June 2004

The website for writers

News Review

‘I feel that writing is a moral act. I feel that those who portray an aggressive, vulgar, debased attitude towards life are conniving in that life, and I think publishers should reject them.’ Alexander McCall Smith
Why are dead poets dead? A recent study shows that poets are likely to die younger than any other kind of writer.
Will Clinton's expensive and well-hyped memoir be the biggest book of the year?
The Next Generation Poets - a new list which 'proves that contemporary poetry is thriving. Individually and collectively, these poets have a remarkable range, appeal and authority.’ Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate and Chair of the judges

Comment

'It's not just perfectly OK but positively chic to watch or read history.' Susan Watt of HarperCollins UK
'Everybody should sit down and write the story of their life when they reach 50... Bill Clinton, on writing his memoir, My Life.
A book is like a stage. You've got people a little larger than life always. It's not photographic so you have to exaggerate a bit... Muriel Spark
'Both sides are coming to understand that selling fewer books at greater discounts is not the way to go...' Anthony Forbes Watson, CEO of Penguin Group UK

Writers' Quotes

‘No-one is going to sit down and read Bleak House to the family any more, but they can all huddle up happily in front of Charles Bronson.'
Martin Amis

Poster

This month's new poster deals with Experts - who needs them?

How Not to Write a Novel; Confessions of a Midlist Author

Our third excerpt from David Armstrong's entertaining book

Agents, what they can do to help, and why you shouldn't always take publishers' advice about rewriting.

My Say

Deborah Durbin uses our new column to write about rejecting rejection.

Bob's Journal goes into its 4th volume

'Modestly try to convey the impression of fiendish difficulty. Yes, there are only a few of us who can do it.'

This week

Inside Publishing

A new article in this series deals with copyright and how to protect your writing.

Reviews

The second in our new series focusing on writers' magazines looks at Writer's Digest.

Writers' Forum Column

A new book which provides a search through the linguistic heritage of English and football and poetry - what is Andrew Motion up to? The Editor's View from the Editor of Writers' Forum magazine.

Read about the Allison & Busby Writer's Guides

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Our design, print and distribution service for self-publishers.