28 September 2020 - What's new
28 September 2020
- ‘Is the screenwriter, set the task of adapting a novel, whether a famous or forgotten or recently published novel, really an artist? Is there an "art" to adaptation? As someone who has done a fair amount of adapting I have to say I suspect not - the artist is the one who has created the work you're transforming. Adaptation is a craft, rather than an art, I believe. But craftsmen and craftswomen are not to be sniffed at. We are artisans de luxe, if you like, operating in a ruthless industrial medium that not only imposes stringent artistic constraints, but also stringent constraints of budget and ideology and temperament - you often have to work with very difficult, stupid and demanding people. William Boyd, author of many screenplays and 16 novels, including Trio, An Ice-Cream War, A Good Man in Africa and Any Human Heart, in the Sunday Times Culture.
- From our 19-part Inside Publishing series, Subsidiary Rights: 'My first job in publishing was in a subsidiary rights department. I'm ashamed to admit that I accepted the job without having much idea what subsidiary rights were. Many writers may feel just as vague about this part of publishing, so here's a quick breakdown...' and Vanity Publishing: 'It is natural for writers to be eager to get published but it pays to be wary of the vanity publishers who will take your money and give you very little in return...' Vanity publishing is quite distinct from Self-publishing, you need to be aware of the differences.
- A complimentary entry on our Endorsements page; 'Please extend my gratitude to the editor for his/her thoughtful and detailed edit. I could not ask for better work! Its value far exceeded the cost.' Jim, Santa Fe, New Mexico (USA)
- If you need to get your material typed up, but can't face doing the job yourself, Typing manuscripts is a service for writers who have an old or handwritten manuscript or audio tapes, which need typing before they can proceed with reworking, submission or publication.
- Our links from the publishing world: now we've got a 'printer jam'- a tight printing market, Traditional Publishing Enjoys Its Best Sales in a Decade-Despite Supply Chain Problems | Jane Friedman; poet Benjamin Zephaniah said: 'National Poetry Day helps people discover poetry: it doesn't just get them thinking about poetry, it gets them thinking about the world', National Poetry Day highlights revealed as CLiPPA unveils prize shortlist | The Bookseller; they never removed the DRM, We Need to Talk About Audible; this one's a link to a pdf but the subject's of immense importance to authors, Creating a Living (Author incomes falling all over the world); and children's and YA authors and editors cut through any anxiety about digital sessions with candid and powerful discussions about identity, race, mental illness, immigration, history, and art, At Booksellers Conference, Children's Authors Embrace Tough Subjects.
- Our Poetry Critique service enables you to get your poetry assessed before submitting it or entering it for competitions. Are you ready to self-publish your poetry? Have you concluded that, given the scarcity of publishers taking on new work, it's too difficult to find a poetry publisher who will take on your collection? You can get your poetry collection edited for self-publishing or submission to publishers using our unique Poetry Collection Editing Service.
- Our links by and about writers: Brits are all so unfailingly calm and quiet that you literally suspect no-one. Which means, of course, that you end up suspecting everyone, All British People Are Potential Murderers - That's Why We Love Our Mysteries | CrimeReads; to say that independent romance is a beast in romance publishing is a well-known understatement, Indie Romance Books Are Big Business, But Why Aren't We Hearing About It? A new letter from writers, More than 200 writers and publishers sign letter in support of trans and non-binary people | Books | The Guardian; research has found that 19.6% of YA authors published in the UK in 2019 were people of colour, compared with 7.1% in 2017, Number of young adult writers of colour doubles to almost 20% | Books | The Guardian; Published in 100 days from initial idea to hitting the bookshops across the UK, Dear NHS raises £250,000.
- Have you been working on your book? Are you now ready to submit to publishers or to self-publish? We offer the widest range of editorial services on the web, tailored to writers' requirements and carried out by our professional editors, Our Services for writers.
- 'If I had to give young writers advice, I would say don't listen to writers talking about writing or themselves.' Lillian Hellman in our Writers' Quotes.