Tweet Round-Up
It’s been a mild and lovely fall this year, but the publishing industry is red hot, keeping us on our toes as usual, and our thirst to become stronger writers is strong as ever. We ran an experiment here at Writer Unboxed where we brought publishing news to you on the website. After some data analysis and discussion, we’ve decided to keep doing the things we do best on the website–impart wisdom, inspire, and spark thought-provoking discussions. So we’re retiring our Hot Tweetable posts here, but we hope you will continue to follow our hashtags on Twitter where our team will be tweeting the best writerly and industry links on a daily basis. For a final hurrah, we give you some of the choice stories of the autumn.
#WUPRINT
"Book trade braced for Spending Review cuts" says @thebookseller https://t.co/uMe3dtLeNv #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 24, 2015
The problem of publishing & deep discounting https://t.co/rKyhf5DX48 #WUprint #WUdigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 19, 2015
"American Writers Museum to Open in 2017" @galleycat https://t.co/43FVQO7Qu3 #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 11, 2015
"Publisher Murdered, Others Attacked, in Bangladesh" @pubperspectives https://t.co/hztIoadPFp #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 3, 2015
"Gender Bias: Are You Aware Of Yours?" via @Porter_Anderson https://t.co/2JF7I9w5kq #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 10, 2015
"I thought the Amazon store was a terrible idea. Then I actually went there" @voxdotcom https://t.co/Wjb0UKHvKI #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 9, 2015
#WUDIGITAL
"Innovation is the Only Way to Increase Ebook Sales" @pubperspectives https://t.co/GCJH7Bs4Tf #WUPrint #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 18, 2015
New Harper Collins imprint wooing indies. https://t.co/ZNKX4jcO82 #WUprint #WUdigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 20, 2015
"How Publishers Are Using Smart Automation to Drive Sales" @digibookworld https://t.co/5E7PeWdiFY #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 4, 2015
#WUAGENT
AGENT ALERT: Kara Leigh Miller of Corvisiero seeks romance, inspie, thrillers, mystery, horror https://t.co/H2zeFeFjmv #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 19, 2015
How to hook an agent/reader on page one: 6 tips, via @carlywatters https://t.co/g8AiEVW0TQ #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) November 6, 2015
"When the Publishing Business Just Isn't Into You" https://t.co/imP5JNzAGK #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed […]
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Though summer can be quiet in publishing as we all take vacation–instead of writing for a change–very seriously, there was still plenty of news-worthy links we wanted to share here at Writer Unboxed. We’ve divided them into handy dandy categories for you below, including print and digital news, craft advice, agent information, and more.
#WUPrint
"Adult Fiction Print Units Bouncing Back in 2015" @PublishersWkly http://t.co/W5J7r0Zdlc #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 24, 2015
"April sales in the children’s/YA category fell 12.6% w/ ebook sales plunging 51.6%." @PublishersWkly http://t.co/B3sBI8j5nE #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 7, 2015
"After The Hype And Drama: Balancing Trad And Indie" @Porter_Anderson reports http://t.co/5jOn22kW2H #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 24, 2015
Watchman is 'fastest selling' in HC US history @thebookseller http://t.co/LP2hJpHkU9 #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 21, 2015
#WUDigital
"Amazon Doing More for Authors than Publishers Are" @digibookworld http://t.co/pKWlA1OYZn #WUPrint #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 24, 2015
"Does the Future of Reading Belong to the Phone?" @pubperspectives http://t.co/g7h9v603b6 #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 24, 2015
"How Ebooks Are Changing the Way We Read" @digibookworld http://t.co/ei0PaYFWGh #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 11, 2015
Book startups troll for investors & biz models to survive in changing digital market @PublishersWkly http://t.co/cEzGmCEkxx #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 10, 2015
#WUAgent
Agent Question: I signed with an agent & then didn't hear from them for months. Normal? http://t.co/M2ooTQDlYs #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 14, 2015
"Author claims agent reactions 'depend on author gender'" @thebookseller http://t.co/egJUauSBda #WUAgent #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 6, 2015
AGENT ALERT: Laura Mamelok seeks literary, women's fic, commercial, literary thrillers, YA w/ crossover http://t.co/RggdcPqTVX #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 20, 2015
Agent Spotlight: Brent Taylor seeks Mystery/Thriller, Women's, Literary, MG, YA & Graphic @LiteraryRambles http://t.co/4xpzTJ3Tc2 #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 13, 2015
Lit agent Stephen Barbara shares what the elements of a perfect submission are via @Casey_McCormick http://t.co/lRQTAkYD3E #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) Read More
Big changes hit publishing the month of June. Amazon opened their first retail store–and it was promptly robbed, the Penguin Random House merger continues to make waves, and there is talk that indie bookstores are finally safe. Other highlighted news is below, but please check out the dozens of other big stories this month using our hashtags on Twitter.
