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23 December 2013 - What's new

23 December 2013
  • 'The world of big literary prizes has become much more complicated. It used to be just the Booker amongst English-language prizes which was of international interest, in spite of the fact that only UK and Commonwealth authors' books could be entered...' News Review
  • Book Aid International feels like it might be the right charity for writers to support - it sends books to sub-Saharan Africa, supporting access to books and developing literacy in some of the world's most needy countries. Last year it provided 548,018 new books to over 3,300 libraries and it has sent more than 30 million books to partner libraries since 1954. Through its ingenious Reverse Book Club you can stock a community library for £6 a month, whilst £10 a month will stock a hospital with a collection of life-saving books.'
  • 'I remember writing at the end of 2012 that whatever else 2013 brings, the only thing we can all rely on is that we'll know a little bit more by the end of the year than we knew heading into it. Digital does not move in a digital way. The year asked more questions that we knew we had to answer. There are constants. Readers still read, writers still write. Everything in-between these two poles is up for grabs, however. How readers will read, and the types of content they will want to read, are moveable items.' Philip Jones, Editor of the Bookseller, in Futurebook, quoted in our Comment column.
  • This week's Writing Opportunity is something different. Inspired by my Museum closes on 10 February and is open to writers over 16 from all over the world.
  • The eleven My Say contributions writers have sent us show an amazing range of views. Why don't you send us a short piece about your writig life and experiences to go on the site - we'd love to hear from you.
  • This week's links are a varied bunch: The best literary spats of 2013 | Books | The Guardian, Could subscription services help curb book piracy? - Telegraph, BBC News - Author Nick Spalding's top 10 self-publishing tips, Trident Media Group's Robert Gottlieb on Re-Engineering The Role of Literary Agents | Digital Book World and Report from 2013 International Publishers Association Conference | Publishing Perspectives.
  • 'At one time I thought the most important thing was talent. I think now that the young man or the young woman must possess or teach himself, training himself, in infinite patience, which is to try and to try until it comes right. He must train himself in ruthless intolerance - that is to throw away anything that is false no matter how much he might love that page or that paragraph. William Faulkner in our Writers' Quotes.