CRABBIT'S LITLINKS 5

Crabbit's Friday Litlinks bring you topical bits and bobs from the world of words.
WEIGHTY LITLINKS
1. Should the BBC cut its short stories? (The Guardian) I certainly think it shouldn't. I am very proud of my friend, author Susie Maguire, and Ian Skillicorn, director of National Short Story Week for working so hard to stop this proposed cut by setting up an online petition. If you agree with the plea, please do sign it here. But look here! Partial success already. Well done, Susie and Ian!

2. The Fight to save libraries gets its day in court (The Independent)

3. The lesson to be learnt for booksellers from the demise of Borders - an interesting and reasoned piece from across the pond which very much applies here. And, of course, we lost Borders first. As Richard Nash says in the piece, "Sixty-four million Americans read five hours a week or more, 16 million Americans report they have engaged in creative writing, and more than 2 million titles went on sale in the U.S. last year. With all that supply and demand, we need matchmakers, people with expertise, knowledge, and intuition to connect people with books, to offer help in choosing what to read."

4. The Daily Telegraph has been ordered to pay GBP65,000 to author Dr Sarah Thornton. Dr Thornton successfully sued the paper for libel and malicious falsehood after a review of her book by Lynn Barber. Here is the Telegraph's reporting of the story, and here the Guardian's. What do you think?


5. A new typeface has been invented for people with dyslexia. Fascinating. (Kottke.org)

LIGHTER LITLINKS

1. Are you sure you want to be a published author?? Watch your back, if so.

2. 10 great pseudonymous authors (The Daily Beast)

3. Willow, the reading dog...

4. And of course, if dogs can read, why not write? Here's one with a book deal.

Happy weekend!