This Week on Books Direct - 16 December 2018

This Week on Books Direct -

16 December 2018

Here's a list of some great articles you may have missed this week. Enjoy!

Dear Santa: This Is What A Writer Wants For Christmas by Tara Sparling for Anne R. Allen

What would a writer want for Christmas? Check out this article to see.

Blink And You'll Miss It: Can You Really Digest A Whole Book In 15 Minutes? by Sian Cain for The Guardian

Blinkist promises to condense the “key takeaways” of popular nonfiction into short summaries. But does it work? And what is the point?

Google Doodle Celebrates Nazi Germany Survivor Nelly Sachs by Sean Keane for CNET

The poet and playwright, who fled into exile in the early days of World War II, would've been 127 Monday.

Six Ways To Be Kind To Your Bookseller This Christmas by Elias Greig for The Guardian

It’s the time of year when the sanctuary of the bookstore transforms into a battlefield. Here’s how to make life easier on both sides of the counter.

World's Highest-Paid Authors 2018: Michael Wolff Joins List Thanks To Fire And Fury by Hayley C. Cuccinello for Forbes

Michael Wolff is the first nonfiction author on the list in 11 years.

Defining Your Characters: 150+ Character Mannerisms by Reedsy Blog

This post is split into three parts: what character mannerisms exactly are, how to write them into your story, and a list of 150+ mannerisms for you in case you're running short on inspiration.

Instagram Testing Creator Accounts With Direct Message Filters, Growth Insights (Exclusive) by Natalie Jarvey for The Hollywood Reporter

A small group of high-profile Instagram users are testing the new “creator account” profiles, which offer tools tailored to influencers.

11 Creative Ways Authors Announced Their Book Launch by Francis Bogan for BookBub Blog

To help you brainstorm creative methods to announce a book launch, BookBub compiled this list of inventive ways authors have announced and promoted theirs.

Announcing The 2019 Pen America Literary Awards Longlists by PEN America

PEN America announces the longlists for the 2019 PEN America Literary Awards.

Reading Isn’t A To-Do List Item by Aytekin Tank for Medium

Everything is whizzing by at such a speed that to simply stop and pay attention to something is hard. Even to the act of reading.

How To Draw Influence From Other Writers Without Plagiarizing: 6 Tips To Avoid An Ailey O’Toole Situation by Cassie Lipp by Writer’s Digest

Here are six tips on how to be influenced by and borrow from other writers without plagiarizing.

What Can You Do To Help Your Favorite Authors? by Susan Roberts for Girl Who Reads

Other than a small percentage of rich authors, most authors treat their writing like a small business, and many of them work full-time jobs and write when they can find the time. What can you do to help get out the word on your favorite books?

If you enjoyed this blog post, please visit the other This Week posts for links to more great articles.

This Week on Books Direct - 9 December 2018

This Week on Books Direct -

9 December 2018

Here's a list of some great articles you may have missed this week. Enjoy!

Heinlein’s Rules For Writers by James Scott Bell for Kill Zone Blog

Read James’s commentary on Heinlein’s “Five Rules for Writers”.

You’ve Finished Your First Novel! What To Do Now: 7 Do’s And Don’ts by Anne R. Allen

So, you finished your first novel during NaNoWriMo last month. What comes next?

Tuk Tuk Library Brings Joy Of Books To Jakarta's Poorest Children by Hassan Ghani for Al Jazeera News

The mobile library bringing books to children in some of Jakarta's poorest neighbourhoods.

Campaign: Governments Must Support Indie Author Earnings Through Encouraging Financial Independence by Orna Ross for ALLi

Orna Ross, founder and director of the Alliance of Independent Authors, calls for governments to recognise and support indie authors and the contribution they make to society and to the global economy by encouraging and facilitating financial independence and business education.

Collection Of 60 Beatrix Potter First Edition Books To Be Sold At Auction by News and Star

A collection of 60 Beatrix Potter first editions, including the much-loved author’s first book The Tale Of Peter Rabbit published in 1902, is to be sold at auction.

2018: The Year Of AI-Powered Communication by Devon Delfino for Grammarly Blog

Every year brings with it new innovations to be mastered and new challenges to tackle. But when it comes to writing technology, this is clear: It was a year of artificial intelligence-powered tools and features.

9 Ways To Share Your Favorite Books With Fans by Audrey Derobert for BookBub

Every author understands the value of people recommending their books, driving exposure via word of mouth and ultimately boosting sales. But what some authors might not know is the value of making book recommendations themselves. Recommending books can be a great way to engage with fans, find new readers, and boost fellow authors.