#WUPrint
"In the merger of Berkley and NAL, a currently unspecified number of jobs will be cut" @PublishersWkly http://t.co/ZRZoZPrSeY #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) June 24, 2015
"Assoc of American Pubs introduces a new, full-year snapshot of the U.S. book market in 2014" @DigiBookWorld http://t.co/H9yYUSD06i #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) June 24, 2015
Amazon’s foreign fiction imprint AmazonCrossing is leading the field in the US http://t.co/rZu5qma6D3 #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) June 22, 2015
Taking back 'Chick Lit'. Women owning their point of view @nationalpost http://t.co/CQNY6m28Nu #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) June 25, 2015
"In Self-Publishing, The Gatekeepers Are Dead. Long Live The Gatekeepers!" @ThoughtCatalog http://t.co/cPZ0ajXCNq #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) June 15, 2015
#WUDigital
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March came in like a lion and went out…like a lion. Was your writing month similar? (I know mine was, but then, I seem to be wrestling with lions all the time.) As for publishing, the hot topics swirling around this spring are BIG industry questions. How do readers discover books, or new writers for that matter? How can publishers fine-tune their marketing efforts? What drives an author to abandon their current publishing methods (whatever they may be) to seek greener pastures? Browse the answers below and be sure to check out our hashtags on Twitter, where the pub news and writing inspiration comes fast and furious each day. Also, we’d love to hear what you think in the comments!
#WUPrint
"Solving The Discoverability Problem: Virtual Reality And The Future Of Publishing" @thecreativepen http://t.co/yRksieLPbc #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 19, 2015
"Starter thoughts for publishers to develop new author marketing policies" via @mikeshatzkin http://t.co/rordCYZPrU #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 27, 2015
.@Porter_Anderson asks: Is self-pubbing a matter of choice, necessity, or do-it-yourself pride? #AuthorSay http://t.co/nsin0TZvs3 #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 27, 2015
#WUCraft
“Understanding The Writer’s Journey” via @KristenLambTX http://t.co/bt4nW6xPl6 #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 26, 2015
“When Should We Lay A Story Aside?” via @woodwardkaren http://t.co/X8QOmY5JHe #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 13, 2015
#WUAgent
Read MoreJanuary has come and gone in a whirlwind of resolutions, goals, and motivation. How many of us have stuck by them? I hope you’ve all given it the college try! If not, February is right around the corner, bringing more sunlight and longer days, and plenty of time to write, write, write. Meanwhile, take a look at a few of our most tweetable links.
#WUPrint
Amazon yielding more to Wall Street @CNBC http://t.co/ECUCdp3oJO #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) January 30, 2015
"If Writers Don’t #CreditWriters, Who Will?" @Porter_Anderson http://t.co/K1GxXpDQLt #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) January 29, 2015
"So You Want to Be a Famous Self-Published Author?" @pubperspectives http://t.co/5IJHrNlVar #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) January 30, 2015
The Hottest (and Coldest) Book Categories of 2014 http://t.co/fCM33UdfSm via @publisherswkly #WUPrint #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) January 26, 2015
#WUDigital
"Investigating Author-Publisher Dynamics: 2015 Author Survey Results" @digibookworld http://t.co/n6IdVirVzm #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) January 29, 2015
"Don’t try to beat Google or Amazon, go vertical – four lessons from digital publishers" http://t.co/zEtgupa6SP #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) January 28, 2015
#WUAgent
Read MoreIt’s hard to believe we’ve concluded another year here at Writer Unboxed, but what a ground-breaking year it was! We saw the eighth straight year of being nominated by Writer’s Digest as a top website, we dabbled in our own publishing imprint Writer Unboxed Publishing with Ani Bolton’s STEEL AND SONG, and also launched our first ever Un-Conference. The industry brought some major news as well– ebook subscriptions, the plateau of ereader (and ebook) sales, and the great debate between corporate giants Amazon and Hachette. On that note, December has been a fairly quiet month as the industry churns out their “best of” lists. Still, you can count on us to find some juicy news to report. Take a look at this month’s hot links.
#WUPrint
"The Bookseller’s Books of 2014 66 by Women, 54 by Men" @Porter_Anderson http://t.co/nlBpCGW33z #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 18, 2014
"Macmillan Strikes Ebook Deal with Amazon" @digibookworld http://t.co/3fShMJDtNL #WUDigital #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 19, 2014
"Can an Oil-and-Gas Exec Disrupt the Book Business?" @pubperspectives http://t.co/C4uSn4owIo #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 12, 2014
#WUAgent
Read MoreAfter the wonderful Writer Unboxed Un-Conference, many writers in the community who could not attend, thanked me and the other avid tweeters for sharing juicy tidbits on the conference hashtag. Well, it got Therese and I (among others) thinking. Why not host a monthly chat in real time where we can check in with each other, discuss our writing practices, talk about the industry, and send out encouragement on a regular basis? Sound like a fabulous idea? We thought so, too. Without further ado, I’d like to introduce an exciting new concept here at Writer Unboxed: the #WUChat!
