Wattpad now offers a scheduling tool
Authors can now plan and schedule when new chapters go live at Wattpad.
New Harlequin imprint inspired by TikTok
Aimed at the under-35 romance reader, Afterglow will build on TikTok’s #spicytok content, releasing two trade paperback titles a month.
On the List: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Wrong Place Wrong Time released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook in August 2022 and is McAllister’s first New York Times bestseller.
Top AI Tools for Writing, Reviewed by an Author
To be effective, storybuilding AI requires careful and high-quality input from writers.
IMHO: Threads Is Fine, Just Fine
Twitter’s decline and the emergence of alternatives highlights the ephemeral nature of social media for platform building.
Book sales update: July 19, 2023
So far, US print book sales have declined about 3 percent this year versus 2022. The decline this year is
Bookstat launches its own bestseller lists
Bookstat, an industry data service that tracks online book sales, has launched its own monthly bestseller lists, available via LinkedIn.
SAG-AFTRA goes on strike alongside the WGA
Primary concerns are like those of the WGA: the problematic economics of streaming and the use of AI.
High-profile layoffs at Penguin Random House spark media coverage
The CEO wrote in an announcement to employees that while the book market has grown, so have inflation and costs.
Authors and other creative workers sue or speak out against OpenAI
The first authors’ lawsuit against OpenAI/ChatGPT, seeking class-action status, was filed by authors Paul Tremblay and Mona Awad.
The Forgotten Element of Story: The Author
Embracing the You in your story can feel frightening, but it’s the best way to craft a novel that is truly unforgettable.
Gray Space: Making Room for the Reader
When we let the reader fill in our intentionally left blanks, or “gray space”, we invite them inside our imaginary worlds.
How My Newsletter Helped Me Land an Agent and a Big Five Book Deal
While a newsletter might not sell your book, writing one can change your work for the better and help build valuable relationships.
How to Figure Out Which Writing Advice Fits You Best
Like clothing, writing advice should be tried on to see if it fits you and your writing life. Here are five tips for assessing what works.
Villain Logic: The Key to Solving Your Thriller’s Climax Block
When writing thriller, authors must understand our villain’s motivations, end goals, and progressive, logical actions toward that goal.
Links of Interest: July 5, 2023
The latest on AI, traditional publishing, the creator economy, legal concerns, and culture & politics.
Fox Chapel starts children’s nonfiction imprint
Fox Chapel is mainly known as an enthusiast publisher of craft and activity books.
New pop-comics imprint from Penguin Random House
Inklore will publish manga, manhua, manhwa, webcomics adaptations, and light novels in collaboration with Del Rey UK.
New Canadian publisher: Assembly Press
Assembly Press will be an independent publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with its first list releasing in spring 2024.
New promo stacking service at Written Word Media
Written Word Media, a book marketing service primarily for authors, now offers promo stacks to help schedule and run book promotions.
Irene Goodman agents to start new agencies
As of July 1, senior agents at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency will be transitioning into a variety of new agencies.
New agent at Triangle House Literary
Emma Dries is seeking literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, climate writing, and academic crossover works.
On the List: The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
Fiona Davis writes historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings. Her previous novels include two New York Times bestsellers.
How Big Publishers Are Using Generative AI
The key considerations for ethical use of AI in publishing are author consent and human supervision.
The USA Today Bestseller List Has Returned
The list most likely to feature indie authors will also include prominent links to Bookshop.