Proclaiming Our Intentions

 

 

In Publishing News this week.

After nine years in operation and beginning the modern serial publishing format Radish has announced they are closing their doors at the end of the year. Commentators have been noting the quiet demise of serial format sites lately. Many have linked it to the initial great payouts for authors that became unsustainable for the company.

 

Does anyone read New Adult? After the great publicity about this format a few years ago there was a cooling off stage. Publishers are back looking at the cross over from the Young Adult category. They are even merging imprints. Publishers Weekly looks at Penguin’s new imprint for New Adult books.

 

Publishing Perspectives reports on a new move by French Independent Publishers. Their annual prize winners to be translated into English and published in a rights catalogue. Let’s make it easy for English language publishers to pick up the best stories. 

 

Dan Holloway from The Alliance of Independent Authors reports on a new service from Cloudflare which will allow publishers and news companies to charge for AI scraping of their content. It has the potential to be game changing financially for publishers.

 

As we roll into eighty years since World War 2 ended, a Dutch publisher is increasing the amount of holocaust stories that they publish. Publishers Weekly talks with the editors to find out why they think this is important now.

 

The Commonwealth of Nations, representing 2.7 Billion people, has appointed their first Poet Laureate, Selina Tusitala Marsh, a pasifika poet and scholar. The New Publishing Standard reports that this highlights the role of literature in diplomacy and cross cultural understanding. (Selina is based here in Aotearoa New Zealand and is fantastic.) Her appointment is for two years. 

 

Literature Hub reports on an open letter from writers to publishers about the use of AI in publishing. The writers are asking publishers to not publish any books written by AI. This feels like a last ditch effort to show the real concerns in the industry about the use of AI for creativity. Didn’t we want all the drudgery to be done by AI robots leaving us more time to create and have fun? 

 

Katie Weiland has a must read article Why Intentional Storytelling Matters in An Age of AI and Algorithm Driven Content. Katie looks at what we lose if we follow formulaic on demand content models. As writers we should be using our power of intentionality to make our writing stand out. 

 

Alissa Butterworth writes on Jane Friedman’s blog about Using a Workshop Experience Inventory When Workshops Go Wrong. This is a powerful exercise to help make writing workshop critiques useful and beneficial to the writer and not a bloodbath arena.

 

Kathleen Schimdt has a great article on media opportunities. What are good media opportunities? How do you get media coverage on your book.

The SPA Girls interviewed Erin Wright on going wide strategies in book publishing and marketing. This is a fantastic podcast interview about all the ways to get your book out there.

 

Rachel Toalson has an excellent article on finding the heart of your story. What makes a story unforgettable. The heart of the story is what keeps you and the reader emotionally invested in the story. She uses the letters of HEART to explain the important touchstones you should be aiming for.

 

In The Craft Section,

How to write an unforgettable first line-Jenn Windrow- Bookmark

Understanding story theme- Tammy Burke- Bookmark

3 reasons why writers procrastinate- Colleen Story

Write like you are an endurance athlete- Miffie Seideman

Owning your voice the ultimate power move- Sarah Hamer- Bookmark

 

In The Marketing Section,

August book promotion ideas- Sandra Beckwith- Bookmark

How to make a book trailer- Reedsy- Bookmark

Busting Bookbub myths-Bookbub

A guide to press releases- Written Word Media

Using multiple identities- Alli - Bookmark

 

To Finish

I have been struggling to come to terms with the news that hit the children’s literature community in New Zealand like an earthquake. New Zealand has withdrawn from the opportunity to be Guest of Honour at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in 2027.

 

The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the biggest gathering of children’s publishing people in the world. Some of our publishers have won awards at the fair for excellence. 

Behind the scenes many groups and individuals talked about this amazing opportunity for globally showcasing our Maori and Pacifica voices, to each other, and to government representatives. It is going to be epic we told everyone. As a pacific nation we have been leading the way in indigenous storytelling in translation, language programmes, comics, animation, and gaming. All things children love. We couldn’t wait to show off our fantastic writers and illustrators. Children’s books are about reading and empathy for others and cultural awareness and all good things. We can represent pacific voices and everything that makes us special to the rest of the world. It will be epic.