“Axe The Reading Tax”: Book Industry Demands End To VAT On Ebooks by Alison Flood for The Guardian

Following EU directive that allows governments to waive duty on digital publications, calls grow for the UK to end “illogical and unfair” levy.

Dumb It Down, Or Clear It Up? by David Leonhardt for The Happy Guy Writing Services

When you write in plain English, you are not “dumbing it down”. You are clearing things up.

What Makes A Compelling Romance Novel? by Ann Leslie Tuttle for Reedsy Blog

Romance eaders come to the genre knowing they will (almost) always get a happy ending in which the protagonists find and profess their love. Therefore, it’s usually the writer’s crafting of the two main characters and their emotional journeys is what will keep the reader hooked. Here’s a list of trouble spots and ways to surmount them.

Attract Instagram Followers Like Magnets by Bonny Albo for Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing Formula

Are you an Instagram newbie? Find out how to attract more followers.

Money Management For Authors by Jaren Nichols for The Creative Penn

Most creative types are more interested in honing their craft than bookkeeping - but making a good living as an author or freelance writer depends on more than just your wordsmithing. Whether writing is your side-hustle or full-time gig, managing money well is what will keep you in business.

Nearly 130 Public Libraries Closed Across Britain In The Last Year by Sian Cain for The Guardian

Services continue to be targets for local authority budget cuts, with remaining services increasingly reliant on voluntary staff.

5 Tough Tips For Surviving (And Triumphing Over) Really Rotten Book Reviews by Pamela James for Writer’s Digest

Negative reviews of your work can cut deep. Author Pamela Jane offers five proactive measures you can take to stay strong and move forward when dealing with bad book reviews.

Goodreads Choice Awards: Best Books 2018 by Goodreads

Announcing the winners of the 10th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers. Congratulations to the best books of the year!

Further to last week’s article, the result is now in:

Literary Review’s Bad Sex in Fiction Award by Literary Review

And the winner of the 26th Bad Sex in Fiction Award is … James Frey has won the 26th annual Literary Review Bad Sex in Fiction Award for Katerina. Warning: graphic sex scenes.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please visit the other This Week posts for links to more great articles.

This Week on Books Direct - 18 November 2018

This Week on Books Direct -

18 November 2018

Here's a list of some great articles you may have missed this week. Enjoy!

Half Of All The Books At Indie Bookshop The Moon Are By Women Writers by Star2.com

At the independent bookstore The Moon, which launched in September, at least half the books are by female writers.

New Book Marketing: The Bad Girl’s List For Book Launch Success by Melodie Campbell for Anne R. Allen

This post is about what has worked for Melodie. But it also illustrates what is done behind the scenes by her publisher.

The Hottest Trend In American Literature Isn’t From The U.S. by Liesl Schillinger for The Atlantic

In 2018, American literature no longer means literature written by Americans, for Americans, about America. On November 14, the National Book Foundation, recognizing this shift in relevance, will award a Translated Literature prize - the first category added to the National Book Awards in more than two decades.

And the results are in:

Here Are The Winners Of The 2018 National Book Awards by Claire Fallon for Huffington Post

Congratulations to all the winners.

Tom Hanks Takes His Latest Role, Author And Portland Book Festival Star, Very Seriously by Amy Wang for Oregon Live

Tom Hanks spoke about his short story collection, Uncommon Type, at the Portland Book Festival.

Stan Lee, Marvel Comics' Real-Life Superhero, Dies At 95 by Mike Barnes for The Hollywood Reporter

The feisty writer, editor and publisher was responsible for such iconic characters as Spider-Man, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, Black Panther and the Fantastic Four — 'nuff said.

And sadly, another literary death:

William Goldman, Oscar-Winning Screenwriter Of Butch Cassidy And All The President’s Men, Dies At 87 by Adam Bernstein for The Washington Post

He died 16 November, aged 87, at his home in Manhattan of complications from colon cancer and pneumonia.

“Hugely Disappointing” Government Response To Libraries Petition by Alison Flood for The Guardian

Supporters including J. K.  Rowling and Neil Gaiman add their names to a campaign calling for library funding to be ringfenced.

Books, Spouses, Family And Friends: A Writers Dilemma by Michael J. Melville for Journeys and Life

Don’t make the mistake of using your friends and family as the sole launching point of your writing career. It’s fine to have their support but you need more.

