10 January 2022 - What's new
10 January 2022
- ‘If there is anything I believe to be foundational to the business of writing then it is this: writing is work. To frame it in this way is to acknowledge that good writing doesn't come out, fully formed, at two in the morning; and nor does it require anything extraordinary in the way of genius or education, although of course it's possible to have an aptitude for it, and reading helps. Instead, good writing happens, in increments, between everything else that needs to be done... Jessie Greengrass, author of Sight and The High House: A Novel in an article entitled Learning, Practice, and Repetition: Why the Act of Writing Is Work.
- Our article on How to get your book translated into English (without it costing the earth) asks writers with a manuscript which needs translating or has been written in English by a non-native speaker: "if your English is good enough, what about translating your book yourself, or writing in English, and then getting your translation polished and copy edited by a professional editor who is a native English speaker?" This could be a cost-effective way of reaching the international English-speaking market.
- English Language Editing is our polishing service for writers who have translated their work into English or written it in English when it is not their native language. If you need to make sure it's good enough to publish, or send to a publisher, this service is for you. Acknowledging the growth of world English, English Language Editing is designed for the many non-native English speakers throughout the world who want to publish their work in English.
- Other editing services.
- It may surprise you to know that the first of Julie Wheelwright's Top Ten Tips for Nonfiction Writers is: 'Story, story, story. Make sure that your story can sustain several chapters and tens of thousands of words. Keep asking yourself: Why would anyone want to read this story?'
- Our links from the publishing world: good news that there's a booming appetite for crime, sci-fi and romance and it's driving fiction sales, UK book sales in 2021 highest in a decade | Booksellers | The Guardian; a major win against book piracy, Authors Win $7.8 Million Default Judgment in Global Piracy Lawsuit; the stagnation in the industry was stark and filled me with despair, As a black literary agent, I despair at UK publishing's lack of diversity | Natalie Jerome - Verve times; as the London Book Fair announces a face-to-face fair, Bologna Affirms In-Person Plans, Opens Awards to Non-Exhibitors; and it's not always so predictable what they're going to say, 2022 predictions: Industry leaders look at what lies ahead | The Bookseller.
- A new comment from a writer on our Endorsements page: 'Many thanks to you and the Editor for the edits, and the comments. I am really pleased with the services of your company. Will definitely use it again.' Merlin, India
- 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 essential background information.
- Links from writers: 'a blazing book of rage and light, a grand opera of liberation from the shadows of indifference and oppression', Joelle Taylor wins TS Eliot poetry prize for ‘blazing' C+nto & Othered Poems; here's a writer who loved how her book was adapted for the screen, I Wrote A Book. It Was Adapted Into a Movie. Everything Went Really Well. ‹ CrimeReads; what on earth was he doing it for? For want of a motive for the book thief, let's run through some possibilities | Stephanie Merritt | The Guardian; conventional wisdom in the Western literary tradition holds that character determines plot, I'm not mad about Ben Smith; I'm mad at all of this - Poynter; how her teaching career affected her writing, Joanne Harris on how her career as a teacher shaped her career as a writer ‹ CrimeReads; and some writers won't read a word of any novel while they're writing their own, Zadie Smith on Reading While You Write ‹ Literary Hub.
- Working with an agent: 'Don't ever take on an agent you don't like or don't trust, however desperate you may feel. You have to be able to work with them in what should be an extremely important relationship for you as a writer. You must also feel confident that they are competent, enthusiastic about your work and can be trusted, both in terms of the advice they offer and in relation to handling your money...'
- Our Services for Writers is a simple list of the 20 services we offer.
- More links from writers: "Isn't that just vampire romances?" is what they say, but YA is leading the way | The Bookseller; it just shows how much money authors can make, Revenues up £1.3m at Roald Dahl Story Company before Netflix deal earned £370m | The Bookseller; for the boy who would one day become Lee Child, reading was all about escape, The Obscure French Thriller That May Hold the Secrets to Jack Reacher's World ‹ CrimeReads; a 2022 Audit Wish List for publishers, Richard Charkin: A 2022 Publishing Resolution; and my psychotherapy training has been the best preparation for becoming a writer - even more so than my publishing career! Psychotherapy and fiction.
- 'Half the people I know want to be writers... Why do you say want? If you're already doing it, then it's not about the future. It already exists in the present.' Paul Auster in our Writers' Quotes.
