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4 March 2013 - What's new

4 March 2013

 'Are creative writing courses just an expensive con, or do they really help writers with their writing and subsequent careers as writers? Many writers have spent a lot of money on courses, sometimes expensive one year Creative Writing MAs, but have these done anything more than make money for the organisations running the courses? It's hard to be sure, because this is something no-one wants to talk about and of course some writers do benefit and find a publisher for their work.' News Review

Here's the shortlist for the 2012 Diagram Prize.  It looks like it's going to be make this a serious challenger for the barmiest year ever. It's run by the Bookseller (the UK book trade weekly) with input from dedicated odd title hunters from all over the world. The prize, set up in association with the Diagram Group, has been running since 1978 and is a joyous celebration of the barmy side of publishing.

If you want editorial input from our professional editors, have a look at our Services, especially our Copy editing, Editor's Report,  Submission Critique and Children's Services.  Also available is Synopsis writing, Contract Vetting, Manuscript Typing  and our latest addition, Blurb-writing.

'No longer was I the only mad woman in the attic. I went to an RNA weekend in Bournemouth. I had to get the train and I arrived late, and I knew no one, apart from the main speaker. And I only knew her because she'd been on television. But it was so wonderful meeting other people with the same obsession. Because when you're a writer, it's very difficult to explain what you do to those who have no concept of what it's like...' Katie Fforde, author of A French Affair and President of the UK Romantic Novelists' Association, quoted in our Comment column.

Have you managed to find a publisher for your work and are now enjoying the thrill of knowing that your book will soon be published? If you're wondering what happens next, here is an outline of the processes involved: Preparing for Publication.

'Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.' E L Doctorow in our Writers' Quotes.

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