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Literature Matters - Literature - British Council - Arts

In a round up of three of the British Council’s most pioneering and adventurous projects, Graham Mort looks at the challenges of cross-cultural distance learning. Kamila Shamsie discusses a multi-nation creative writing project, beginning in Pakistan and continuing on to Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East and Danila Beloglavec tells of how they’re animating their literature, their readers and their writers in Slovenia.

In our regular feature on who’s reading what, four of the UK’s sparkiest and shiniest literary lights share their recent literary leanings with us. Read about what Louise Doughty, Maggie Gee, Michael Holroyd and Courttia Newland have recently been inspired by.

So far it’s been a good year for fiction, with new novels by starry types such as Jeanette Winterson and Louis de Bernières, new collections of short-stories by the likes of Julian Barnes and Rachel Seiffert and a whole raft of other exciting new titles. Here Valentine Cunningham rounds up some of his recent favourites.

David Flusfeder explores the financial relationship between teaching creative writing and the artistic practise itself. Going where most writers are too scared to go, he boldly questions the existence of these courses. Novelist David Peace is less than convinced by the proponents of creative writing courses. Read some interesting advice on alternative options and a different approach to producing that prize-winning novel.

Twenty years on is one of the most stimulating and lively of UK literary journals and is unique in its approach to literary and cultural history, exploring a broad range of diasporic writing. Jonathan Barker and editor Susheila Nasti chew the fat over past successes and future triumphs.

A complete list of books referred to in this edition .

We at appreciate that there are many would-be writers out there, and not everybody has the time, energy or resources to be able to sign up for a leisurely course in creative writing. So, we have prepared a booklist of relevant novels that may help the budding writer to navigate their way through the numerous tricky issues likely to be faced when attempting to write and publish their magnum opus. From the thorny issue of writers block to the minefield of literary agents to the rivalry and jealousies of literary prizes, we have it covered. So skip down to the local library/bookshop and read your way through these books. All potential disasters are covered, although we do suggest that you write something stunning, original and hugely enjoyable too. That always helps.

Jill Dawson –
Beg, borrow or steal a plot. Plenty of great novels are based on real events and is the perfect example of how to take a blurry historical event and turn it into fascinating and compulsive fiction. Based around the first documented case of autism, it explores early attitudes and medical approaches to the condition.

Marian Keyes –
For an insight into handling the bitchy, cut throat and not-for-the-faint-hearted world of publishing and literary agents, pick up a copy of the latest from one of Ireland’s sparkiest novelists. As well as exploring issues around guilt, infidelity and depression, not to mention sex and shopping, Marian Keyes' latest will guide you through the many and varied machinations involved with publishing a book.

Toby Litt –
Another witty insight into the world of writers as the hideous Victoria About sets up a literary hideaway in deepest, darkest Suffolk, intent upon creating a Big Brother type setting in which to spy on her companions who she intends to use as inspiration for her next novel. Possibly not the best way to endear yourselves with your friends and loved ones, but if you’ve hit a wall with your plot development, it might just offer a way forward.

Iris Murdoch –
Now this is the way to go. Appear intellectual and clever to a group of your friends and they might just offer to sponsor you to write a book that they think is going to change the world. However, you’d better come up with the goods, or they might turn nasty as the protagonist of Murdoch’s novel found out to his cost. Still, nice work if you can get it.

Reshma S. Rhia –
This comical and irreverent account of poetic rivalry should help to prepare anyone shortlisted for a literary prize. Featuring a host of sneering and sniping writers, hanger-onners and scholarly big cheeses, if it wasn’t for the money, the fame and the possible British Council trips overseas, it may even make the more tender-hearted among you run for the hills at the mere mention of the words Man Booker/Forward/Orange.

Dodie Smith –
If anything is likely to terrify a writer out of their writer’s block, is it. This tender story of a young woman’s coming of age is also an entertaining and inventive account of what happens when her father, who has achieved some literary fame with his first novel, is blocked and slowly but surely brings his family down into his pit of despondency with him. Their inventive cure for his literary lethargy may just be worth a try should things get desperate.

Barbara Trapido –
Write about what you know is the long-standing piece of  advice offered to fledgling writers. Well, it took Barbara Trapido a long time before she followed that advice, but her 6th novel neatly captures her South African childhood and is an absorbing piece of personal and political history.

Barbara Vine –
If biography is your bag, then the latest from Barbara Vine may offer some inspiration. Wading through the complex and mysterious family secrets of a Victorian doctor, historian and biographer Lord Nanther uncovers a number of unsavoury details that bring into question the role and the integrity of the biographer, conflicting loyalties and what we can ever really know about another person.

And finally, there are many, many many texts on the market that seek to advise you on how to write a fantastic book. From the intriguingly titled to the inspirationally driven there are lots of people out there willing to give you advice. But listen to us, and make sure that you do get hold of a copy of &, available in all public libraries. It is packed with valuable, useful and practical information that no budding writer should be without.

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