-
-
Insider tip
Ensure that no key elements of your work, particularly your signature, will be concealed by a frame or mount. Paintings should be signed at least 15mm into the canvas/paper.
Artist's Guide to Selling Work-
You'll find us not just here, but also on Facebook.
Jargon buster: what is an MTA?
Filed under: Authors and Books
Over the past few weeks I’ve started a series of posts helping to demystify the jargon of publishing. Sometimes it doesn’t seem like jargon to me, but when you’re starting out who’s there to explain what an MS or MSS is, or even what PLR is all about (actually, that one definitely is worth knowing about as it could earn you precious pounds in years to come).
Anyway, next up is MTA, which stands for Minimum Terms Agreement. Read more
A rose by any other name
It was the Beckhams who brought to public attention the practice of naming your child after where it was conceived – hence Brooklyn.
I was in my gym in Kingston and heard a mother call ‘Oriana, come here’ in a loud voice. (Oriana, for those not in the know, is a cruise ship). This opens up dramatic new opportunities for parental ambition – as well as of course a whole series of logistical challenges. So how about Eiffel, Reichstag or Forum?
Most writers spend a long time thinking of Read more
How not to send in a synopsis
Filed under: Getting Published, Literary Agents, Writing Advice
It’s a tough fact of life as an aspiring writer that often a submission gets no further than the bin or the delete button on an agent’s computer.
In fact there are certain ways of writing a synopsis that guarantee I will reject a submission point-blank.
A synopsis is NOT like the blurb on the back of a published book. If you send in a short paragraph that says something like ‘Amelia never knew how much her life meant to her, until she was on the verge of losing it!’ and leave it at that, that tells me Read more
What does the Society of Authors do?
Filed under: Authors and Books
At some point in your career – if you haven’t already, that is – you will come across the Society of Authors, and quite reasonably wonder: who are they, what do they do, can I join? So let me help clear that up for you.
The society was founded over 100 years ago and now has more than 8,500 members. Through its professional staff (including solicitors) it offers a comprehensive service on all the various aspects of authorship, such as: Read more
More thoughts on submission
It’s crucial to get your submission as good as it can be before you send it off, and your comments on my previous post, Top five tips for submitting your manuscript, have sparked a few more thoughts – thank you for the feedback! Perhaps I should add these further thoughts to the original post – renaming it ‘Top eight and a half tips…’.
Calling an agency to confirm name and address details is always ok. Although if you have a Read more
Tips for presenting illustrations
Illustrating children’s books is a popular area to break into. Guest blogger illustrator Clare Mackie shares her knowledge of how best to approach a publisher:
I often get asked about how to present your illustrations. What publishers generally want to see is Read more
Meet the Bloomsbury editor
Filed under: Authors and Books, Getting Published
Quickfire questions with Bill Swainson, a commissioning editor at Bloomsbury. For the full interview go to our Experts section now
Writers & Artists: What’s on your list?
Bill Swainson: History, ideas and current affairs, some illustrated books, plus fiction in English and fiction from other languages. In short, I’m an old-fashioned general publisher.
W&A: How do you find new writing talent?
Bill: Above all, a conversation is worth ten times the most persuasive pitch – things come up unexpectedly. You spot things out of the corner of your eye that you wouldn’t see if you were actually looking for them.
W&A: How can an author impress you? Read more
Writers’ & Artists’ workshops
Filed under: Festivals and Events
I’d like to think my ‘How to Get Published’ workshop at Winchester Writers’ Conference went well – despite a rather stressful start. On my journey from London to Winchester, I got stuck Read more
Buy the 2011 Yearbook
The Writers' & Artists' Yearbook is available at a discount from our online bookshop. Get all the information, contacts and advice you could need.On camera: Jon McGregor
"Being longlisted for the Booker Prize changed everything - it was the launchpad for my writing career." Click to view our video with novelist Jon McGregor »
On camera: Justin Cartwright
"Just write... If you're any good you may not know it, but certainly someone else will." Click to view our video with novelist Justin Cartwright »
On camera: Julie Myerson
The novelist and journalist Julie Myerson on how she got that all-important first publishing deal. Click here to view our video exclusive »