Our books are world class. Government support for us should be a no brainer. We only want $350,000 that’s $210,000 US dollars or 150,000 GB Pounds. It’s not much. They spent half that fixing the parliament playground. The All Blacks probably spend that on afternoon tea. Norway spent 40 times more than that and promoted literature programmes in their country. In 2012 when we were guest of honour at Frankfurt Book Fair the government spent $6 million dollars with $1 million directly going to writers and publishers for it. It was epic. 

But alas- our government didn’t agree with our vision. 

The lack of interest from the government to celebrate their children, their writers, their illustrators, their publishers, librarians, teachers, reading advisors, and the kids on the parliament playground means there is no money for us to show the world how epic our industry is. 

One of our best writers for children wrote a sad essay in response to this news today. His words were thoughtful and measured. Inside he is probably as angry as the rest of us who work in and love Aotearoa New Zealand children’s literature.

Our actions or lack of them show our true intentions. We tell children this all the time. We show it in our words and actions and in our children’s literature. 

We lift you up. We have your back. We support you. We celebrate you because you are epic. 

Our government had a chance to be known around the world for their support of indigenous children’s literature. Their proclaimed intentions to us about being supportive of the arts are not backed up by action. 

It is an epic fail.

 

Maureen

@craicer

 

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Pic Private Eye satire on children’s publishing. (Which is closer to the truth than you realise.)

Standing Up

 

In Publishing News this week,

 

Striking a blow for librarians, a Rhode Island judge has ordered a halt to the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Publishers Weekly has updates on the legal challenges and efforts to save these and other important services.

 

This week the U S government fired the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the Copyright office. This comes at the moment when the U S government must make a stand on how the law will treat AI. There are many lawsuits over the illegal use of copyrighted material used by tech companies to train their AI’s. Publishers Weekly looks at the potential outcome of this move, open season on copyright material by AI.

Mark Williams also takes a look at the potential disaster for copyright holders if the US government allows tech companies free rein.

Publishing Perspectives talks with the head of the American Publishers Association about their recent annual meeting. They had a panel discussion over the threat of AI to the fundamental protection of copyright. What do they think of this latest news?

In Europe people are heading in the opposite direction with petitions in support of creative workers being circulated and handed in to various parliaments. Every government has to make a decision on the ethical and legal use of AI. Does copyright count anymore?

 

Ingram has appointed an AI chief according to Publishers Weekly. They will be in charge of implementing Ai across the whole group. This is quite wide ranging and so PW asked him a few questions.

 

Audible has finally moved on using AI voices, joining Spotify in making AI narration available to authors. The Guardian reports this as a worrying trend. (A bit late) Audible are almost the last audiobook company to openly admit they are using AI voices for narration.

 

Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware writes on two new scams doing the rounds internationally. The Book Order scam and the fake review scam. Remember keep yourself up to date on what new lows the scammers are going to, if not for you, for writer friends or newbies. They crush dreams. 

 

BookVault are expanding to Australia and they are moving to be truly global in their Print on Demand technology. BookVault specialise in integrating their services with direct shipping and shopping off your own website. Check out the podcast transcript from a recent interview with The Alliance of Independent Authors.

 

Ruth Harris writes about the clip file being the writer’s secret weapon.

 

Rachel Toalson has an interesting article on Writer Unboxed on what she has learned writing for children. For those of us out there who write for our inner child this will be familiar. If you want to do one of the hardest writing jobs, check out the article.

 

Sally Hamer has a great article on what to do if you have a great short story that you want to expand into a full length novel. First … don’t pad it with fluff.

 

In The Craft Section,

2 great posts from Gabriela Pereira using the Hunger Games- three act analysis and Organising your manuscript.- Bookmark

Is your book a romance?- Selene Grace Silver

How to write a 5 star sequel- Suzy Vadori- Bookmark

Working with relationship driven scenes- September Fawkes- Bookmark

 

In The Marketing Section

How to write a powerful About page- Sonya Matejko

Insider tips to make Goodreads work for you- Rachel Thompson- Bookmark

The Bookstore of You- Jonny B Truant- Interesting

The authors edge- not knowing any better- Mathew Holmes- Bookmark

Book Marketing Plan- Kindlepreneur- Bookmark

 

To Finish,

Recently a librarian thanked me for writing about the ongoing saga of the US Institute of Library and Museum Services that I highlighted in every week of April’s blog posts. It was not a pleasure to have to write about the death of an institution dedicated to funding libraries. It was pain and a feeling of helplessness. 

So why did I highlight this news story? I don’t live in America. Why should I care? 

