March 2023
- ‘When I first started out I wasn't even allowed to kill anyone. People were worried about it. And then it got more and more daring as we went along... I would never do real-world fears. A kid has to know it's fantasy. If I establish that, then I can go pretty far with the scares. One thing kids insist on is a happy ending I did this book called The Best Friend where the good girl is taken away as the murderer and the murderer gets off scot-free. And kids hated this book. The mail was amazing: "Dear R L Stine, You idiot - how can you do that?" They just couldn't accept it. I never tried it again. That book haunted me...' The late R L Stine, author of 530 books for children and young people, including the Goosebumps and Fear Street series, in the Sunday Times Culture.
- As well as our highly-regarded Copy editing service, which will help you prepare your manuscript for submission or self-publishing, we have Manuscript Polishing, which provides a higher-level polishing service, English Language Editing for those for whom English is not a native language, the Writer's edit, providing line-editing, and Proof-reading. The Cutting edit and Developmental editing are two new services. Get the right level of editorial support for your needs from our professional editors. Our low-cost services represent exceptionally good value. Contact us to discuss what you want.
- Here's an interesting new prize - The Oxford Pushkin Children's Fantasy Prize. It's open to all fantasy novelists at the beginning of their career. The prize is £2000, and the opportunity for mentorship with an editor at Pushkin Children's Books. Closing 31 May.
- The Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize is also till open.
- 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...'
- Links from publishers: this sounds like the final word in this important case, In a Swift Decision, Judge Eviscerates Internet Archive's Scanning and Lending Program; if it's done well it can offer authors the greatest freedom as well as the greatest rewards, Self publishing: the freedom, the rewards; surprising reading format preferences, Gen Zers Are Bookworms but They're Ditching E-Books for the Real Thing; a stunning 1,269 demands to censor US library books and resources, ALA Reports Shocking Increase in Attempted Book Bans in 2022; it's important for authors too, Book production: why you need to know how it works; and 'an exciting new way of expressing my love for books and literature that also interested thousands of viewers', We are all influencers now.
- From our Endorsements page: 'I am delighted with the feedback and so pleased with all the great suggestions which were so much more than I expected. A really brilliant service.' Sally Gibbins , Birmingham, UK, on her children's copy editing.
- Are you struggling to get someone to look at your poetry? Our Poetry Critique service for up to 150 lines of poetry can help. Our Poetry Collection Editing, unique to Writersservices, edits your collection to prepare it for submission or self-publishing. Both can provide the professional editorial input you need.
- The second part of Tips for Writers is Learn on the job: 'It's really difficult to work on your writing on your own, so think about joining a writers' group. These have sprung up all over the place and offer mutual support, discussion and critiquing. Groups are not for everyone, but for many writers they provide companionship on the lonely road to publication. If you can't find a local writers' group which feels right for you and which is open to new members, you could consider starting your own...'
- Links from writers: for centuries, fictional narratives have used outer difference to telegraph inner monstrosity, The disabled villain: why sensitivity reading can't kill off this ugly trope | Disability | The Guardian; few things in life excite me more than doing research for a new novel, The Joys of Researching Your Next Novel ‹ CrimeReads; how do you plot a murder mystery? Backwards, was Jesse Sutanto's solution, Almost breaking my brain; sales of romantic fiction continue to boom, but with the genre often accused of being formulaic, Are romance authors at risk from book-writing chatbots? - BBC News; I think much of my writing has been an expression of my own longing to have some sort of connective string, Jennifer Rosner on Crafting Evocative Historical Fiction That Honors the Past ‹ Literary Hub; and I've had a manuscript locked in a drawer for three and a half years now, To All the Novels I Never Published - The Millions.
- From Tom Chalmers, formerly of IPR, two articles about rights for self-publishers, Self-publishing - the rights way and How to get your book in the hands of an international audience. 'It's a fact that most self-published authors understand the process that takes them from a written manuscript to a published book, but few realise the additional elements that make publishing a profitable business. Rights licensing is arguably the most vital element in this equation. Whether it's selling translation rights, audio rights or optioning the film rights, these all help balance the book's books...'
- Our Services for Writers provides links to the 22 services we offfer, which we think is the widest range on the web.
- Worldbuilding 2: the basics of writing fantasy fiction, is the second in our new five-part series, 'Fantasy fiction is a niche market, but a very popular niche market. It is particularly popular among new writers, and I suspect this is a consequence of growing up on a diet of best-selling fantasy fiction over the last couple of decades. This article will look at the differences between writing fantasy fiction and other genres, and also the similarities. Then I will look at some of the issues involved in writing fantasy fiction.'
- Our last set of links is about children's writing: my mother, Ursula K. Le Guin, took Roald Dahl's books to task, Why I Decided to Update the Language in Ursula K. Le Guin's Children's Books ‹ Literary Hub; recent research has revealed that although there is a lot of enthusiasm for teaching poetry, there isn't much training available, CLPE and MCB team up for The Big Amazing Poetry Project; it's been the subject of many different debates, A Brief History of Children's Books and Literature | Book Riot.
- From Joanne PhillipsUK-based freelance writer and ghostwriter. She has had articles published in national writing magazines, and has ghostwritten books on subjects as diverse as hairdressing and keeping chickens. Visit her at www.joannephillips.co.uk, The Business of Writing for Self-publishing authors offers terrific advice for all writers: 'Self-publishing authors - also known as ‘indie' authors or author-publishers - have had a steep learning curve these past few years. Getting to grips with the various sales channels available to them, producing top quality ebooks and paperbacks, and finding a place in mainstream outlets have left many writers struggling to keep up with the paperwork. What follows is a brief guide to the essentials your self-publishing business needs - because it is a business, even if you only publish one book!'
- 'Modesty is a virtue not often found among poets, for almost every one of them thinks himself the greatest in the world.' Miguel de Cervantes in our Writers' Quotes.
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