Hemingway's Old Man And The Sea Fishing Trip Letter Sold For $28,000 by Alison Flood for The Guardian

Author’s account sent to Miami newspaper in 1935 describes capture of giant marlin believed to have partly inspired his Pulitzer prize-winning novel.

Want To Propose A Nonfiction Book? Here’s How by Daniel Potter for Grammarly Blog

For readers wondering roughly how nonfiction books come to be, here’s what Daniel learned by taking a nonfiction book class at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.

How To Handle Haters And Negativity by Ruth Soukup for Elite Blog Academy

Blogging comes with a certain level of vulnerability. We’ve all experienced negative comments on our blogs or Facebook walls, but the negativity doesn’t have to leave you in tears. So how do you protect yourself and handle negativity?

“Toxic” Is Oxford Dictionaries’ Word Of 2018 by Barbara Campbell for npr

We've used a lot of words in 2018, so it's no surprise that there is more than one “word of the year”. Oxford Dictionaries’ judgment is that "toxic" illuminates something about this year.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please visit the other This Week posts for links to more great articles.

This Week on Books Direct - 4 November 2018

This Week on Books Direct -

4 November 2018

Here's a list of some great articles you may have missed this week. Enjoy!

Man Pays Fine For Mother's Overdue Library Book — She Checked It Out In 1934 by Associated Press for LA Times

A man who returned his mother's very overdue library book is paying her fine — even though he didn't have to.

Previously Unknown Beeton's For Sale by Scott Monty for I Hear Of Sherlock Everywhere

The first appearance of Sherlock Holmes was in A Study in Scarlet, which appeared in Beeton's Christmas Annual of 1887, which the Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide called “the most expensive magazine in the world”. There were previously 33 known copies in existence but a 34th copy has been listed for $75,000.

10th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards on Goodreads

Vote in the 10th Annual Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers.

Antarctic Scientist “Stabs Colleague Who Kept Telling Him The Endings Of Books He Was Reading On Remote Research Station” by Will Stewart for The Sun

A scientist accused of attempted murder in Antarctica stabbed his colleague because “he was fed up with the man telling him the endings of books”, it has been claimed.

How To Build An Online Form That Converts by Ecem Keskin for Medium

To collect the data you need, we have to start with the bare bones of a form. Every high-converting form is built with smart, savvy information architecture.

NaNoWriMo 2018 Word Counting Calendar by Dave Seah

Grab your free word counting calendar for November 2018’s National Novel Writing Month!

Happy National Author’s Day! by Staci Troilo

Every year on November 1, millions of people celebrate authors and the books that they write on National Author’s Day. After her grandmother’s death in 1968, Sue Cole promoted the observance of National Author’s Day.

7 Reasons NOT To Use Hootsuite by Ian Anderson Gray for iag.me

There are lots of great things about Hootsuite. But this article focuses on the problems and disadvantages and why you might not want to use it.

Creativity. Finding Your Unique Voice by Karolina for But First Tea

What is creativity? Can only certain people create? Is creating always about art?

How Do You Move A Bookstore? With A Human Chain, Book By Book by Laurel Wamsley for npr

When October Books, a small radical bookshop in Southampton, England, was moving to a new location down the street, it faced a problem. How could it move its entire stock to the new spot, without spending a lot of money or closing down for long? The shop came up with a clever solution: They put out a call for volunteers to act as a human conveyor belt.

The Inciting Incident (Where The Story Really Begins) by Catherine E. McLean for Writers Cheat Sheets

Catherine answers this month's question: What exactly is “The Inciting Incident”?

Harvard’s Jorie Graham Wins Library Of Congress Poetry Prize by Lillian Brown for Boston Globe

Poet and professor Jorie Graham will be the recipient of the Library of Congress’s 2018 Rebekah Johnson Bobbitt National Prize for Poetry, for her 2017 poetry collection, Fast.

Remember When Longer Tweets Were The Thing That Was Going To Ruin Twitter? by Will Oremus for Slate

A year ago, Twitter lifted its famous character limit from 140 to 280. On Tuesday, the company released a handful of data points that suggest the change has not been nearly as profound as critics feared.

Twitter Getting Rid Of Likes? Not Anytime Soon by Andrew Hutchinson for Social Media Today

So, is Twitter really getting rid of its Like button? Maybe. Not really. Probably not at all.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please visit the other This Week posts for links to more great articles.