4 March 2024 - What's new
4 March 2024
- 'You want to write the twist so that it doesn't suddenly come out of nowhere. I tried to see a few things so that (the reader) thinks, of course! But it is hard to get that balance I think, of trying to get a twist in that is unguessable but not too "out there"... Writing in lockdown, 'So that was a bit of freedom in a way, I didn't have any expectations almost. Now there's a bit more pressure because you want to keep writing books that people are going to like. But I try not to think too much about it because otherwise I don't think I'd write anything!' Claire Douglas, author of 8 books, including The Girls Who Disappeared (a Richard and Judy Book Club choice), The Couple at No 9 and The Wrong Sister (to be published in March) in The Boookseller.
- Our new five-part Worldbuilding series is designed to help fantasy and science fiction writers think about the various things they need to consider when constructing the world in their novel: '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. In this article, I 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...' This series is just what you need if you want to write in these exciting genres. The titles are: 1: Character names in fantasy novels, 2:The basics of writing fantasy fiction, 3: Geography and physical location, 4: Technology and 5: 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.
- From our 19-part Inside Publishing series: Advances and Royalties: 'Writers are generally paid a royalty based on their book sales. The way it works is fairly complicated, so if you have an agent to represent you, you should take their advice on any offer you receive from a publisher. But if you don't have an agent, then make sure you check any contract carefully. You're still faced with the problem of knowing what to expect and what it all means. Publishers usually offer to pay authors advances against royalties. How do you work out how much money you might earn from your book? You need to understand for yourself how advances and royalties work and what they mean for you.
- Our first set of links are on writers' craft: you're starting to panic, because what if you never write anything again? Barbara Dee on How She Got Her Writing 'Unstuck'; the setting is an important part of any series of books and is often informed by a deep connection the author has with the location they have chosen, On the Freedoms and Horrors of Creating a Fictional Setting For Your Murder Mystery ‹ CrimeReads; the ability to tell a passionate, engaging story to twelve complete strangers and to take them with me when I do it? That's storytelling', Q&A: barrister and author Tony Kent; how to grab your readers' attention with your poetry by making things strange, Making Strange: how to write captivating poetry | National Centre for Writing | NCW; and reading thrillers is like solving a puzzle, Q&A: novelist C L Taylor.
- From our Endorsements page, 'Today I only want to say, "thank you". DM has done a truly great job. I have worked with her suggestions which have brought clarity and depth to my subject. Her work on my punctuation is brilliant. As I read through the manuscript now, it is like gliding on silk.' Helena Dodds
- Making submissions gives you the lowdown on making an effective submission.
- Here's a detailed article on how to prepare Your submission package - 'Given the difficulty of getting agents and publishers to take on your work, it's really important to make sure that you present it in the best possible way. Less is more, so don't send a full manuscript, as it's very unlikely to be read. Far better to tempt them with a submission package that will leave them wanting to see the rest of the manuscript...'
- Links from the publishing world: 'Making publishing an industry where people without any kind of financial back-up can work would help the industry become more inclusive', Ask An Editor: Judith Long, fiction editor at Simon & Schuster UK; they are facing a controversy of intergalactic proportions, Hugo Awards Censorship Controversy: What's in Leaked Emails? Last year's e-book sales were influenced by celebrity authors and BookTok hashtags and proved that the independent and hybrid publishing model can compete in the digital space, The Bookseller - Spotlight - Self-published authors teach us a lesson; and everything that can go wrong will go wrong, Richard Charkin: Unintended Consequences in Publishing.
- Do you need to get your material typed up, but can't face doing the job yourself? We can provide a clean typed version of your work at very competitive rates. Our service offers help for writers who have an old or handwritten manuscript, or a printed book which needs re-typing, before the writer can proceed with revision, submission or publication. Typing manuscripts
- Writers' stories - they're just a bit of fun, but in a rare moment of inspiration we wrote some fictionalised stories of how the services could turn out, to give you a better idea of how they might work for you. Joe's fantasy novel benefited from some professional editing, when he signed up for an Editor's Report Plus. Tony needed Copy editing to get his manuscript into shape for publication or self-publishing...
- Have you managed to find a publisher for your work and are you now enjoying the thrill of knowing that your book will soon be published? If you're wondering what happens next, here is a helpful outline of the processes involved. Preparing for publication
- Links about AI and social media: it has only been a little over a year since ChatGPT rampaged into our modern lives, Can You Make A Living As An Author? 4 Publishing Experts Weigh In; a federal judge in California this week dismissed four of six claims made by authors, Court Trims Authors' Copyright Lawsuit Against Open AI; a new generation of romance novel consumers has moved a long-standing three-way conversation between reader, writer and publisher onto social media, How social media is influencing the romance novel genre - and wider trends in fiction | CBC Books; social media trends such as 'BookTok' on TikTok had been "hugely positive", Social media helping young people read 'proper' books, says Waterstones chief | The Independent.
- Get your manuscript typed up so that you can revise it, submit it or publish it. Do you need to get your material typed up, but can't face doing the job yourself? Our service offers help for writers who have an old or handwritten manuscript which needs re-typing before the writer can proceed with submission or publication. Typing manuscripts
- More writers' links: for budding authors, the submissions process can be daunting, The Bookseller - Comment - Pride and pigeonholes; after months of criticism and an open letter signed by Ian McEwan and Alan Hollinghurst the charity confirms referral is in process, Royal Society of Literature refers itself to Charity Commission as authors pen petition | Books | The Guardian; a Behind-the-Scenes Look at Crime Writing for Teens and Adult, YA Authors Kit Frick and Kara Thomas On Writing Their Debut Adult Thrillers ‹ CrimeReads; and you might be forgiven for thinking that there is no longer such a thing as a children's author, The frustrating rise of celebrities 'writing' children's books - The Spectator World.
- Do you want to self-publish your work? WritersServices offers a suite of services which help writers get their work into shape before they self-publish. Get your manuscript ready for your publication - Services for Self-publishers.
- 'The English language is an arsenal of weapons. If you are going to brandish them without checking to see whether or not they are loaded, you must expect to have them explode in your face from time to time.' Stephen Fry in our Writers' Quotes.
