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Writing Community
Designed for writers by writers, the Edit Red Writing Community has already helped scores of writers break into publishing.
Edit Red was formed in 2004 by freelance journalist Alan Emmins, literary reviewer Sean Merrigan and editor and creative writing teacher Chris Lee Ramsden who wanted to create a global community of supportive, committed and talented writers looking to enhance their craft, their careers and their creative experience.
By providing the community with regular Competitions, powerful Networking Tools and varied Publishing Opportunities, Edit Red aims to bridge the gap between the writer and the publisher both online and in print.
The vision is simple: Edit Red doesn't want to publish your work; it wants you to get your work published. If you write, the Edit Red Writing Community will save you valuable time, help you grow as a writer and bring you success.
Writing Community Feeds
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byFiction: Our Top 6 Great Book Suggestions for Spring
A mixture of new releases and must-haves
Our editors have got together and pitched in with the novels and short story collections that they plan to stuff in their handbags, pockets or mouths (you devour books, right?) this spring. You're more than welcome to add your own suggestions, or comment on some of the books on our list.
Everyman by Philip Roth
'Philip Roth proves that, at 72, he is still writi more...2 points
The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall
'Every so often, a work of imaginative fiction arr more...1 point
Saturday by Ian Mcewan
'For McEwan, happiness has rarely gone unpunished. more...1 point
The Book of Dave: A Novel by Will Self
'Anyone who has ever had an off-the-cuff remark re more...1 point
The Color of A Dog Running Away by Richard Gwyn
'At once an absurdist riddle, a romantic quest, an more...1 point
Reaching Towards His Unbounded Glory by Joseph J. Breunig 3rd
This collection of one hundred poems shares messag more...1 point
Ines of My Soul: A Novel by Isabel Allende
'Isabel Allende's new novel, Ines of My Soul, the more...0 points
The Raw Shark Blog
Stephen Hall's first novel sold in 21 countries before its release. This is how he wrote it.
'The Raw Shark Texts' had US film studios in a heated bidding war for rights before it had appeared in the shops. Nicole Kidman called the author asking for the lead role, even though the lead is a man (she tried to persuade Stephen to change the protagonist's sex). Hope you enjoy this excerpt from Stephen's blog.Over to Stephen:
... So I decided to take everything I'd learned from THE RETURN OF THE MAN and start another book, a good book, a proper book. The book. I had a killer idea too.
I called up an agent (no names) who'd been quite enthusiastic about THE RETURN OF THE MAN and had a conversation with her that went a little bit like this:
"Hi, it's Steven. I've realised that the book I sent you was really a sort of a training wheels project. All the time I thought I was writing a novel, I was really just teaching myself how to write a novel. I think I'm ready to write a proper book now."
"So you're going to throw away all that work and start something new?"
" Yep."
"Wow. That's a big decision. I think it's the right one though."
"Thanks, me too. Would you like to be my agent for the new book?"
"Well. I'm definitely interested. Do you have an idea for it?"
"Yes. In fact, I have a killer idea."
"Fantastic. What is it?"
"The book is going to be about an imaginary fish."
*several seconds of silence*
"A.... a what-now?"
"An imaginary fish. And a guy who doesn't know who he is. I think its going to be really great."
Right. And, what...?" *more silence* "And, I mean, the guy - does he...?" *even more silence* "Hmmm... right."
This was the first conversation I had with anyone about what would become THE RAW SHARK TEXTS. The agent gave up being an agent a few months later. I'm still hoping that wasn't my fault.
You can read more of Stephen's story on the Writer's Resource at Edit Red.
Author Interviews
Learn how the best writers write
In it's earliest form, Edit Red included quarterly interviews with big authors. Literary editor Sean Merrigan spent many an evening in the sparkling company of writers in smoky pubs in the deep, dark centre of London.
Alain de Botton speaks to Edit Red @ Edit Red Writing Community
Alain de Botton is the author of three novels - Es more...1 point
Luke Sutherland Speaks To Sean Merrigan @ Edit Red Writing Community
n the midst of the launch for his third novel Venu more...1 point
Tariq Goddard speaks to Sean Merrigan @ Edit Red Writing Community
For such a young author, Tariq Goddard has already more...0 points
Patrick Neate speaks to Sean Merrigan @ Edit Red Writing Community
His first published novel, a Trask Award winner, i more...0 points
Interview with David Madsen @ Edit Red Writing Community
David Madsen is the author of three novels: Memoir more...0 points
Edit Red Publishing
The Edit Red's 2006 Anthology
"Small Voices, Big Confessions contains not only big confessions, but an enormous cast of characters including an insane actress-killing polar bear; a sex-crazed bongo player for Bryan Ferry; a cadavar being shipped home decked in American illegally imported goods; and a Xanex laden housewife. This is a book to wade into, take to bed and huddle down with." The Round Table Review.November 2006 saw the publication of Edit Red's first short story collection:
Small Voices, Big Confessions
Pull up a chair. Lean in close. Closer.
