Issue 3  March 23 2023

How to organize your books — even when you have thousands of them - The Washington Post

We asked bibliophiles, with libraries ranging from 300 to 3,000, about their displaying and organizing strategies.

8 Ways to Read (a Lot) More Books This Year

Here’s my advice for fitting more reading into your own life, based on the behaviors that I changed:

Mombian Database Hits Milestone of 1200+ LGBTQ Family Books and More - Mombian

More than half of the 1200 LGBTQ-inclusive items in the database are picture books (including board books), followed by middle-grade books, books for grown-ups about LGBTQ families, and early readers/chapter books. There are also some children’s music albums, toys and games, and a few movies for grown-ups about LGBTQ families.

Olivia: An Oft-Overlooked Lesbian Novel - JSTOR Daily

despite the success of the eponymous lesbian-oriented Olivia Travel (originally Olivia Records), few contemporary readers know much about it.

How Authors Can Build Relationships with Independent Bookstores | Jane Friedman

you need to carefully research each store before you make an approach

Writing About Native Americans: 7 Questions Answered | Jane Friedman

Helping authors of all genres write authentic stories with Native characters is one of my passions. Once authors invest in the skills they need, they’re able to stand behind every word they write. So I’ll answer frequently asked questions I hear from writers.

What Diversity Means to Me as a Sensitivity Reader - From the Ylva Blog

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I want to leave you with some concrete things to support you in your journey to be more inclusive and diverse in your stories.

Author George M. Johnson's Family Fought A Book Ban And Won

“It was a beautiful thing for queer community to see what it looks like when a family shows up for you.”

Students want new books. Thanks to restrictions, librarians can’t buy them. - The Washington Post

In one Texas school district, school librarians have ordered 6,000 fewer books this year than the year before, because under a new rule parents must have 30 days to review the titles before the school board votes to approve them. In Pennsylvania, a school librarian who must now obtain her principal’s okay for acquisitions has bought just 100 books this school year, compared with her typical 600.

And throughout Florida, many school librarians have been unable to order books for nearly a year, thanks to their districts’ interpretation of a state law requiring librarians to undergo an online retraining program on “the selection and maintenance of library … collections” — which was not published until this month.

1950s-'60s lesbian love novels spurred LGBTQ rights | KALW

While a young housewife and mom in the 1950s and ’60s, Ann Bannon wrote lusty lesbian love stories. Scorned by the literary elite then, her and other authors’ “pulp fiction” paperbacks helped advance queer rights and now offer a glimpse of gay and lesbian life in those times.

THE MASTHEADS

Applications for The Mastheads Summer Residency are open from now until March 15! The residency will run for three weeks, from Saturday July 1 - Saturday July 22, at Herman Melville’s Arrowhead in Pittsfield, MA. (h/t Erica Dreifus newsletter)

Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians - Columbus State University

The Marguerite and Lamar Fellowship for Writers is offered during fall semester. The fellowship begins the first of September and ends the first of December. During this time, the writing fellow will reside in a spacious private apartment inside Carson McCullers's childhood home, the Smith-McCullers House. The fellow is provided with a stipend of $5,000 to cover costs of transportation, food and other incidentals. (h/t Erica Dreifus newsletter)

The Inaugural Willa Cather Residency Program | Willa Cather Foundation - Red Cloud Nebraska (NE)

Our select cohort of writers will live and work in Red Cloud over a two-week period from October 15-29, 2023. Each resident will be provided a private furnished room in the Cather Second Home Guest House—with its comfortable communal kitchen, dining, and living spaces—and a separate place to work. Residents will also receive $400 for provisions while in Red Cloud.

Instructor Interest – HerStories Community

We are looking for writing instructors, writing group leaders, and authors who might want to lead workshops for our online writing summits.

When will Gillian Flynn write the next ‘Gone Girl’? Later. She’s a publisher now ｜ Chicago Tribune

My biggest interest is the voice of the writer, off-kilter books that might not find a hand in publishing now, which is much more particular about first-time writers than it was when I was a first-time writer. They want more assurance they have a hit. I’m constantly asking people what they’re reading, what’s unusual — the kinds of books just harder to publish today. We also benefit from a variety of voices once ignored by the industry, writers from around the world. It’s important a writer offers more than a popular Instagram account.

Wattpad for Authors: It’s Not Just for the Young Folks | Jane Friedman

Most stories on Wattpad are free to read and written in-progress, installment by installment, for an eager audience. Unlike some other corners of the Internet, it is largely seen as an encouraging and optimistic place for its creators/contributors, who are compelled to keep writing their stories partly due to reader support.

The Trouble with Titles... - by Kathy Fish

Ten tried and true tips for writing terrific ones

When Your Publishing Contract Flies a Red Flag: Clauses to Watch Out For – Writer Unboxed

In this article, I’m going to focus on contract language that gives too much benefit to the publisher, and too little to the author. Consider these contract clauses to be red flags wherever you encounter them.

The Nuts and Bolts of Becoming an Independent Editor | Jane Friedman

Some of the more common roles for an editor within this space are developmental editing, ghostwriting, coaching, cowriting, copy editing, proofreading, and marketplace assistance through the traditional or self-publishing avenue–but this is hardly an exhaustive list; when it comes to your suite of services, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Could the Next Great Author Be a Robot? We Asked (Human) Writers. - The New York Times

At the PEN America Literary Awards, David Sedaris, Judith Thurman and others discussed the role A.I. could play in literature.

For Authors – ShopQueer.co

For Authors Our mission is to support queer authors during a time of increasing anti-LGBTQ+ hatred. If you identify as LGBTQ+, we would love to feature your work –– and pay you!

Inside the Picture Perfect—and Highly Lucrative—Business of Book Styling ‹ Literary Hub

Zoom bookcase backgrounds have become ubiquitous in recent years. Influencers post countless pictures of books lined up, their spines turned toward the wall so that color doesn’t disturb the aesthetic. Social media is littered with images of bookshelves organized by hue, suggesting the works on display hold no more value than a bag of M&Ms.