Every day Poets & Writers Magazine scans the headlines—from publishing reports to academic announcements to literary dispatches—for all the news that creative writers need to know. Here are today’s stories:
The German government recently digitized 700,000 documents relating to World War I. The documents are freely available to view—in German—on the website of the Federal Archive. (Fine Books & Collections)
Rising rents are threatening a number of independent bookstores in San Francisco, including Bibliohead, the only independent bookseller located in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, which is being forced to relocate. Earlier this year, Marcus Books was evicted from its Fillmore location, following two other independent shops in the Mission district being forced out last year. (San Francisco Bay Guardian)
The New York Times examines the increasing willingness of writers to talk about what they’re paid—a trend that has led to several new online essays and magazines like Scratch (featured in our May/June 2014 issue), devoted entirely to the topic.
In the wake of the conflict that led to North Carolina poet laureate Valerie Macon’s resignation a week after she was chosen for the post by Governor Pat McCrory—a situation some local writers are referring to as “Poet Gate”—other poets from the region discuss their impressions of the controversy and speculate on the evolution of the position. (Mountain Xpress)
A forensic artist at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England, recently created a life-sized wax sculpture of the author based on first-hand accounts, descriptions, and portraits of Austen. (Guardian)
Unlocking the Truth, a Brooklyn-based heavy metal band comprised of middle school students Alec Atkins, Malcolm Brickhouse, and Jarad Dawkins, has signed a book deal with G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, capping a banner year during which the three minors participated in the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and are scheduled to participate in the Warped Tour. (GalleyCat)
Business Insider offers suggestions for those looking to read through the New Yorker’s online archives, which are freely accessible for the next three months. (New York Times)
Electric Literature highlights some of the most scathing and humorous online reviews of classic works of literature—including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Beowulf, among others—culled from the Tumblr One-Star Book Reviews.
