We'll become* the Literary equivalent of Hollywood where all we publish is tired franchises and remakes. And honestly, I've pretty much stopped going to the cinema.
*Based on some of the biggest LBF deals, maybe we're there already
What is constantly overlooked in this system is the books that seemingly come from nowhere and change the landscape... As publishing moves more and more to this very sales data informed model we risk losing those incredibly exciting publications and game changing books...
And if you're not trusted to champion something new and different, why not outsource finding the books that will tick the boxes needed to get a book through acquisition?
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(can you name two similar titles doing well in the market right now? No? Sorry, it won't get selected by retailers)... The trust in editorial taste, passion and vision has been eroded within publishing.
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And that's the issue... Because over the years I was in house (and I'm sure it's even more so now), getting a book through acquisition definitely became more about convincing the sales side of the business that there were metrics to rely on for how the book might perform
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Where does that joy come from if you're outsourcing the first impression of the book and relying on an AI to point you towards comparable titles? How do you fall in love?
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But as an editor (and agent) my job satisfaction came from knowing my market, knowing what was working and what that might mean readers would want next and finding books that might be doing something a bit different and new. It came from falling in love with and championing books I believed in...
Especially in the run up to the book fairs when it's almost impossible to prioritise which manuscript to read because so many arrive each day (this is why I don't send books out during this time because I don't think an author's work gets the attention and serious consideration it deserves.).
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But I think it's a symptom of some issues that have been getting worse in publishing over the years...
I was an editor for many years. I know how unmanageable and overwhelming the submission pile can be.
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A screenshot of a bookseller article where literary agent Gordon Wise says he suspects some editors are putting confidential manuscripts into chat GPT to get summaries rather than reading the submission
www.thebookseller.com/news/some-ed...
The idea of this is horrifying.
That editors would be that careless with someone else's work is appalling. And nothing of what follows is in any way intended to excuse or mitigate the damage done to authors if this has actually happened.
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Please consider signing this... It's so close to the number needed for a govt response: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
It's just occured to me that this error was probably a sign the letter had been written using AI...
Please go read Patti's entry to the Libraro prize and add you vote
Cover of The Ice Beneath Me by Patti Buff. It features a frozen lake with snow and footprints on it with the shadow of a person's legs coming from the left.
My crime novel The Ice Beneath Me is now available to read as part of the Libraro Prize.
Readers decide which books move forward by reading and championing their favorites. If you have time please head over and take a look.
app.libraro.com/manuscript/d...
#amwriting
#booksky
#LibraroPrize
Wow.
Thank you, will look into this
Urgh, email from Google workspace re the renewal for our business email... Price is going up to account for all the AI features they are introducing. I do not want these features... What are my options for moving to a different email provider without losing all my email?
We are truly blessed this Christmas
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
A picture of the review from the guardian which is linked to above
Thrilled to see GLADIATOR, GODDESS by @morganowen.bsky.social reviewed in @theguardian.com today. 'A bold, bloody, riotous sapphic romantasy.'
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/o...
I was just thinking the other day, if a tech company popped up and promised it would never add any AI to anything, I would switch everything to them in a heartbeat... Anyone know one?
We're incredibly excited to announce our SPECTACULAR Autumn Masterclass line-up, featuring Jake Arnott, @benpester.bsky.social, Irenosen Okojie, @hannahlitagent.bsky.social and @larapawson.bsky.social!
Booking & info here: www.hastingswritersworkshop.com/courses/mast...
To celebrate my husband’s debut record release - buff.lnk.to/tearjerkers, I thought I’d do something fun. I’m offering a free cover letter or first page critique for anyone who can guess which song on the album was written for me. #writers #editing #coverlettercritique #firstpagecritique
People are exhausted.
Our high streets, public spaces, whole communities left unloved.
Blaming migrants won’t fix this.
Tackling inequality will. Tax the super-rich. Fund public services.
#DrawTheLine
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Our gifted hearts front cover by Jennifer Kennedy
This book has had me on the edge of my seat for the past two hours. Beautifully gothic & horrifically macabre, this book is not for the faint-hearted. I have never felt such fear for a character before. I never saw the ending coming
Probably going to have nightmares 10/10 experience
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#booksky
Could we crowd source an empathy boosting reading list for this govt please...I don't think any of them are reading enough, they've lost all sense of compassion and humanity
A screen shot of an Instagram post from Waterstones showing the cover of the book INBOUND by Philippa Leathley and announcing it as their children's book of the month
Absolutely thrilled that INKBOUND by @prleathley.bsky.social has been announced as the @waterstones.bsky.social @waterstoneskids.bsky.social Children's Book of the Month for September
