't ever take on an agent you don't like or don't trust, however desperate you may feel. You have to be able to work with them in what should be an extremely important relationship for you as a writer. You must also feel confident that they are competent, enthusiastic about your work and can be trusted, both in terms of the advice they offer and in relation to handling your money...'
- Links from the publishing world: big and small screen adaptations have still played a big role in shifting units for the book trade, The Bookseller - Features - Hollywood industrial action hits production but screen adaptations still provide huge boosts to books; writers struggling to hit their deadlines are a sign of deeper issues in the industry, The Bookseller - Comment - Author productivity is a publishing problem; the results of its 2022 Survey, Authors Guild Surveys Literary Translators on Labor Conditions; female authors fared very well at the top of the PW overall bestseller list, Women Ruled the 2023 Bestseller List; and the giant US bookstore chain has big plans, The Bookseller - News - Barnes & Noble hopes to open 50 shops in 2024 amid strong sales and 'significant growth'
- Authors often find it difficult to write their own synopsis for submission to publishers, which is where our Synopsis-writing service can help. If you're preparing to self-publish and having difficulty with your blurb, our Blurb-writing service will make your book stand out.
- If you are submitting your work to an agent or directly to a publishing house, check through our guidelines to give it its best chance. Making submissions.
- Get your manuscript typed up! Do you need to get your material typed up, but can't face doing the job yourself? We can provide a clean typed version of your work at very competitive rates. Our Typing manuscripts service offers help for writers who have an old or handwritten manuscript which needs re-typing before the writer can proceed with revision, submission or publication.
- A miscellany of links: what's behind the boom? And how do non-famous writers feel about it? Keanu and co: how celebrities became bestselling novelists | Publishing | The Guardian; I cannot begin a book without first reading the acknowledgements, An Ode to Acknowledgements ‹ Literary Hub; calling for a commitment to a long-term investment in books and reading for children under seven, The Bookseller - News - Morpurgo unites Children's Laureates in call for national investment in early years reading; attempting to reach those who face the greatest barriers to reading, The Bookseller - News - Book Aid International donated 1.2 million books in 2023.
- There are some sensational research resources for writers on the web. The search engines and other directories have made these accessible. But it helps to understand a little about how they work. The Web as a Research tool
- 'You have to follow your own voice. You have to be yourself when you write. In effect, you have to announce, "This is me, this is what I stand for, this is what you get when you read me. I'm doing the best I can - buy me or not - but this is who I am as a writer."' David Morrell in our Writers Quotes page.
- If quotes are your thing, we have a huge back catalogue in More Writers Quotes and Even More Quotes.