Can you hear them? They're everywhere. Voices that can't be contained by the boxes around our work, our homes, our families. Voices that shine through the cracks in our everyday lives. Voices with tales to tell.
Gathered here are 20 unique tales liberated from niches and crannies around the world. Tales of tragedy and comedy, of loss and salvation. Tales of our shared, common experiences and the magic they hold within.
Paperback: 216 Pages
Publishing date: November 2006
Price: £8.99 + P&P
Buy Here
There are 2 anthologies due for publication in November 2007: one for poetry and another for short stories. Athough submissions have now been closed and selection is underway, the best entries in the themed competition, 'City Smells' will also be anthologized later this year, and submissions for 'City Smells' are still open. You can view more details here:
City Smells
Our Top 5 Creative Non-Fiction Books for Spring
Because not all books are made up.
If you want to get into some crushingly contemporary issues in a little more depth than is usually possible on the Net, here are some recommended books that will invite you to do exaclty that.
Resources for Writers
'Twelve Great Ways to Generate Ideas for Fiction' (excerpt) by Nick Daws
Need an idea for a short story, play or movie script? Here are twelve kick-starters for your imagination!1. Dictionary Roulette
Open a dictionary at random and choose the first word that appears. Do this twice more, so that you have three randomly chosen words. Now try to incorporate all three words into a story.
2. Take it From Here
Read the first paragraph of a story you have never read before in an anthology or magazine (if the opening paragraphs are very short, read the second and third paragraph as well). Now put the story to one side and write the rest of the story. The chances are that you will end up with a completely different story from the original. All you need to do then is change the opening paragraph/s in your story to have a completely new tale of your own.
OK, that's your taster. To read the next crucial 10 ways, visit the Writer's Resource at Edit Red.
Book Reviews
The pick of Reviews on Edit Red
When Edit Red was an ezine, literary editor Sean Merrigan and his team published some fabulous book reviews. We've selected a few of them for you to savour.
The Line of Beauty: Alan Hollinghurst @ Edit Red Writing Community
William Hogarth%u2019s Line of Beauty is a painter more...1 point
Kingdom of Fear: Hunter S. Thompson @ Edit Red Writing Community
There are, as Hunter S. Thompson correctly perceiv more...1 point
Venus as a Boy - Luke Sutherland @ Edit Red Writing Community
From an Arcadian Orkney childhood to adulthood in more...0 points
The Colour of a Dog Running Away - Richard Gwyn @ Edit Red Writing Community
Readers who venture beyond the jacket and into the more...0 points
Never Let Me Go: Kazuo Ishiguro @ Edit Red Writing Community
The relationship between memory and identity is th more...0 points
What about your Writing?
Tell us your writing story.
Written a book? Published anything in journals or in online zines? Or are you starting out and looking for guidance and inspiration? If you have any writing experiences, frustrations, dreams or action plans, why not share them with us? Maybe we can help you develop, promote and even publish your work.
antony wrote
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Posted March 23, 2008
ShellHarris wrote...
I'm sponsoring a writing contest for simple writing about your own life. See all the details at Blog Writing Contest and thanks for the promotion.
Posted January 19, 2008
LingoSlinger wrote...
I just signed up at EditRed and uploaded some content. Great site!!! I hadn't heard of it before and am so glad that I found it (thanks to this lens)!
Writing is the easy part... Getting recognized and published is a whole other ball game!
Thanks again.
Posted September 12, 2007
liluluna wrote...
Hi Chris. Great lense, You're bookmarked and voted. See my lense about self-publishers.
Posted August 06, 2007
Marti wrote...
Great lens! (I'm a member of Edit Red)
Welcome to Authors on Squidoo!
Posted June 18, 2007
by FictionEditor
Chris Lee Ramsden is a writer, editor and enthusiastic champion of new writing and ways to promote it. He has run creative writing classes and writte...
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