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What are the most common causes of failure for a writer - and what can we learn from them?   Peter investigates.   In today’s Write Report, Donna considers one of the hidden perils of self-publishing, and reports the latest developments concerning the British publication of The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones.   And in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she indulges in some first-rate displacement activities for writers!

Got news for us - or a comment?  Then drop it into our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia.

Links: The Write Report, Verbotomy, K2xl.com, David Bridgers’ Blog - How to get your Novel Published

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What, exactly, is a “novel with series potential”?  And should you pitch your novel as a one-off, or as the first part in a series?  Peter returns to this subject.  In today’s Write Report, Donna tells us how terrorists who fire-bombed the British home of the publisher of The Jewel of Medina by Sherry Jones have set back Western understanding of their own religion, and there’s a new novel out for the mobile phone - written by an 86 year-old Buddhist nun!  In this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she focues on ten tips for new bloggers, and how blogging and writing fiction are curiously similar.

Got news for us - or a comment?  Then drop it into our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia.

Links: The Write Report , The Urban Muse

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photo credit: WIlly Volk

In the week when Damien Hirst made $198 million selling pickled animals, famed art critic Robert Hughes all but crucified Hirst and his “dull witted” patrons in an outspoken attack published in The Guardian.  On Litopia After Dark we discuss whether Hirst is a pioneer - or a pirate, as Hughes maintains.  Also, British children’s authors who visit schools and libraries more than once a month will need to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority as of October 2009.  Is this opening the door to a world where the State decides whose ideas are acceptable - and whose aren’t?

British author Sam Jordison writes a piece in The Independent taking a sardonic view of all those books – and in particular, all those interminable Channel Four programs – that are comprised entirely of lists. Bucket lists, Jordison calls them.  The panel add their own ideas to his anti-list of things not to do before you die - and improve it immeasurably.  We also play Pitch the Nasty Agent and Toad Suck, Arkansas, Reverse Shuffle Six Card Strip Pokerette (another win for the panel!) and in our Cry For Help this week, a certain DH from North Devon can’t help but be impressed at our problem solving skills.

On the panel this week we are delighted to welcome Brian Clegg author of Upgrade Me – Our amazing journey to Human 2.0 and Amanda Lees, author of Kumari, Goddess of Gotham.  Add to this our stalwart panelists Dave Bartram and Donna Ballman and you have a veritable witches’ brew of intoxicating intellects.  The Ustream Chatroom (8pm GMT) was open for business as usual.  Come along next week and give us your views live on the show.

Links mentioned in the show…

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Today’s show concludes yesterday’s discussion between Peter and Peggy Brusseau about what you should ask your prospective literary agent; Donna brings us the latest news featuring a landmark copyright / piracy lawsuit that has implications for writers in the digital future ahead; and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she ponders how writers can profitably use their slack time during the day – and the benefits of keeping a writer’s notebook … and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia.

Links: The Write Report, How to Begin People Watching

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Peter introduces a special studio guest to discuss what writers should ask a prospective literary agent; Donna brings us the latest news about Banned Book Week featuring an attempt to ban Of Mice & Men in Kansas; and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she focuses on the poetry of the rejection letter (surely you jest!)… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia.

Links: The Write Report , Bookslut , The Kenyon Review

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Peter exercises himself (for which, read rants) on the subject of writers paying to spam agents with  e-mail submissions; Donna brings us the latest news featuring a legal win in India for the Hari Puttar film that Warner Bros has claimed infringes their trade mark; and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she focuses on some golden advice from Stephen King to young writers… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia.

Links: The Write Report ,  The Temp, The Actress and The Writer

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Peter answers questions relating to dialogue and submissions; Donna brings us the latest news featuring a new campaign to save endangered words - and how it’s all in the meaning; and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she focuses on resources to help you with your grammar, that perennial bugbear of the writer’s life… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia.

