Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's Blog, page 4

Bowie Bonds for Writers?

Here’s another kind of speculative fiction, or non-fiction for writers to consider: packaging your current and future earning potential into a security bond investors can buy and sell–or at least thinking of your work (past, present, and future) as valued commodities.* In 1997, David Pullman, an investment banker working with David Bowie, created financial instruments known as “Bowie Bonds” to... Read more.

On Becoming a Full-Time Writer

Last month, New York Magazine published a series of posts around the theme “Beginnings”. I’m still making my way through them. Perhaps because I’m still figuring out how to do this writing thing while maintaining a roof over my head, a social life, and balance, this one, by Sloane Crosley, was one of my favorites.... Read more.

A Year After "Je Suis Charlie"

Happy New Flow

Last year, I challenged myself to turn in 10,000 words a month toward a novel I had pitched and was shortlisted for the Miles Morland Scholarship that I ultimately didn’t get. I started off decently well. By the end of January I was able to produce about 5,000 words I was proud of. In February, I think I... Read more.

Sarah Treem Talks Unreliable Narrators

The conceit of Sarah Treem’s series The Affair is unreliable narration as remembered by the four main characters. She spoke with the New York Times about why she chose to tell the story of a frustrated author who finds inspiration in an affair in this way:

Mara Brock Akil on the Writing Lessons in Dr. Seuss Books

Lena Dunham’s Lenny newsletter recently featured Being Mary Jane creator Mara Brock Akil. Here’s what she had to say about the inspiration she finds in Dr. Seuss:

Kevin Barry Won the 2015 Goldsmiths Prize

For his novel Beatlebone, Kevin Barry earned the £10,000 Goldsmiths Prize for 2015. The prize, which celebrates “fiction at its most novel”, is open to British and Irish writers published in the UK.  Here he is sharing an excerpt. Ali Smith earned the Goldsmiths in 2014 for her novel How to Be Both.

There’s a Free Screenwriting Seminar Happening on ScriptBully.com

Scriptbully founder Michael Rogan, a former Hollywood screenplay reader, and author of the book Screenwriting Made (Stupidly) Easy, is offering a video seminar on how to craft a salable movie idea. Check it out at scriptbully.com/wildsound.

#LessonsLearned

On Saturday, November 7th, authors Kerika Fields, Stephanie Nikolopoulos, Melissa Walker, Ruiyan Xu, and I shared a few Lessons Learned from the publishing and self-publishing experience at the 2nd Annual BinderCon–a conference for women and gender non-conforming writers. Here’s a link to the handout we provided that includes everything from our learnings on how to... Read more.

Amazon Opens Brick and Mortar Bookstore

Today, Amazon opened its first physical bookstore — not to be confused with its first store, a pick-up and drop-off location at Purdue University — in Seattle’s University Village. In an attempt to distinguish itself from the traditional bookstore experience, the shelves will be stocked partially based on data the etailer gleans from its online... Read more.