February 2007
The website for writers
News Review
- 'Quick Reads will not solve the world’s problems, but they do provide a way to start engaging the millions of adults who have missed out on the sheer pleasure of reading.' News Review on the 2007 World Book Day initiative.
- 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will hit bookshops on 21 July. But a full five months before the just-announced publication date of the next Harry Potter title, a price war has already broken out.' News Review looks at the last Potter.
- ‘Ultimately it’s not up to Google or the publishers to decide how books will be read. It’s the readers who will have the final say.’ News Review looks at Google Book Search and its e-book plans.
- News Review looks at new evidence on the importance of parents involvement in their children's literacy: 'Amazingly, it is a more powerful force than social class, family size or level of parental education.'
Comment
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'As electronic publishing gains traction, which it clearly somehow must, I can see a sort of parallel emergence... an abbreviated book-writing that is suited to electronic consumption.' Natasha Randall in her New York Notes in Publishing News
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'Dear Louise, thank you for refusing to take no for an answer. For ignoring my in-built hesitance and for giving me the confidence to put pen to paper. And thank you for getting that first little book into people's kitchens.' Nigel Slater in the Observer Food Magazine
- 'I never wanted it and I never expected it and certainly didn't work for it and see it as something that I have to get through, really…' J K Rowling on the nature of fame
Writers' Quote
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'Books choose their authors; the act of creation is not entirely a rational and conscious one.'
Salman Rushdie
WritersServices powers ahead
WritersServices goes from strength to strength. Every week over 60,000 visitors come to the site, with over 3 million in 2006 and 4 million expected this year. And there's a big new launch to come...
Promoting your book sales online
Here are some online options for selling books through Amazon, including Marketplace, Associates, Astore and Advantage.
Win a website of your own - winners announced
Londoner Rebecca Hazel is one of the two winners. Her winning story, An Introduction to the Internet and that of the other winner
Notes for designers
If you want to self-publish and plan to design your own book, here are some notes to help you do it.
Pop-up Blockers
Do some things just not work on your computer? You might need to deal with any software that prevents pop-up windows. They can be a nuisance but they are also useful when you want to access the many features offered by websites.
International Book Fairs
Our updated listing for 2007 of book fairs across the globe. Perhaps there's one near you?
Review
Your First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb is: 'an excellent tutorial and reference source for anyone who wants to become more than a weekend scribbler... with a book like this on your desk, you stand a much better chance of succeeding.'
Our new audio section
Check out our new audio section. This shows you how to record your work using the facilities built into your computer. You can start with Preparing your story and How to start recording.
It's easier than you think, so get recording! We'll provide a site for you to podcast your work soon.
Bob's Journal goes into its 7th volume
Bob on the new colour of his office, what he needs around him to write and the search for the GLA (Greatest Living Author):
'My own opinion is that the popularity of these games illustrates a sad truth about contemporary fiction, namely that it is often more of a pleasure to write about than to read.'
John Jenkins on phrases to spice up your French, the peculiarities of the school syllabus, Lord Archer's latest big deal and Enid Blyton, whose Famous Five series is about to be made into another TV series:
' Blyton wrote around 800 books and her sales topped 400 million copies so she must have been doing something right. She was also translated into 90 languages.'
Shakespeare, Tolstoy and Flaubert were pretty good at it.'
WritersPrintShop
We have revamped our WritersPrintShop website with lots more information. If you're thinking about self-publishing, this is the place to find out what's involved. If you're ready to go ahead, our high quality service is second to none and there's an economy version for those who want to tackle some of the work themselves. You can estimate the cost for yourself.
We Watch the web for writers
See also Finding an agent for how to go about getting someone to represent you.
Where next for the web
Web 2.0 is the next development for the Internet, and then there's Web 3.0. So what does it all mean?
Our Editorial Services for writers
Check out the 16 different editorial services we offer, from Reports to Copy editing, Typing to Contract vetting.
Most recent Magazines
Previous serials & extracts
WritersServices.com Magazine February 2007