Links: The Write Report , Spark Notes - Grammar , Grammar Girl - Quick and Dirty Tips

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Peter dissects a television show than went from buzz to bust in a matter of months; Donna brings us the latest news featuring JK Rowling’s munificent gift to the British Labout Party; and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she uncovers a veritable treasure trove of writers’ links and the Internet Public Library… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia

Links: The Write Report , That Action Guy , The Internet Public Library , Gnod Map of Literature

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photo credit: Cayusa

In the week when the world’s financial industries appeared to go into meltdown, Litopia After Dark zeroes in on the impact this will have on the publishing industry.  What effect will the credit crunch and looming global economic disaster have on the world of books?  We also discuss e-readers, following disturbing research showing that on-screen reading is flawed.  Is the e-reader doomed?  And, after Eoin Colfer has been commissioned to write a new Hitchhiker instalment, we ask if resurrecting old favourites is a good idea?  All this seriousness is balanced out with our regular merrymaking in the form of Pitch the Nasty Agent, Toad Suck, Arkansas, Reverse Shuffle Six Card Strip Pokerette and of course Litopia’s Cry for Help.

On the panel this week we are delighted to welcome back Martyn Daniels, publishing expert and author of the seminal, pathfinding report for the Booksellers Association of Great Britain about their digital future.  You can find Martyn on his blog Brave New World.  Joining him are Donna Ballman, Dave Bartram and Eve Harvey.

In the Ustream chatroom (8pm GMT), amicable agreement broke out, join us next week to stir things up a bit.

Links mentioned in the show…

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Peter discusses whether writers should see themselves as brands; Donna brings us the latest news featuring a new campaign against Britain’s draconian libel laws and the growing movement against Bratz dolls; and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she continues her survey of writers’ blogland - Black Boxes courtesy of Caroline Smailes and An Awfully Big Blog Adventure… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia

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Peter discusses what effect the crumbling economy is going to have on the publishing business and specifically on writers; Donna brings us the latest news featuring books not to read before you die and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she looks at what you can learn from agents’ and editors’ blogs on the ‘net - K T Literary and Editorial Anonymous … and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia

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Peter discusses how to sack an agent; Donna brings us the latest news featuring (deja-vu, anyone?!) the very latest Harry Potter lawsuit and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she examines ways of battling those blogging blues… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia

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Peter discusses whether you should finish your manuscript before you submit or if you can start sending it out to Agents and Publishers earlier; Donna brings us the latest news featuring Harry Potter and the Never-Ending Lawsuit and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she looks at ways to put pictures into your blog… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia

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Peter rants about the latest, and deadly, iTunes update for Windows; Donna brings us the latest news featuring bunny suicides (yes… really!) and in this issue of Eve’s Salmagundi Club, she looks at Windows Live Writer… and don’t forget to let us have your contributions to LITOPIA DAILY via our Open Inbox: http://drop.io/litopia

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photo credit: Lucy Librarian

The J.K. Rowling plagiarism case, psychoanalysing the mind of the Republican voter and mad scientists… such a medley of topics can only be found on Litopia After Dark.  This week, as well as deciding whether we think JK has won a victory for writers everywhere, we also try to pitch our novels to the Agent, and solve the ticklish issue of an anonymous listener who’s addicted to tarting up his pig.  Seriously.

On the panel this week we are delighted to welcome back Dr Susan O’Doherty, writer, clinical psychologist and the author of Getting Unstuck Without Coming Unglued: A Woman’s Guide to Unblocking Creativity. Her popular advice column for writers, “The Doctor Is In,” appears every Friday on MJ Rose’s publishing blog, Buzz, Balls, & Hype. Also on the panel are our regular stalwarts, Dave Bartram, Donna Ballman and Eve Harvey.

The Ustream Chatroom (8pm GMT) was on tenterhooks as the winner of Litopian of the Week was announced.  Join us next week for the live show and cheer on your favorite!

Links mentioned in the show…

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