Comments on: Literary Snobbery

By: Toni Jenkins

Toni Jenkins — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 11:10:33 +0000

Hi Sara.
I fully agree with your article and your point above. Good writing is so often associated only with literary work, but these are mutually exclusive terms and personal opinion should have just as much value as critical opinion. What I love to read and what my friends love to read may often differ. But therein lies the beauty of the writing industry – variety is essential and should be celebrated. Long may commercial fiction flourish, for the sake of the writers and the readers! Toni

By: Qaisra Shahraz

Qaisra Shahraz — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 19:57:19 +0000

In reply to Sara Sheridan. I too have enjoyed reading Sara Sheridan's article and the responses to them. Found them hugely interesting and very true. Glad that this subject is being discussed.

By: Quirky Science round-up : July | David M. Kelly

Quirky Science round-up : July | David M. Kelly — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 17:09:07 +0000

[…] also discovered the secret Strykkx base hidden under the polar icecap. 1965 – The spacecraft Mariner IV sent back the first close-up pictures of the planet Mars and discovered proof that Mars held […]

By: Sara Sheridan

Sara Sheridan — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:21:06 +0000

In reply to Ann Hirst. Hi Ann I'm so glad you feel reassured -and I hope the book goes brilliantly! Sara

By: Ann Hirst

Ann Hirst — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 15:55:00 +0000

Hi Sara, I’ve just finished my first novel and am about to embark on the whole agent/publishing procedure and this, this exact subject has been on my mind for days and is fuelling my fear of putting myself out there. I thought it was just me. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the title of your article in my Twitter feed. You’ve summed up perfectly – and very eloquently – exactly what’s been on my mind. Thank you for some excellent food for thought (and, whether intentional or not, a little bit of reassurance). X

By: Linda Maye Adams

Linda Maye Adams — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 15:36:35 +0000

Even the reviews are not always complimentary to women. When Sue Grafton released one of her books–and she’s has a series lasting years–she had one line referring to the main character putting on makeup. The reviewer, a woman herself, went on and on about this single line and how it was going to wreck the series.

Seriously?

By: Sara Sheridan

Sara Sheridan — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 16:01:15 +0000

In reply to Paula Kelly-Ince. Thank you. That's lovely to hear. And this is why the opening up of the digital market is so important. Good luck with it. Sara

By: Paula Kelly-Ince

Paula Kelly-Ince — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 14:50:11 +0000

This is a brilliant article Sara. I recently completed a Masters by Research in literature and creative writing. I want to write, but have been put off the traditional route by the lack of opportunity and the inherent literary snobbery. Because of this I am going to publish my first books digitally.
The issues you raise need to be discussed not only in literary circles but also in academic ones.

I look forward to reading more of your work.

By: One Night Stanzas » Blog Archive » Procrastination Station #143

One Night Stanzas » Blog Archive » Procrastination Station #143 — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 08:00:54 +0000

[…] Get angry about literary gender inequality with the great sense-talker Sara Sheridan. […]

By: Sara Sheridan

Sara Sheridan — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 08:05:36 +0000

In reply to joy saint james.

Well that’s a whole different thing – and a really interesting area. Thanks for bringing it up. I’m an historical novelist so I’m especially interested. We see the (enormous) amount of releases and, looking backwards it seems to be a more restful time. But what Pound is referring to, is the books that stick. And to find out which books stick takes not only a few months but probably decades. So I always find it amusing when a book is called ‘a classic’ (I mean a ‘new’ classic) because classics need to stand that test of time. We’ll know what our ‘literary’ heritage is well after 2050 and the chances are some books from that twitter/like/quantity fest will make it and some that have the official seal of ‘literary’ approval will too.