This Week on Books Direct -
22 September 2013
22 September 2013
Here's
a list of the articles you may have missed this week:
As
crazy as it sounds, Christmas is less than 100 days away! But don't worry: this
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planning tips and printables, recipes, handmade gift tutorials and more at
almost 75% off this week only!
"Writing Short Fiction" - Article by Morgen Bailey for Idea Creations Press.
Like
people, and therefore characters, short stories come in all shapes and sizes.
While some condense a whole story, others choose to illustrate just a scene. We
still get a sense of the story but it's a moment in time, often the scenario of
flash fiction.
In
the digital book marketplace, individual authors fight in the same ring with
legacy publishers. The big publishers have an advantage: the power of their
reputations grabs the notice of readers. Indie authors and publishers struggle
for any attention at all. The "little guys" can overcome this
disadvantage if they build their careers around three strategic pillars: brand
curation, relationship marketing, and, finally, creating quality books.
The
author of some of YA fiction titles - like The
Fault in Our Stars, Paper Towns,
and Looking for Alaska - also happens
to be the source of an endless supply of inspirational one-liners and passages
that describe life as a teen perfectly.
The
art of writing can be reduced to a few simple rules. Colson shares them with
us.
"Making Your Book More Promotable" - Article by Brian Feinblum for
BookMarketingBuzzBlog.
The
world of book publishing has changed immensely over the past decade. The role
of book publicity has not changed, though the methods have been altered. Brian
shares what he knows about making your book more promotable.
"Ten Tips to Make Bedtime Reading Fun" - Article by Francesca Simon.
Horrid Henry author Francesca
Simon says there's no greater pleasure than 20 minutes a day spent reading to
your child – so fetch a book and snuggle down.
"What's the Difference Between Writing and Editing?" - Article by Mark
Nichol for Daily Writing Tips.
Editing
has always been a fundamental component of writing as well as a separate
function, but as self-publishing, online and in print, has become ubiquitous,
it’s important for writers to realize the distinction. A discussion of the
differences may also help you confirm where your strength lies.
The Little Prince is a classic
children's story telling the adventures of the boy who fell to earth. On the
book's 70th anniversary, and with a new film by Universal pictures recently
announced, it's high time you tested your knowledge.
How
did you go. I only got 5 out of 10!
"America's Most Surprising Banned Books" - Article by Theunis Bates and Lauren Hansen for The
Week.
There
is a long and illustrious list of books that have been banned from American
school and libraries. The American Library Association recorded 464 challenges
to books in 2012, and says more than 17,700 challenges have been filed since
1990. Not every contested book gets banned, and not all banned books remain on
the list for long. Here, a look at 13 of the more surprising banned or
challenged reads.
There is plenty of writing advice about the first 10
pages, the importance of hooking the reader at the start and making an impact
in the first paragraph. But what about making sure that the reader wants to buy
your next book?
"There Will Be No More Professional Writers in the Future" - Article by
John Barber for The Globe and Mail.
Free-content
market forces are driving down the price of books, and consumers may think
that’s a good thing. But authors Ewan Morrison and Scott Turow tell John Barber
that those same forces are also driving career authors out of business.
What
types of scenes do you have trouble writing?
"Write It Now, Part 16: Hurrah for the Sensitive New Age Vampire" - Article
by Matthew Wright.
What
is it about our obsession with vampires? Vampires, it seems, are where it's at
today.
