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Insider tip
The biggest key to voice is not worrying about it. Bad style often comes from trying too hard to imitate the style of other writers. Gotham Writers' Workshop: Writing Fiction-
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Covers, confusion and comedy
I’ve always thought the advice not to judge a book by its cover particularly unhelpful.
Because there are so many titles competing for our attention, what else do we have to go on?
Surely the publishers, having read their own books, must be the best people to represent them to their chosen market? This thought comes into particular force when I am looking for a third book in a three-for-two promotion – there are always two I know I want, so I find myself looking in the rest of the pile for covers that attract my attention.
Read more
Trying to tweet
Filed under: Marketing Yourself
I am quite comfortable with technology, but it takes me some time to get started. I remember clearly telling my physics teacher that I would never need to use a computer because I was going to work with books…
I’ve got fond of blogs, and like updating my website. (Only after getting blow-by-blow instructions from my web designer. And then another set of instructions after the first ones didn’t stay in my brain.)
Twitter remained a mystery. It sounded nervy, I knew Stephen Fry spent a lot of time on there, Read more
Children’s books giveaway – winners!
We’re really pleased to announce the five winners of our Children’s books giveaway competition. All of the following entrants win a copy of How Ali Ferguson Saved Houdini (RRP £5.99) by Elen Caldecott.
- Dawn Totton (Newcastle)
- Katherine Grieve (Stockport)
- David Walker (Castleford)
- Heather Simpson (Dunfermline)
- Robin Brooksbank (Derby)
Congratulations to all of our winners. And if you’d like to stand a chance of winning one of our great prizes, please keep an eye on the site for future competitions.
‘Tis the season – for children’s events
Janey Louise Jones, author of bestselling Princess Poppy books, talks about her experiences of literary events for children, the art of making the perfect tiara and why the events are crucial to her job as an author.
It coincides with the wedding season, and it’s nearly as stressful. Read more
Share the creative energy
A group of writers gathered together has a very particular feel to it. There is a physical presence that lives on in the mind, long after the event itself is over. Why is this? Perhaps because the time lived out (as opposed to the time planned) is always unexpected; you cannot predict how it will work.
You may book speakers to take part but cannot predict Read more
iPad book versions: a risk worth taking?
Filed under: Authors and Books, Digital publishing
Simon Winchester tells us – from an author’s perspective – what’s involved in making a book version for the iPad.
The final weeks before the birth of a new book are always exciting and nail-bitingly tense for its author – and as I have a book about the Atlantic Ocean coming out in October, this is the waiting-outside-the-headmaster’s-study moment, with me hoping against hope all will be well.
But this year things are rather different, Read more
How to win a 2011 Yearbook – in just one minute
If you’d like to get your hands on a shiny new copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2011 or the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2011, then enter our ‘one-minute’ Twitter competition today.
To enter, you have to do two things. They’ll take about one minute of your time, and then you’ll be Read more
When self-publishing makes sense – and how to market your book
New chapter online now – and free to read
If you’re a fan of our Writers’ Zone, you’ll almost certainly be following our serialisation of Alison Baverstock’s Marketing Your Book: An Author’s Guide.
Alison’s book is essential reading if you plan to see your work published.
From the moment you reach the first page, Alison is by your side guiding you through the labyrinth of the publishing world.
She provides you with practical and proven tips every step of the way – from submitting your manuscript, finding an agent and approaching a publisher, to working with booksellers and even organising a great launch event.
We’ve now added a new chapter – the eighth – where you’ll find advice on Read more
Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2011 – now available
Filed under: Authors and Books, Getting Published, Writing Advice
It doesn’t seem long ago that I was writing a post to announce the publication of the 2010 edition of the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. How time flies when you’re having fun…
That’s not far from the truth when it comes to the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook. I love putting this book together for the simple reason that I love what’s in it. I truly think the content is more than good – it’s great: Read more
Winners of Qatari Voices giveaway!
We’re delighted to announce the 5 winners of our recent Qatari Voices book giveaway.
We’d like to congratulate Deirdre Daglish, Andrea Quigley, Jean Webster, Shankutkumar Somaiya and Robert Webber, who each win a copy of the Qatari Voices anthology, published by Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing.
And don’t forget to keep an eye on this website for more book giveaways!
Buy the 2011 Yearbook
The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is available at a discount from our online bookshop. Get all the information, contacts and advice you could need.On camera: Jon McGregor
"Being longlisted for the Booker Prize changed everything - it was the launchpad for my writing career." Click to view our video with novelist Jon McGregor »
On camera: Justin Cartwright
"Just write... If you're any good you may not know it, but certainly someone else will." Click to view our video with novelist Justin Cartwright »
On camera: Julie Myerson
The novelist and journalist Julie Myerson on how she got that all-important first publishing deal. Click here to view our video exclusive »