December 2004

News Review

Check out this year's Bad Sex Award which draws attention to 'the crude, tasteless, often perfunctory use of redundant passages of sexual description in the modern novel, and to discourage it.’
News Review looks at Christmas jitters in the book trade, as sales fall short of expectations, and at the effect of discounting on the UK market - and the opportunity it offers for American publishers.
Clash of the titans - the launch of Google Scholar seems set to get the support of the open access lobby and to be opposed by the large academic publishers who sell subscriptions to online journals, such as Reed Elsevier.

Comment

David Blow offers reassurance about Christmas in Publishing News: Shoppers will pile into the bookshops regardless of any qualms some booksellers might have about this year's range of seasonal bestsellers. They will come in droves. They always do. Wait and see.'
Anita Shreve on how being chosen by Oprah changed her life: 'She chose it because of its cover... It was very exciting, a little frightening to me...'
'Don't get it right, get it written. Most of all, believe in yourself.' Carol Smith, agent-turned-writer, in Writers' Forum magazine

Writers' Quotes

'i never think at all when i write nobody can two things at the same time and do them both well.' Don Marquis

Print on Demand self-publishing

'An author willing to gamble on this self-publishing model can make ten times as much per book sold as compared with royalty income from a major trade house.' We reprint an article from Foner Books showing how, unless your books are bestsellers, publishing your own book can make much more money for you.

How Not to Write a Novel; Confessions of a Midlist Author

Our ninth excerpt from David Armstrong's entertaining book:

This month the author turns to reading aloud:

'Reading work aloud is absolutely essential. There's something about hearing the words you've written, not merely within the confines of your imagination - in your head - but out in the air. Hearing them in this way helps you to tell whether all sorts of things are working - or not.'

What new writers need survey (see below)

Our latest survey results provide a fascinating insight into what new writers want to help them get started. More help from big publishers is a top choice.

Plus many interesting comments, such as: ‘publishing is like an impregnable mountain fortress that has to be broken into by force’

Researching family history?

It's easy on the web! Check out our new page with masses of links to the best sites to get you started.

Ordinary Heroes

Working through WritersPrintshop, Chas Jones of WritersServices has just self-published a book using their own diaries and recollections to reveal the extraordinary true story of a group of British rail workers and miners sent to France right at the beginning of the war.

More work for writers

Kevan Manwaring's storytelling tour round the UK for his book The Long Woman shows how writers can get out there and sell their own work. Catch his tour now!

Bob's Journal goes into its 4th volume

Bob enjoys being back on EastEnders, trying to: 'mentally scrub my more off-the-wall ideas' and come up with good new ones...

'Then write about what you know, goes the old adage. Rubbish, of course. If writers wrote only about what they know, writing would be a very dull occupation. Not to mention reading.'

This week

Our new survey - see below

Good news

Deborah Lawrenson offers a cheering update to the good news about her self-publishing success, as her book shoots up in value in the first edition book market.

My Say

Phyllis McDuff's piece for My Say offers her practical tips on Speaking for Writers and why it is so important as a way of publicising your book.

New Poetry Competition

Academi in Cardiff have announced a new international poetry competition, first prize £5,000.

Review of the new Children's Writers' and Artists' Yearbook

Our reviewer Maureen Kincaid Speller said this was 'a fantastically valuable resource for anyone who wants to venture into this highly specialised area of publishing'

Writers' Forum Column

John Jenkins on the readability of the Booker list, John Humphrys' campaign for correct use of English and The Times going tabloid.

The Editor's View, written by the Editor of Writers' Forum magazine.

We Watch the web for writers

Our latest article updates our piece on Trojan horses with the latest scams

WritersPrintShop

Our design, print and distribution service for self-publishers.