Around the Web: Archaeology, Writing Tips, Audiobooks, and a Defence of Dullness

Hello all! Things have been going well in the CDP offices as we work away on our fall releases. I hope your week has been going just as well.

Here’s what caught my eye this week.

Archaeological Finds

I studied Classics in university, so please excuse me as I continue to share ancient literature topics. Last week I shared a Homer themed BBQ, and it turns out that said meal plan is even more appropriate (if you like celebrating archaeological discoveries that is), because excavations in Olympia have uncovered an engraving of part of Homer’s Odyssey that could be the earliest record of the epic poem.

This is exciting news, and a good deal less menacing sounding than other archeological discoveries of late. I’m talking about the sealed black granite sarcophagus found in Alexandria in particular. Some authors have weighed in on the news:

Writing Tips

I came across this Lit Reactor article on writing emotions and thought it might come in handy for some of you. The oft-used advice “show, don’t tell” is listed here, but this article goes a bit deeper and gives you a few other questions to ask yourself when writing emotional characters.

Agents

Also on the educational front, PopLurker has a helpful post about literary agents. If you’ve ever wondered what they do or how they do it, this will be a helpful read.

Of course, you can check out Adam Rocke’s blog post on the subject right here on our site as well.

Audiobooks in Canada

Do you listen to audiobooks? I think they’re great for reading on the go (side debate: Do you still refer to it as reading if you’re listening to an audiobook? Answer in the comments).

The audiobook industry is growing in Canada and the Globe and Mail recently spoke to some folks in the industry, including voice actors (yup – reading a book is acting!). Check it out if you want a glimpse behind the scenes of audiobook production.

A Defence of Boring Books

And lastly, here’s something you might not expect: a look at the appeal of dull books. Book Riot’s Christine Ro discusses books that are fascinating even without a lot of action. Maybe there’s a few books on the list that’d work for lazy summer vacation days.

Whether you're reading boring books or action-packed stories this weekend, have a good one!