Author Notes #10 (July 2024)
Writing advice; concerning stats about reading; romantasy booms while the RWA crashes; authors' political views are being discussed; and Spotify expands its premium book offerings
In my monthly Author Notes I highlight key stories about writing and publishing over the last month, both from Substack authors and traditional media outlets, along with my insights and reactions.
1.
I know that reading too many articles about ‘how to write’ can easily become a procrastination exercise, but I’m sharing this one from the Guardian because it features two novelists, an agent and a publisher all chipping in, and I agree with every single point they make. This is excellent general advice on how to maintain focus when writing, and I reckon it’s pretty much all you need: the rest is all about craft.
2.
A recent study in the UK, released by The Reading Agency, found that half of the adults they surveyed don’t read for pleasure. This is a worrying but unsurprising finding considering how many things compete for our attention in modern life. It’s great to see some of the agency’s positive initiatives in response, such as Quick Reads, which provides short reads from bestselling authors at a very low price.
3.
While romantasy is surging, the Romance Writers of America has collapsed and filed for bankruptcy after some serious issues around diversity and inclusion, according to a report in the New York Times. I don’t know much about RWA, but let’s hope something else springs up in its place to offer support and connection for authors. Such organisations can only be a good thing when they are done well and with respect for all.
4.
Event organisers at the State Library of Victoria are said to have discussed the political views of writers who were to host the library’s Teen Writing Bootcamp workshop, before some of the events were cancelled. Another report in the Sydney Morning Herald says that staff were asked to remove political pins, including items featuring the Aboriginal flag, and morale is at an all-time low with some workers on stress leave. If this is the case, it’s disappointing, as it would be great to see institutions supporting robust and respectful debate and inclusion rather than taking this suppressive position.
5.
Spotify has announced new deals for its premium audiobook offering, which gives premium subscribers (including Australia and New Zealand) access to 15 hours of audiobooks per month. UK Bonnier books and Blackstone have been added to the platform, which means all my books are on there now, but I don’t yet have any details of how the streaming revenue will work and, sadly, because of the way these publishing deals work, it will be hard to find out. I’ve always struggled to get clarity on how authors receive revenue from streaming services like Audible and Spotify, although my audiobooks on Audible in the US have contributed significantly to my income over the last few years. If any readers have insights on this topic then I’d love to hear them.
SHORT NOTES AND SHOUT-OUTS
I’m getting bored of talking about AI, and I hate the fact that I’m bored because that’s how the tech companies get us to be complicit in the end, isn’t it? It’s why we now joke uneasily about such things as being spied on through our phones, and yet carry on without complaint. However, it’s very hard to maintain energy in the fight against the gargantuan onslaught of AI tech, with more publishers quickly signing deals this month, such as this one, reported in The Conversation: An academic publisher has struck an AI data deal with Microsoft – without their authors’ knowledge. Some people have sought to reassure me about AI, but I’ll always be uneasy about these developments until authors’ rights are acknowledged and protected.
Bridgerton author Julia Quinn had to intervene to quell fans’ furious reactions to a gender-swap in the next season of Bridgerton, which means one of the storylines will feature a lesbian relationship rather than a heterosexual one. Quinn had an excellent response to the furore, saying, ‘Anyone who has seen an interview with me from the past four years knows that I am deeply committed to the Bridgerton world becoming more diverse and inclusive as the stories move from book to screen.’
Fellow WA author Shannon Meyerkort and I have been getting busy with plans for Dyslexia Awareness month this coming October, so watch out for this on our different platforms, as some amazing authors have agreed to take part. Shannon and I both have children with dyslexia, so this is a topic close to our hearts, and Shannon’s book Brilliant Minds was written to show all young children that there are many inspirational people across all walks of life who struggled with reading and writing at school.
My favourite Substack post this month was ‘Why You Can't Equate Your Substack Posts to a Book’ by
. While Substack is a brilliant place to be creative, write and hang out online, it’s a very different beast to writing a novel, and Brooke nails it as she points out all the reasons why writing books still matters so much.
ICYMI IN JULY ON MY SUBSTACK (FOR ALL SUBSCRIBERS):
ICYMI IN JULY ON MY SUBSTACK (FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS):
UNLOCKED POST FOR ALL SUBSCRIBERS:
Every month I unlock a paid post for all subscribers to read - and this time it’s a personal one about the whale I’ll never forget!
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Have a great weekend!
Yay for your Dyslexia Awareness plans - Proud mum of 3 dyslexic kiddos here too!
Great round-up and insights, Sara. Glad to learn of the "How To Write A Book" podcast / "podclass" — thank you!