By Edward Nawotka Over the last several years literary entrepreneurs, supported by A-list authors, have opened several imaginative creative writing centers and bookshops aimed a children and teens. Arguably, these institutions — from Dave Egger’s 826 Valencia in San Francisco, Roddy Doyle’s Fighting Words in Dublin, to Nick Hornby’s Ministry of Stories in London (as discussed in today’s lead story) …
Inside The Ministry of Stories, London’s Most Unusual New Literary Institution
By Roger Tagholm LONDON: A little girl grins as the man on the sidewalk wearing the wolf mask stops her and asks: “Have you been to a ‘monster supply shop’ before?” It’s not the sort of question you get asked every day, but it works and, looking a bit sheepish (never a good idea when a wolf is around), the …
Could Online Writing Communities Replace Creative Writing Programs?
• Quillant.com, an online writing community based in the UK launched two months ago • Chris Vannozzi, a co-founder of Quilliant.com discusses the role online communities can play in developing talent for the traditional publishing industry By Chris Vannozzi LONDON: Two months ago we launched Quilliant.com , a new online writing community that aims to recreate the classic writing group …
Do Booksellers Promote Too Many Titles at Once?
By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story describes some of the bookselling strategies of London’s Daunt Books. One focus of the piece is the fact that the bookstore displays just one or two titles in the windows per week, a move that has led to significant sales of certain titles. A carefully edited and curated selection of titles can be a …
The Bookselling Secrets of London’s Daunt Books
• Independent bookselling is not dead, but it takes close attention to the details — and a carefully edited selection of books — to thrive in the real world. • Selective promotion supported by review coverage and bookseller enthusiasm are the key to moving dozens of books a day out the door. By Edward Nawotka LONDON: One title displayed at …
“Connect, Don’t Network”: Author Blog Award Winners Gaiman, Benet on Blogging
By Edward Nawotka “Use your blog to connect. Use it as you. Don’t ‘network’ or ‘promote.’ Just talk,” says author Neil Gaiman, winner of the Twitter category at the inaugural Author Blog Awards given last month in London. Gaiman is among the most popular authors on Twitter, with 1,467,539 followers as of yesterday, May 3. It should also come as …
Does Big Publishing Do Enough to Empower the Disenfranchised?
By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story profiles the winner of this year UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur Prize, Gavin Weale, who plans to launch a magazine to be run by at-risk young people in South African townships. The idea mirrors an already successful project in London, which has helped some 75 kids stay in school or find jobs, and otherwise indoctrinate …