This week Wellington has been celebrating writers. As part
of the International Festival of the Arts (held every two years) a week is devoted to writers. An eclectic mix of genres including literary and poets was
represented. Stars like recent Booker prize winner Eleanor Catton, Tom Keneally,
Marcus Chown and Jung Chang along with children’s book luminaries Ulf Stark
from Sweden and Leo Timmers from Belgium.
Writers feasted their ears for pearls of wisdom, feasted
their eyes on books, or just feasted with friends and discussed books, writing,
their dwindling budget and soaring credit card.
The independent bookshop Unity made a brand statement all
over Wellington as they held bookstalls outside all the writer venues with
copies of the speaker’s books. Their distinctive Unity bag was everywhere on
the streets.
For those unable to get to Wellington this week, bloggers
Maria Gill and Phillipa Werry provide some excellent notes on sessions they
attended. Thank you to Kathryn Carmody and her team for all their efforts in
bringing together such a great lineup.
Around the publishing blogosphere comment is still
continuing over ACX and their dropping royalty payment. Porter devotes an Ether post to the discussion...because
Amazon owns ACX will royalty payments for ebooks also drop?
Another post getting comment is Mike Shatzkin’s. Mike
initially got the wrong end of the stick when commenting on a Huffington Post
article by Mark Coker on data but then he crunched the numbers himself and
found he was backing up Mark’s claims of Indie earnings.
Bob Mayer takes a look at the interview with the Harlequin
CEO and shakes his head. Does Harlequin know who their competitors are now? Bob points out some facts the CEO overlooked.
Warrior writers has a great post from an editor/agent on taking criticism like a pro. This piece echoes discussions I have had with other
writers this week talking shop after various writer events.
Maya Rodale has an interesting article in Huffington Post on Serial Fiction and a new app called Rooster which chunks a book for you in 15
minute bites so you can read on your
phone.
Jane Friedman has a free article from Scratch to read (you
need to create a login but it is worth it) Four agents talk about the business
and what they are doing. Kristin Nelson is doing some interesting things with
her digital arm which echoes this guest post on Joel Friedlander’s site this week. It will turn your ideas of content upside down.
In the Craft Section,
Sarah Megibow on having an Emotionally Healthy Publishing Career
Elisabeth S Craig talks about writing in longhand (something
I do.) and the differences it makes to thinking about your writing.
K M Weiland on tying up loose ends in your story.
James Scott Bell on writing the middle first...brilliant
post from the master!
Jami Gold on Beat Sheets...Bookmark!
In the Marketing Section,
Joanna Penn on Changing Book Covers...this is an interesting
look at what works and what doesn’t and the emotional connection of the reader.
Website of the week...Two again.
Darcy Pattison has a wealth of information for the writer on
her website. Check out this one on using spreadsheets to keep track of characters.
To Finish,
Chuck Sambuchino from Writer’s Digest’s Agent’s blog
profiles new agents and updates books regularly. There is a contest on his blog for midgrade contemporary novels looking for agent representation. You have to
spread the word to enter the contest. An interesting way to run a
contest...win/win. (and No, I am NOT entering I’m full up on midgrade SciFi.)
Pic from Shodan
Flickr/Creative Commons
http://www.flickr.com/photos/klauspost/92783024