Libraries provide information. It costs nothing to walk into a library and open a book. They even let you read right there in the building. 

Information educates people. This a fundamental right. An informed educated population can make up their own minds about whether governments are uplifting their people or not. 

When fundamental rights to information are taken away the world notices. They speak up, highlight the problem, witness the injustice on behalf of the people affected. Because if we don’t who will speak when it happens to us. 

Randy Susan Meyers has an interesting post on Writer Unboxed this week on writing to save democracy. Writers can imagine futures without democracy. They can inform and educate through their work. Throughout history writers have witnessed what happens to a population denied freedom to think for themselves.

I am a witness.

 

Maureen

@craicer

 

Do you want the best of my bookmarked links in a handy monthly newsletter? You can subscribe here to join our happy band.

If you want the weekly blog in your inbox subscribe to the Substack version.

If you like the blog and want to buy me a coffee, I appreciate the virtual coffee love. Thanks.

 

Pic from Vox article on the 10^th anniversary of The Hunger Games.

Imposters, Frauds, and Dodgy Dealings

 

In Publishing News this week,

 

The United Kingdom writers are not happy. This week the UK Publishers Association blasted the UK government over their response to their own governmental committee’s recommendations for dealing with copyright issues regarding AI and Large Language Models. Even the head of the governmental committee is using strong language about the government’s response.

Meanwhile, The UK Society of Authors held an extraordinary general meeting to put to the vote three issues, fossil fuels, AI, and Gaza. The results of the vote have caused an uproar in the wider author community. Many writers are publicly resigning their membership. Mark Williams offers his take on where it all went horribly wrong.

 

Over the pond in the United States, the dissenting authors from Pen America’s award ceremony (mentioned two weeks ago) have got together to hold their own show and a fundraiser.

 

Publisher’s Weekly reports that Simon and Schuster have been shopping and bought a large Dutch publishing company. Their private equity fund bosses have been promising expansion and with this purchase they have a subscription company, an audiobook company and a few other goodies.

 

Dan Holloway, news editor at The Alliance of Independent Authors, has been looking at the news that OpenAI is going to pay the creators of the content they have been using to train their AI. This is based around the financial arrangement they are making with publishers to use their content. But how will they do it? 

 

Kathy Steinemann is annoyed that she is being forced to lie when asked if she is using AI. Have you stopped and thought about how much you use AI in your writing? It might surprise you.

 

Anne R Allen received a dodgy complaint about her writing this week and discovered it was a bot. But why and how did the bot discover her writing? She writes about the reality of the trollbot inquisition.

 

This week, long time publishing commentator, Mike Shatzkin popped out of retirement to make some interesting observations after meeting with long time publishing professionals. The three stages of publishing, Gutenberg, Industrial and now Digital. Each one marking distinct times in human history.

 

Joanna Penn interviewed Chelle Honniker this week and it’s a great interview. Chelle talks about all sorts of tools to help automate your business. Chelle is also a programmer for Author Nation- the replacement conference for 20Books Vegas- she has a quick rundown on what’s on offer. Very exciting.

 

Podcast Review has a list of the best writing craft podcasts around. If you are a podcast listener, take a look at these. You will recognize familiar names from past weekly roundups. After sixteen years of weekly blogging about writing and publishing, I must have heard everybody.

 

Katie Weiland is looking at the Enneagram again but this time from the writers point of view. She has four numbers profiled this week and finishes next week. I can’t wait to see what she says about my number.

 

In The Craft Section,

Crafting fantasy characters- Prowriting Aid

Making scenes work- Karen Cioffi

3 signs you’re writing misplaced modifiers- Colleen Story- Bookmark

Stuck? Change your story- Janice Hardy

Ten tips for DIY editing- Debbie Burke- Bookmark

10 steps to writing a better novel- K M Weiland- Bookmark

 

In the Marketing Section,

What is a newsletter- Comprehensive

Embrace public speaking- Jim Acevedo

Why authors should be accessible- Katie McCoach- Bookmark

How to announce your book- Sandra Beckwith

How regular should your updates be- Rachel Thompson- Bookmark

What to post beside writing content- Emily Enger- Bookmark

 

To Finish

Imposter syndrome hits us all. Sometimes it creeps up on us and does a number on your mental health. Sometimes you can recognize it as plain old envy. Either way it is important to understand it and do something about it before it cripples you. Rachel Toalson has a must read article on Writer Unboxed on how to overcome the feeling you are a fraud.

