Writers Are Getting Banned for Writing Like Humans
ucstrategies.com – Wednesday February 4, 2026
A writer got banned from a platform for using em dashes — a punctuation mark she’d used her entire career — because an AI detector flagged her comment as “too polished.” She appealed, confused. The system took 48 hours to admit its mistake. By then, her comment was buried and her reputation questioned.
ChatGPT just quietly changed how it writes to stop using em dashes — explicitly to dodge detection tools that flagged them as an AI tell. The irony? AI learned to overuse them by scraping human authors’ books in the first place. Now professional writers are being punished for the same formal writing habits that trained the AI. The detectors can’t tell the difference, so they’re banning both.
Your writing style is now evidence against you
Human writers are getting flagged as AI-generated for using correct punctuation. One technical reviewer had their work flagged in December for being “too structured” — the appeal took two days to resolve, but the damage was done. Another writer posted as of this week: “I always use em dashes… Has anyone else experienced this issue? I am genuinely confused.”
AI detectors now treat formal writing — clean grammar, proper punctuation, logical flow — as suspicious. The tools were trained to spot “AI patterns,” but those patterns came from scraped human books in the first place. Research shows detectors struggle with false positives on professional writing that looks “too clean.”
Exciting New Opportunity: The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition Reimagined
royalcwsociety.org – Wednesday February 4, 2026
Calling all young writers across the Commonwealth! The Royal Commonwealth Society is thrilled to announce a major evolution of its iconic youth initiative. Formerly known as the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, this globally celebrated programme now has a fresh new identity: The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition.
This exciting rebrand signals a broader, more inclusive approach to writing, embracing creativity in all forms. From essays to poetry, storytelling, and beyond, young people under 18 can now share their ideas, experiences, and imagination on a global stage.
A Competition for Every Corner of the Commonwealth
The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition has also redesigned its structure to encourage even wider participation. For the first time, winners will be celebrated not only globally but also regionally. Each of the Commonwealth’s five regions will have a dedicated winner, and drawn from those winners will be an overall competition winner. This ensures that exceptional young voices from every corner of the Commonwealth are recognised.
Leadership Shift at Long‑Running Literary Agency as Aaron Priest Retires
firstwriter.com – Tuesday February 3, 2026
A major transition has taken place at one of New York’s longstanding boutique literary agencies. After more than fifty years at the helm of the company he created in 1974, veteran agent Aaron Priest has stepped away from day‑to‑day leadership. His departure marks the end of an era, and the beginning of a new one under Mitch Hoffman, who has now assumed ownership of the Aaron Priest Literary Agency and will serve as its president.
Priest’s career has been defined by his work with a wide range of bestselling and influential writers. Over the decades, he guided the publishing paths of authors including Erma Bombeck, David Baldacci, Philip Caputo, Robert Crais, Heather Graham, Brenda Joyce, Johanna Lindsey, and Robert James Waller. Beyond his client list, Priest helped shape the agenting profession itself as a founding member of the Independent Literary Agents Association, the group that later evolved into today’s Association of American Literary Agents. His interests also extended to the stage: in 2014 he was among the producers of the Broadway adaptation of The Bridges of Madison County, drawn from Waller’s hit novel.
Alice Caprio Joins PFD to Strengthen Its Growing Children’s and YA Division
firstwriter.com – Wednesday January 21, 2026
Peters Fraser + Dunlop has announced the appointment of Alice Caprio as the newest member of its children’s and young adult representation team, marking a further expansion of the agency’s commitment to the sector. Caprio officially steps into the role on 5 January 2026.
Her move to PFD follows a five‑year stretch immersed in the international children’s book market, during which she scouted for London Literary Scouting and later represented authors at Felicity Bryan Associates. That experience has given her a broad view of global trends and a strong grounding in talent development.
Georges Borchardt, Literary Powerhouse Who Brought Global Voices to America, Dies at 97
firstwriter.com – Wednesday January 21, 2026
Georges Borchardt, a towering figure in the world of literary representation and a tireless advocate for writers whose work reshaped modern literature, has died at his Manhattan home at the age of 97. His family said he passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, including Anne Borchardt, his wife and business partner for more than six decades.
For many in publishing, Borchardt was not merely an agent but a cultural bridge. Over a career spanning more than 70 years, he introduced American readers to some of the most influential voices of the 20th century — among them Samuel Beckett, Elie Wiesel, Marguerite Duras, and Eugene Ionesco. His agency, founded in 1967, became a haven for writers whose work demanded both courage and conviction.
Ranking 2025’s Bestselling Adult Publishers
publishersweekly.com – Tuesday January 20, 2026
The dominance of the Big Five publishers over national bestseller lists is nothing new. It's such a given, in fact, that last week the Independent Publisher Caucus launched the Independent Press Top 40 bestseller list in tandem with the American Booksellers Association, with the aim of shining a spotlight on books from independent publishers that would otherwise be unable to crack those lists.
