Winner of the November writing challenge and publishing workshop on 7 December
We had a fabulous response to our November writing exercise. The challenge was to write a 250-word story about an abused woman pushed, finally, to react against her tormentor. We were particularly interested in a detailed and precise description of the physical action. This, in fact, proved the most difficult part of the challenge to … Read more
Publishing Rocket Science
David Chislett offers up five rules for successful publishing. It’s really hard to tell what will sell and what won’t isn’t it? If there was a formula, there would be plenty more successful books and fewer obscurities. However, don’t let that put you off pursuing your dreams. You can still make significant moves that will help put … Read more
The Jazzhole – Lagos, Nigeria
Margaret Renn stumbles upon a sanctuary while on a whirlwind trip to Lagos. The Jazzhole, oasis of calm in the crazy, crazy city that is Lagos. This is a music shop, book shop and cafe and distinctly good at all three. The music collection is vast, concentrating as the name suggests on jazz. It has … Read more
Get your teeth into publishing
Writer, journalist, teacher and foodie, Mandy Collins, gives us her take on traditional versus self-publishing and a recipe for a delicious and quick chicken tagine. Officially speaking, I’m a Published Author. And my book is one of those rare things – A Solicited Manuscript. Out of the blue one day my phone rang, and a … Read more
The road to publishing
Arja Salafranca reflects on studying literature, becoming a writer, publishing and editing. I swung into Wits University’s Senate House in February a few years ago. It was a hot summer’s day. Clutching books, a bag, sunglasses looped around my fingers, the university was teeming with students, noise, life, there was a palpable energy to the place. I’d been … Read more
A BLOODY AGENT
Michele Rowe gives us all the tactics needed to find and secure an agent. These days publishing a book is all about getting a bloody agent. But the chances of landing one are about as remote as finding an honest tax return in Juju’s sock drawer. That’s because agents make an art of being unattainable. … Read more
Porcupine Press
David Robbins of Porcupine Press on the importance of marketing and distribution to the publishing process. After less than two years of operation, Porcupine Press is ahead of the independent publishing pack in South Africa. This dynamic publishing house has achieved such pre-eminence by concentrating its efforts into those areas of independent publishing that have been traditionally weak. … Read more
Come and Meet the Writers
David Chislett gets to grips with a promotional tool for writers – the blog tour. From mid November 2011, David Chislett is hosting guest writers on his blog . Readers will be able to log on and read guest posts from an assortment of local and international authors who will be talking about themselves, their books … Read more
Smart Self-Publishing
Judy Croome takes a long, hard look at the additional skills a writer needs if they want to self-publish. The mystique surrounding An Author has always captivated the public’s imagination. Avant-garde, bohemian or plain eccentric, published writers attract admiration wherever they go. Being traditionally published by a publishing house was—and still is—almost impossible. Besides having … Read more
Breathing in the perfume of your first book
Lisa-Anne Julien talks about the joy of her first traditionally published book. I respect the age of technology, I really do. I know the invention of e-books and their readers have made reading funkier for many people. But for me, there’s something about the smell of the pages of a new book that’s just intoxicating. … Read more