Here are the deets–
WHEN: Every First of the month, (December 1st is our kick-off!), at 1 p.m. EST.
WHERE: On the #WUChat hashtag.
WHO: Anyone in the Writer Unboxed community (or anyone on Twitter can engage for that matter)
HOW: Each session will begin with a topic question or two related to discussion items circulating at Writer Unboxed about anything from publishing to craft. Yours truly (@msheatherwebb) will host right from the Writer Unboxed Twitter account (@WriterUnboxed).
TIPS: Have trouble blocking out all the other noise on Twitter? Try using TweetChat. All you do is type Tweetchat.com into your browser window. Type #WUChat into the search bar. It will prompt you to allow your Twitter account to access it. Say yes. VOILA! You will then be in what appears as a private chat room. Basically, this app gives you a clean screen with only tweets and information regarding this particular chat. In addition, it has the hashtag already added for you so you don’t have to keep counting your characters, etc. If you use Tweetdeck, just add a new column for #WUChat to your screen.
For December 1st, our opening prompts will be:
Checking In: Where are you in your works in progress? What are your next steps?
If you attended the Un-Conference, how is it helping to shape your writing, your attitudes toward your works, or the craft as a whole?
I look forward to seeing you all there!
Read MoreOctober is a busy month in publishing. From the Frankfurt Book Fair, to book festivals across the U.S., and literary prize announcements, there was loads happening. Believe it or not, that’s just the beginning. Take a look at the hottest links below or browse Writer Unboxed’s hashtags at Twitter.
#WUPrint
Simon & Schuster to go agency with Amazon on e-book sales http://t.co/NKNQUXqjKd #WUPrint #WUDigtial
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) October 21, 2014
"Why the subscription dream of a ‘Netflix for books’ still has its limits" @guardian http://t.co/vF7GYinu30 #WUPrint #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) October 20, 2014
Amazon to Outsource Book Agents' Jobs to Scout | Mashable http://t.co/omq7AJZIwN #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) October 15, 2014
#WUDigital
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September flew by in a whirlwind of words, words, words, and plenty of interesting happenings in the industry. Publishers are launching digital-onlys, banned book lists are circulating like wildfire, and the Amazon-Hachette debate continues. Pour a steaming cup of pumpkin spiced Joe and browse this month’s hottest links below. Be sure to hit up our hashtags on Twitter for the mother load.
#WUPrint
"Amazon to launch crowd-sourced publishing" @thebookseller http://t.co/EKF5yXjLrt #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) September 23, 2014
"Global markets on the up as print sales recover" @thebookseller http://t.co/udYtM4ezXT #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) September 22, 2014
Publishers Challenged by Marketing Authors @MikeShatzkin http://t.co/77kbY94T8K #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) September 5, 2014
#WUCraft
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For many of us, August brought vacation, homegrown vegetables, and plenty of words on the page. Just in case you missed the mergers, the continuing Amazon-Hachette debate, or some downright juicy craft links designed to jump start your writing, we bring you our top tweets of the month. Be sure to browse the #WU hashtags on Twitter for lots more. Enjoy the final days of summer!
#WUPrint
"Blurb Does Deal With Ingram to Help Indie Authors Get Into Bookstores" via @DigiBookWorld: http://t.co/NWozC4zVHp #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 20, 2014
"Plot Thickens as 900 Writers Battle Amazon" @nytimes http://t.co/iiImoI030b #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 8, 2014
"Kensington Signs Exclusive to Sell Ebook Imprint Titles in Print at Books-A-Million" via @DigiBookWorld: http://t.co/RIyxSUL5pT #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 20, 2014
#WUCraft
“Writing A Character Who Has An Addiction” via @NailYourNovel http://t.co/TkxoAD33gg #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 20, 2014
“Are You an Expert? How Writing Changes Our Brain” via @JamiGold http://t.co/s5L006F7Dj #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 19, 2014
“Who is the unreliable narrator?" via http://t.co/fHb23I6SZT http://t.co/wJ4bbYxmcm #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) August 18, 2014
#WUAgent
Read MoreThe summer months–July in particular–are often quiet in the summer; industry folks are on vacation and many of the offices close by noon on Friday. Not this year. July has brought a hotbed of activity with the continuation of the Amazon-Hachette debate and the rise of the unlimited book subscription. If you’d like to keep on top of all of the changes in the industry, how writers are coping, and engage in an intelligent discussion, (other than right here at Writer Unboxed) be sure to check out #FutureChat on Fridays at 11 a.m. EST with @PorterAnderson. And now, for the month’s best links.