 

Maureen

@craicer

 

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If you like the blog and want to buy me a coffee, I appreciate the virtual coffee love. Thanks.

 

pic Photo by Chris Yang on Unsplash

Being Human

 

In Publishing News Today

Artificial Intelligence and the misuse of it take centre stage. Another week another lawsuit. This time it’s the big guns taking on AI. Authors Guild has a class suit with John Grisham and G.R.R. Martin among the plaintiffs. They allege that their work was used to train AI. They know this because suddenly there appears to be extra books in their popular series which they didn’t write. I wonder how AI would finish the Game of Thrones series? Apparently you can now find out as it’s on the internet somewhere. Of course going and looking just plays into the scammy nature of the person who decided to use AI to write these books and make a quick buck.

Stephen Fry is crying foul over AI Narration. He was alerted to an historical documentary that he supposedly narrated. Except he didn’t. He suspects AI was trained on his audio narration of the Harry Potter books and then unleashed. AI can de-age actors and now they can mimic voices that even the original owner has problems believing it’s not him in an alternate universe. We are teetering on the edge of Deep Fake becoming ubiquitous unless we get some rules up pronto. Which is why we have all the lawsuits.

 

Over at The New Publishing Standard, Mark Williams is looking at upcoming book fairs and reminding the western publishing powerhouses that they may think they have the biggest book fairs but things are about change. Sharjah is positioning itself to be all things book in the foreseeable future. This is an interesting take. Can publishing equal the revenue that oil and gas bring in to Sharjah?

 

Publishing Perspectives has a run down on the latest news from Frankfurt as they gear up for the big Frankfurt Buchmesse starting on October 14. A record number of booths has been booked.

 

Publishers Weekly has data on the book challenges so far this year and yes they are increasing and they are all aimed at books by and about people of colour and LBTGQ identifying. Where will it end… historians could tell you. 

 

The Guardian has a great article written by Kathleen Rundell on Diana Wynne Jones. Diana was like a beautiful fountain in the desert of books when I was growing up. She had big ideas and her books were and are amazing.  Every author will relate to the story of the Charmed Life manuscript.

 

Kris Rusch has an interesting post on platform this week. With the meltdown of the writers original water cooler many wordsmiths are fleeing to pastures new. Then you risk losing all that work of building up your readership /business on a new platform which will be disrupted in time. So is there a win /win situation for writers?

 

The Alliance of Independent Authors has a comprehensive post on slow release strategies for authors… You don’t have to release a book a month for a writing career. The SPA girls podcast recently had a great episode on reverse engineering a bestseller. Can you do it? 

 

Rachel Toalson has a great post on Writer Unboxed about writing sprints. She used ten minute sprints to write a book. Even if your life is chaotic you can find ten minutes. Read Rachel’s post for how chaotic life can get. She has great tips for finding moments of time to write.

Mythcreants has a good post on the value of critique and why it is important for writers. If you don’t critique you don’t learn.

 

James Scott Bell has a great post on the Killzone blog about bleeding on the page. There are so many adages out there for writers. Some of them are untrue. However emotion from the writer is never wasted in a story.

 

 

In The Craft Section,

Writing and Time management- Story Empire

Acting vs reacting in your writing career- Colleen Story

Is your protagonist too comfortable- Australian Writers Center

What are antagonist proxies- K M Weiland – Bookmark

Why a manuscript critique is a critical step- C S Lakin- Bookmark

 

 

In The Marketing Section,

5 unique book marketing ideas- Rachel Thompson

Book signings that wow- Rochelle Melander

Strategies to secure reviews on Amazon- Penny Sansevieri- Bookmark

Author Success tips – Judith Briles- Bookmark

 

To Finish,

Jim Denney writing on Anne R Allen’s blog sums up the ideas in this weeks blog post. Yes AI is here, it’s out of the box it’s only going to get more powerful. Yes the AI tools are useful for shortcuts and editing and marketing and prompts but in the end AI is not human. Only a human can write emotion and connect with reader on a deeper plane. The future for writers in an AI world is to be more human and mine the human condition. 

After all, an AI can’t bleed. 

 

Maureen

@craicer

 

Do you want the best of my bookmarked links in a handy monthly newsletter? You can subscribe here to join our happy band.

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Pic: Photo by Volha Milovich on Unsplash