The results of our annual review of bestsellers-by-publisher did indeed show that the Big Five publishers did indeed reign supreme over the 2025 PW adult bestseller lists, powered by Circana BookScan.
But we also found that in 2025, the Big Five lost some of their grip on hardcover bestsellers compared to 2024, accounting for 83% of available slots on the hardcover list, down from 86% in 2024. Their share of trade paperback bestsellers, however, moved up to 42% from 39% in 2024.
As usual, this year’s PW rankings are derived by multiplying the 20 weekly bestseller slots PW gives to each of the adult hardcover fiction, nonfiction, and trade paperback formats by 52 weeks, leaving 1,040 spots for each list.
Penguin Random House grabbed the largest share of hardcover bestsellers, snagging 38% of available slots. The remaining Big Five were bunched up far behind PRH: Simon & Schuster 13%; Hachette Book Group 12%; Macmillan 10%; and HarperCollins 9%.
£50,000 ‘reader-led’ writing prize launched
theguardian.com – Monday January 19, 2026
The award, run by Hachette UK and Libraro, aims to ‘sidestep the traditional barricades of the book industry’ and give readers a role in discovering new talent
A new £50,000 writing prize that allows readers to select the shortlist from submitted manuscripts – and rewards them with cash prizes for their involvement – has been launched by the publishing platform Libraro, in partnership with Hachette UK.
The Libraro prize aims to “sidestep the traditional barricades of the book industry”, according to organisers. Writers upload full manuscripts to the Libraro platform, where readers champion their favourite entries to create a shortlist of six books.
It is open to adult and crossover YA fiction written in English and is designed to give readers a role in discovering new writing talent.
The overall winner will receive a £50,000 prize package from Libraro – comprising £30,000 and an additional £20,000 towards marketing the finished book – alongside a book deal with Hachette UK. Two additional reader prizes of £10,000 each will also be awarded: one to the reader who referred the winning author to the platform, and another to the reader who engages most actively with submissions.
Book and Bottle Shop looking for authors as they launch literary magazine, “By the Glass”
whopam.com – Monday January 19, 2026
The Book and Bottle Shop in Hopkinsville is putting out the call—they’re looking for writers from across western Kentucky to feature in their first-ever literary magazine, “By the Glass”.
According to a news release, this new literary magazine is designed to showcase what western Kentucky has to offer in the way of writing prowess. Submissions are open now for the premier issue of “By the Glass”, which is founded by the Draft & Drink Writers Group of the bookstore/wine bar that calls downtown Hopkinsville home.
There are very few restrictions on submissions, though it is encouraged for the submitter to be connected to western Kentucky—authors can submit works of original and unpublished fiction, nonfiction, poetry and other literary prose. For this first magazine, there is not a theme or content recommendation.
Bournemouth Writing Festival to return for fourth edition
bournemouthecho.co.uk – Friday January 16, 2026
Writers and readers will come together for a packed weekend of talks, workshops and literary events.
The Bournemouth Writing Festival will return for its fourth edition from April 24 to 26, filling venues across the town with more than 100 events and activities.
Dominic Wong, festival director, said: “The Bournemouth Writing Festival is all about making writing feel welcoming and achievable, whether you’re just starting out or ready to take your work to the next level.
“We’re proud to offer a wide-ranging programme that mixes top industry expertise with inclusive and accessible events that bring writers together from across the community and the country.”
Events will take place at Pavilion Dance, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Patch, Palace Court Theatre, Horseshoe Common and on the beach.
The festival offers a mix of free and ticketed options, with many activities made possible thanks to funding from the Arts Council and ticket sales.
Highlights include Writing on the Beach, children’s writing activities, a dementia-friendly chill-out zone, four book launches and free entry to the Writers’ Hive.
A new Poetry Marquee at Horseshoe Common will offer drop-in sessions and live performances.
Submissions open for BBC Short Story Awards 2026
cam.ac.uk – Thursday January 15, 2026
The prestigious awards, supported by Cambridge University, are celebrating their 21st anniversary with judges including Saba Sams, David Almond & Lily Fontaine announced.
The BBC National Short Story Award with Cambridge University (NSSA) and BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University (YWA) have opened for submissions.
Di Speirs, judge of the BBC National Short Story Award since its launch, is this year’s Chair of Judges. Joining her on the panel are 2022 NSSA winner Saba Sams, whose highly acclaimed debut novel Gunk was published last year, two former NSSA shortlistees, Tahmima Anam (2016) and Will Eaves (2017), and Costa Best First Novel Award winner, Andrew Micheal Hurley.
Since launching twenty-one years ago, the NSSA has enriched both the careers of writers and the wider literary landscape. Some of Britain’s most renowned writers have won or been shortlisted for the award including Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith, William Trevor, Jon McGregor, Deborah Levy, Naomi Alderman, Kamila Shamsie, Tessa Hadley, Mark Haddon, Sarah Hall, Helen Oyeyemi, Lucy Caldwell and Rose Tremain.
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