Image: a copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen open to the title page on a table surrounded by dried Autumn leaves and roses and a teacup.

How to Write a Story Retelling

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Retellings, like any genre, come with their own characteristics and conventions to honor the original text and meet reader expectations.
Image: a young man wearing headphones is staring at his smartphone while a desktop and laptop computer are also seen to be open in the background.

Attention, Please! 7 Drug-Free Concentration Boosters for Writers with ADHD

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Writing with ADHD comes with its unique set of challenges, but the right strategies and tools can help harness creativity and maintain productivity.
AI-generated image with a historic and romantic aesthetic of a woman standing on the other side of a round dining table, looking out of a window.

Moving Characters Around in Your Story Space: Improve Your Choreography Skills

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Your characters’ movements and gestures in any given space must convey enough to paint the scene for readers without becoming too detailed.
Image: an open book and a blue crystal ball sit on a table in a dark room illuminated by small lights that look like stars.

How to Create a Believable Magic System in Your Fantasy Story

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Believable magic systems will not only keep fantasy writers organized but will also help readers stay more immersed in the story’s world.
Image: Florence, Italy's Il Duomo as seen through the open windows of a historic hotel room.

The Florence (Italy) Enigma for Creative People

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While London and Paris are classic destinations for literary sightseeing, one retreat organizer draws inspiration from the magic of Florence.
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Links of Interest: July 17, 2024

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The latest in bookselling, romance and romantasy, trends, culture & politics, and AI.
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New literary agency: Wave Literary

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Literary agent Rachel Neumann has founded Wave Literary; most recently she was the CEO and senior literary agent at Idea Architects.
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Another imprint devoted to re-issues

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Unnamed Press has launched Smith & Taylor Classics, devoted to publishing trade paperback editions of lesser-known public-domain novels.
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New imprint at Macmillan: graphic novels for adults

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Five publisher Macmillan is launching 23rd Street Books to “deliver graphic novels that span styles and genres.”
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On the List: A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey

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Harvey described her path to bestsellerdom as grassroots, driven by word of mouth among readers as well as by the relationships she fostered.
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Amazon Trend Report: Sports Romance & Historical Fiction

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Sports romance steams up; interest in historical fiction varies by subcategory.
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All about Auctions

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It’s not just about the money. It’s also about the best plan to get the book to readers.
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Book sales update: July 17, 2024

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Romantasy books by Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros are keeping US print sales on par with last year.
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Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) now offers AI licensing

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The CCC is a for-profit company that manages collective copyright licensing for corporate publishers and academic institutions.
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Audible offers a new pooling payment option in the US market—but is this development meaningful?

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Amazon’s Audible has announced that it is “rolling out a new royalty model that prioritizes equity, flexibility, and insight for creators.”
Image: an AI generated illustration of book publishing executives in the meeting room of an urban skyscraper, enjoying large handfuls of cash they've received from licensing content to AI companies.

Like It or Not, Publishers Are Licensing Books for AI Training—And Using AI Themselves

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Before long, every major publisher will be earning money from AI training, whether through collective licensing or directly with tech companies.
Illustration: at the intersection of two roads in a city's historic downtown, a woman stands on a small wooden box reading aloud from the open book in her hand.

The Platform Authors Need Now (That Isn’t Social Media)

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We best create an audience of readers by publishing our work, carrying out projects we care about, and making personal connections.
Image: on a dark night under a starry sky, a young man stands atop a hay bale holding aloft a small light as if trying to signal his presence to the universe.

When You’re Able to Crowdsource Priceless Writing Advice

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In a search for external validation while drafting a memoir, one author found herself invited onto a popular podcast in esteemed company.
Photo of Doug Seibold of Evanston, Illinois-based Agate Publishing, with the quotation, "There are few obvious on-ramps to publishing careers. Everyone knows publishing has a diversity problem, but too many people seem flummoxed about how to address it."

How an Independent Midwestern Publisher Not Only Survives, But Thrives

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Doug Seibold, the founder of Evanston-based Agate Publishing, is doing his part to foster publishing careers in America’s heartland.
Image: In a large, richly detailed public library a man sits writing at a table, surrounded by stacks of reference books.

It’s Not About the Research: How to Write for a General Audience When Academia Is All You Know

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Academia lets writers get away with stringing together facts, but appealing to a general audience means constructing a compelling narrative.
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Kindle device sales are growing among the BookTok demographic

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Sales of Kindles have grown in the double-digit percentages for the past two years, with under-45s representing the fastest-growing segment.
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Links of Interest: July 3, 2024

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The latest in traditional publishing, Amazon, libraries, AI, and culture & politics.
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New literary agency

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Greenstone Literary Agency will specialize in commercial fiction and certain categories of nonfiction.
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DK launches new imprint in the UK

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DK Red will focus on lifestyle publishing and narrative nonfiction and is part of DK’s recently renamed adult division, DK Living.
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New imprint at Levine Querido: Re-Lit

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Re-Lit will re-issue out-of-print works from creators from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.