#WUPrint
"The subscription debate: Publishing's all-you-can-eat concern" @thebookseller http://t.co/frkKOrQR8R #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 22, 2014
Amazon Unveils E-Book Subscription Service, Big 5 Publishers' books aren't available @nytimes http://t.co/wCSbQEOhQ3 #WUPrint #WUDigital
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 21, 2014
.@Porter_Anderson asks us this week if Publishing Will Change The Tone?http://t.co/kGt9bXutFQ #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 15, 2014
#WUCraft
“Grammar Mistakes That Label You “Amateur”" by @JanetKGrant via Books and Such http://t.co/vyrMQbfQhc #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 22, 2014
“Seven Deadly Sins of Prologues” via @KristenLambTX http://t.co/nGN4GwVDqY via @feedly #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 15, 2014
“Choreograph Direct Action Scenes” by Adam Firestone via @RomanceUniv http://t.co/A0zhpoYGOX #WUCraft
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) July 3, 2014
#WUAgent
Read MoreSpring brought its warmth and with it, lots of happy news in the publishing industry. This month we say three cheers for independent bookstores! Not only are they thriving, but expanding. We also enjoyed watching the digital debate at the London Book Fair, and the happy co-existence of e-books and print books. There’s so much more news where that came from. Take a look at the sampling below or head on over to our #WU hashtags.
#WUPrint
What If the real problem is– "Boys Can’t Find the Right (Reading) Stuff?" via @Porter_Anderson http://t.co/KxZzht6cGi #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) April 23, 2014
Print Books Lead to Higher Reading Comprehension Than Digital via @nytimes http://t.co/05QPaeO27C #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) April 17, 2014
"Lessons Learned From A Game Changing London Book Fair 2014" via @thecreativepenn http://t.co/PNLZSxEQ74 #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) April 14, 2014
"Self-publishing vs. Traditional: Some Straight Talk" via @nathanbransford http://t.co/y70YWEglFy #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) April 18, 2014
Read MoreAs March comes to a close, I think those of us in northern climes have found ourselves singing Let it freaking go, Elsa! We’re done with winter! But much writerly goodness happens when it’s cold outside. This month we’ve seen publishers engage directly with consumers, women’s issues become popular topics in novels worldwide, and the rise of crowd-funded bookish projects, including a bar and bookstore. Of course, there’s so much more. Take a look at this month’s top tweets:
#WUPrint
"If Everything Goes Open Access, How Will Authors Make Money?" @pubperspectives http://t.co/nH8K7wm4iV #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 27, 2014
How Books Can Win the War for our Attention via @washingtonpost http://t.co/RYT0OcfWAX #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 20, 2014
"The White Noise of Falling Royalty Rates" via @porteranders @janefriedman http://t.co/5mNLvFs0qY #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 7, 2014
#WUAgent
AGENT ALERT: Lindsay Ribar seeks YA & MG, LGBT themes, sci-fi, mystery, fantasy, anything musical http://t.co/uQoJwqNS6i #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 25, 2014
AGENT ALERT: Cate Hart seeks fantasy, steampnk, historical, mystery, magical realism, erotica, LGBT, YA, MG http://t.co/RYdVBK8eog #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) March 3, 2014
WRITER BEWARE: Questions to ask your literary agent http://t.co/3Zh3SxYrBy #WUAgent
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) February 28, 2014
#WUCraft
Read MoreIt’s hard to believe we’re wrapping another year of fantastic articles, plenty of camaraderie, and LOADS of new words. But December has come and (almost) gone! Despite the hectic rush of the holidays, many great links hit the Ether. Amazon drones, advice to develop strong characters, and setting up a successful book launch are just a few. We hope you’ll take a break from all of that eggnog and rich food to read some of the great material here.
From the Twitter team, happy holidays and we’ll see you next year!
#WUPrint
"Amazon unveils futuristic plan: Delivery by drone" via @60Minutes http://t.co/1G5VQJsVvL #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 2, 2013
WRITER BEWARE: "Crowdfunded Anthologies: Concerns For Writers" via @victoriastrauss http://t.co/el0HZkaXru #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 18, 2013
"Scribd & Smashwords Sign Global Deal" @gallecat http://t.co/JV14B0OPJB #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 19, 2013
A Revolution in Reading Trends: "Kindle readers make their mark" @guardian http://t.co/yNlXFuF1x0 #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 20, 2013
"Self-Publishing: The Myth and the Reality" @huffpostbooks http://t.co/6w6sNWkgnz #WUPrint
— Writer Unboxed (@WriterUnboxed) December 17, 2013
#WUAgent
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