Douglas Burcham writes another (maybe last) post in his “Writing and Reading for Pleasure” series. 1.0 Introduction On 1st June 2020 I celebrated being a writer for ten years. Writing is not a short-term activity. The first three years – a million words of draft modern fantasy fiction and then five years of not…
5 Tips on Writing for Children | Guest Post
Writing for children is not as easy as it seems. Compared to adults, children are more difficult to please, and their literary taste are harder to satisfy. When writing for children, it is always necessary to strike a balance between being amusing but not bewildering; reflective but not condescending; and distinct but not complex. If you…
The Half-Life of Published Works is Shrinking. Here’s What Publishers Need to Do – Paul Perry | Guest Post
Less than two minutes. That’s how long the average user spends on a website consuming content that interests them. The old days of publishing are long gone. Captive audiences no longer subscribe to a few news outlets, spending hours consuming one or more newspapers or magazines in their entirety over morning coffee. These days, people graze…
Ages of Bestselling Authors – Francesca Bjorkegren | Guest Post
In The Book, a small publishing house, has undertaken research on the age of New York Times bestselling authors when they published their first bestseller. From this, they have created an interactive index to look at, in a new way, how old each bestselling author was when they published their very first bestselling work of…
Do Traditional Publishers Hate Self-Published Authors? – Joseph McLean | Guest Post
As far as sticking points go in the literary world, publishing tops the list of controversies. Why? Well, to put it mildly, some authors simply want to be able to publish their works, or self-publish as it’s commonly called, while others hold the notion that literary works have to follow the ‘normal’ or traditional route…
Self-Publish or Not: Advice from a Traditional Publisher – Joseph McLean | Guest Post
Only a couple of decades ago, book publishing used to be a long and challenging process. But the situation has changed drastically thanks to the rise of digital technologies, so now almost anyone can choose to publish a book on his/her own. Self-publishing has become a major trend in the literary universe. The latest studies…
6 Reasons Why Your Book Isn’t Getting Published – Paige Wheeler | Guest Post
So, you’ve finished your manuscript. Congratulations! If you want to publish your book through the traditional channels, that means you’re going to need to start looking for an agent or submitting your book to publishers, (but if you want to get published by one of the five major publishers, you’ll need to get an agent).…
Unlock Your Creative Writing Potential – Piper McIntosh | Guest Post
Whatever your practice, creativity is essential in the writing and publishing profession. Aren’t we always searching for a new way to creatively tell a story? In a world where everyone has a platform and everyone is a storyteller, it is more important than ever to ensure you are able to articulate your craft in a…
Writing Fiction? These 5 Contemporary Short Stories Will Inspire You – Emily Marchant | Guest Post
As an aspiring writer, or even one who has successfully had work published, you are constantly on the search for inspiration for that next story, and inspiration can be drawn from a multitude of eclectic sources. Nothing should be considered off-limits in that, if your voice is genuine, the original source of the story, as…
12 Female Literary Characters Who Are Total Role Model Material – Hannah Chamberlain | Guest Post
Whether they’re delivering sick burns to unwanted suitors, surviving unbearable conditions against all odds, sticking to their values in the face of harsh opposition, or smashing the patriarchy with their legit goddess powers, it seems like there’s nothing these female literary characters can’t do. And, because life is like that, you can bet these literary…