Category Archives: Publishers

The Good, the Bad and the Unsolicited.

Posted on 17 February, 2010 by Kevin Bennett

How do we, the unpublished writers, get the attention of publishers? Most of them suggest we get agents, and most agents suggest we get lost! I thought I would try to get an inroad into one publishing house by being … Continue reading →

Posted in Agents: can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em, Publishers, Writers in action | 1 Comment

You never told me you were a writer…(extended version)

Posted on 19 September, 2009 by Sam Ellis

Writing from a work experience perspective… Continue reading →

Posted in Agents: can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em, Publishers, The Industry | 2 Comments

Taken Short

Posted on 10 August, 2009 by Jon Pinnock

I recently invested in a long-overdue new computer and I’m finding that this has had some unexpected effects on my on-line life. One of these is that I’ve found that Safari (yup, it’s a Mac) has a way of managing … Continue reading →

Posted in Analysis, Critique, Publishers, The Industry | 5 Comments

Welcome 1500, redux.

Posted on 21 March, 2009 by Ian Cundell

Rather superb (and lengthy) essay on the state of newspapers by Clay Shirky. Some attention span required. To me it leaves two thoughts: 1. How long before these changes finally catch up with book publishing? 2. How damned cool is … Continue reading →

Posted in Publishers, State of the media | 1 Comment

One for the good guys

Posted on 1 December, 2008 by Ian Cundell

A basic human right is surely that to tell one’s story. Let’s hope other corners of the publishing industry are paying attention to this,

Posted in Analysis, Contracts, Publishers | 4 Comments

The hidden shame of publishing

Posted on 10 October, 2008 by Ian Cundell

The following is a genuine extract from a contract between one of the largest publishing companies in the world and a self-employed, as yet unpublished, author: “The Author will be liable for and will indemnify the Publishers (for themselves and … Continue reading →

Posted in Analysis, Contracts, Pet Peeve, Publishers | 1 Comment

Coping with rejection – Dylan Moran style

Posted on 25 September, 2008 by Jon Pinnock

If only to push Ann Summers off the top of the blog, here’s something that was posted on another writers’ site: (Never seen it before, although apparently it’s an extra on the DVD box set of Black Books, so presumably … Continue reading →

Posted in Agents: can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em, Passing fancies, Publishers, The Industry | 12 Comments

Masters of the psychic art

Posted on 10 June, 2008 by Ian Cundell

I have come to the conclusion, after careful study of the various corners of the internet in which writers can be found, huddled like refugees, that agents and publishers are exactly like psychics. I don’t mean in a nice wholesome … Continue reading →

Posted in Agents: can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em, Publishers | 8 Comments

Space Captain Smith has lift-off!

Posted on 7 May, 2008 by Toby Frost

Well, here we are. After rewrites, edits and a lot of rejection letters (I stopped counting round about twenty) Space Captain Smith is about to hit the shelves. One thing that the whole process really brings home is that writing … Continue reading →

Posted in On writing, Publishers, The hard slog | 11 Comments

Confused…

Posted on 17 April, 2008 by CherylA

Contemporary ‘rules’ for ‘good’ (publishable) writing include – ‘show, not tell’, short sentences, avoiding material not relevant to the plot or other digressions, and so on. Whether it’s assessing VWC member’s stories, or reading articles/books on what agents, publishers, readers … Continue reading →

Posted in Agents: can't live with 'em, can't kill 'em, On writing, Publishers, Technique, The Industry | 24 Comments