August 2024
- ‘You can offend somebody in the 21st century with something you said in 1970... By the end of the process I was questioning myself, that was the problem. I wrote innocently and I wrote to make people laugh but when I read the book through I thought, gosh, really, is this offensive? And that? And that? Am I all these things? Then I began to think to myself, well how do I know I am not causing offence? And that therefore led me to the conclusion that perhaps it might be better to stick to adult books...' Sensitivity readings by Anthony Horowitz, who juggles writing books, TV series, films, plays and journalism and has written over 52 books, including the Alex Rider series for children, Sherlock Holmes and James Bond novels and murder mysteries for adult readers, including Magpie Murders, in the Evening Standard.
- As well as our highly-regarded Copy editing service, which will help you prepare your manuscript for submission or self-publishing, we have Manuscript Polishing, which provides a higher-level polishing service, English Language Editing for those for whom English is not a native language, the Writer's edit, providing line-editing, and Proof-reading. The Cutting Edit and Developmental editing are two new services. Get the right level of editorial support for your needs from our professional editors. Our low-cost services represent exceptionally good value. Contact us to discuss what you want.
- Advice for writers gives you access to the huge amount of information on the site.
- Our new seven-part Worldbuilding series is designed to help fantasy and science fiction writers think about the various things they need to consider when constructing the world in their novel: 'Fantasy fiction is a niche market, but a very popular niche market. It is particularly popular among new writers, and I suspect this is a consequence of growing up on a diet of best-selling fantasy fiction over the last couple of decades. In this article, I will look at the differences between writing fantasy fiction and other genres, and also the similarities. Then I will look at some of the issues involved in writing fantasy fiction...' This series is just what you need if you want to write in these exciting genres. The titles are: 1: Character names in fantasy novels, 2: The basics of writing fantasy fiction, 3: Geography and physical location, 4: Technology, 5: Culture, 6: Magic and 7: It's a kind of magic.
- Links to writers' stories: the author has no problem embracing the inscrutable and uncanny; it's what fuels his fiction, Jeff VanderMeer Journeys into the Unknown; some decisions we make. Some are made for us. Fiction needs to acknowledge what we can (and can't) change, On Choice, Chance, and Circumstance in Crime Fiction ‹ CrimeReads; the Talking to Strangers author on the perils and joys of internet dating, being a duvet writer, and her own author inspirations, Q&A: novelist Fiona Barton; and it's an author's nightmare, but you're not alone, This Isn't The End: What To Do When Your Publisher Dies ‹ CrimeReads.
- Closing on 13 September, The V S Pritchett Short Story Prize 2025 has an entry fee of £8. Entrants must be citizens of the UK, the Republic of Ireland or the Commonwealth. Stories entered for this prestigious competition must not have been published previously. Any story submitted should be between 2,000 and 4,000 words in length. Entries should be in English.The Prize is £1,000.
- So what's wrong with PDFs? 'If you need your file to be edited, PDF is not the ideal format; in fact, it is practically the worst format you can choose. Why? Precisely because PDFs are designed not to be tampered with or changed. When you stop to think about it, editing is no more or less than a process of changing - and correcting - your file...'
- Links from the publishing world: after sponsor Baillie Gifford ended its support, book festivals urgently need new models to survive financially, The future of UK literary festivals: ‘There is no magic fairy' | Books | The Guardian; 'I'm always on the lookout for stories that are escapist and inclusive...', Ask an Editor Charlie Castelletti, editor at Macmillan Children's Books and First Ink; in a spirited five-day celebration, held August 8-12 at the Scottish Events Campus in Glasgow, Scotland, crowds converged from all over the globe for the 82nd World Science Fiction Convention, In Glasgow, Worldcon Worked to Put Hugos Controversy Behind It; and in advance of the Frankfurt Rights Meeting, Lisanne Mathijssen talks about the challenges facing Dutch publishers, The problem with books in English.
- 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 22 editorial services for writers, which we think is the biggest and most comprehensive you can find on the internet.
- 'Hi, I'm on your email list and just wanted to say thanks for the great emails you put out. I've entered one or two competitions as a result of seeing them on your email and, although I haven't won yet I have come close! But the information you give out is brilliant - so I just wanted to say thanks. Your efforts are appreciated.' Alison Chaplin, Manchester on our Endorsements page.
- More writers' links: a bestselling author whose unflinching crime novels dare to acknowledge the dangers women face in everyday life, Karin Slaughter Won't Fade to Black; author William Gibson and his editor, Malcolm Edwards recall how a seminal SF work came to publication, Neuromancer: the birth of an SF classic; writing and publishing a nonfiction book is a big investment-of time, energy, and often money, Is It a Book? 5 Ways to Test Your Nonfiction Book Idea | Jane Friedman; the New Zealand author channelled her experience of tragedy and mental illness with dazzling results. Now centenary celebrations will ensure her extraordinary vision lives on, From poverty, psychiatric hospital and writing in a shed to literary stardom: Janet Frame at 100 | Autobiography and memoir | The Guardian; and have YA dystopias lost their bite? The Bookseller - Comment - The hellfire club.
- From our 12 part series, Ask the Editor 4: Why do I need you? 'Well yes, in the old days an editor was a necessary part of the writing process. But times change, right? Innovations in digital technology have produced handy editorial software that spots the errors in your writing and corrects or makes suggestions for amending them; online thesauruses offer you options for word and phrase choices to make your writing more exciting and impactful. So with all this new-fangled help just waiting online for your call, you don't need the intervention of an editor. Do you?'
- Are you having difficulty writing a blurb for the cover of your book? Our Blurb-writing service can give your book a professional look. What about your synopsis - often a tricky task for a writer? Our Synopsis-writing service can provide a synopsis of whatever length you need for your submissions.
- 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 concise and essential background information. From Submissions: 'Few editors or agents will give any reasons for rejecting your work. However, if in turning it down they pay you any compliments, you can take them at face value. Publishers don't encourage would-be writers unless they mean it. If your work is rejected six times or more, without any snippets of praise, you should look at it again, to see if you can discover what is wrong. It may be a long time since you last read it, and with fresh eyes you may see glaring faults.'
- Our last set of links cover AI and book Banning: ALCS has described Artificial Intelligence AI company Anthropic's alleged use of "pirated books" to train AI chatbot Claude as "egregious" and "typical of a wider trend." The Bookseller - News - Anthropic sued by trio of US authors over use of 'pirated books' to train AI chatbot Claude; US book bans are being pursued by a vocal, politically motivated minority, Survey Finds Most Americans Unengaged with Book Banning Efforts in Public Schools; and Index on Censorship said 53% of librarians polled had been asked to remove books, Dozens of UK school librarians asked to remove LGBTQ+ books, survey finds | Books | The Guardian.
- From Joanne PhillipsUK-based freelance writer and ghostwriter. She has had articles published in national writing magazines, and has ghostwritten books on subjects as diverse as hairdressing and keeping chickens. Visit her at www.joannephillips.co.uk, The Business of Writing for Self-publishing authors offers terrific advice for all writers: 'Self-publishing authors - also known as ‘indie' authors or author-publishers - have had a steep learning curve these past few years. Getting to grips with the various sales channels available to them, producing top quality ebooks and paperbacks, and finding a place in mainstream outlets have left many writers struggling to keep up with the paperwork. What follows is a brief guide to the essentials your self-publishing business needs - because it is a business, even if you only publish one book!'
- 'There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.' Ernest Hemingway in our Writers' Quotes.
