I'd blogged about Maggie Steed's talk on writing My Weekly Pocket Novels after the RNA Conference in July, but it now seems they have undergone another change while I was away and are now called Easy Reads! Please ignore this if you already know about it as I'm just getting around to mentioning it now. I wonder why they are called Easy Reads - hope it's nothing to do with dumbing down (I wouldn't have thought so). Or is it just a ploy to attract new readers who don't have time for a long read like a novel? Guess we'll need to do our research and buy a few.
You can see from the above picture that the categories are slightly different again, although they are still 50,000 words. Here's a link to
Sally Qillford's blog where she asked Maggie some questions about the new look Pocket novels. At least it's still a market looking for authors!
Rosemary
10 comments:
An interesting development, Rosemary. Like all publishers at the moment, D.C. Thomson must be looking for ways to increase - or simply to maintain - sales levels.
I like the new look - much more modern, I think. And the new branding is easier to remember and makes more sense to me.
Definitely a welcome new development, Rosemary. Lots of new and exciting genres for us here. Interesting to note, though, that Shirley Blair over at The People's Friend Pocket Novels points out that there will be no similar chages there.
They do look more modern, and the new categories give writers a lot more scope. I'm looking forward to reading some of them so I understand the genres better, before I decide which to aim for.
Thank you, Rosemary. They do look good and I'd like to read more of them. I'd love to write one too. It's been in the back of my mind for ages. Once the summer holidays are over and the WIP finished (which it almost is)I might give this a try.
Thanks so much for the information.
I think you're right, Joan.
They certainly do look more more modern, Talli - thanks for your comment!
Hi Rena - many thanks for that positive note. I'm not surprised to hear that about PF!
Me too, Joanne!
I've often wanted to try one, too, Joanna - we just need to find the time to get down to it now!
I like it! I've been meaning to look more into these 'easy reads'. I must get my hands on some and see if I can give it a go! Thanks for the post Rosemary x
Many well known writers such as Ian Rankin, Maeve Binchey and Ruth Rendell have been writing 'easy reads' for some time. I think it's perhaps more to do with being 'quick reads'( a shorter length) and appeal to people who lead busy lives?
Hi Diane - good luck, it sounds like a great opportunity!
I'm sure you're absolutely correct, Myra!
Lots of opportunities for writers here and that has to be good.
XX
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