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Insider tip
The biggest key to voice is not worrying about it. Bad style often comes from trying too hard to imitate the style of other writers. Gotham Writers' Workshop: Writing Fiction-
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Book now, and claim your discount!
We’ve got two great events for writers coming up, and if you book by the end of tomorrow, 30 April, you will get an amazingly good deal as you can claim your early-bird discount!
For all writers who are starting out we have our How to Get Published conference, which is a one-day event packed with Read more
Midsummer masterclass
Filed under: Festivals and Events
My favourite part of my job is getting to know writers.
It makes my everyday business of editing the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook come alive when I meet and talk to authors (both published and aspiring) at literary festivals, seminars and writers’ conferences.
Writers never cease to amaze me – I admire the ideas you have, your bravery Read more
Be a literary agent for a day
Filed under: Competitions and Offers, Literary Agents
News just in, the US literary agent Nathan Bransford has announced his second ‘Be a Literary Agent for a Day’. The first one made for entertaining reading, so I’ve high hopes for this new experiment.
This is what he’s testing:
“…whether or not queries adequately reflect an underlying work’s quality. Can someone really Read more
I want to be special
Filed under: Getting Published, Writing Advice
I’m often asked how a writer can get their submission to stand out from the crowd. They want to add that special something to catch my attention.
It’s a risky strategy. I see submissions that sparkle (literally, glitter enclosed in the envelope), that smile (with a posed photograph), that shout (letters in capitals and a bright red font).
How I react will depend on Read more
London Book Fair: 10 pointers for writers
I was at the LBF yesterday to do some filming (which will be up on this site as soon as we’ve done an edit) and there again today on the offchance I could squeeze my way into a seminar where pre-booking was ‘essential’.
These are ten things I picked up, which are worth knowing, either for use and reference right now, or to decide whether you want to attend next time round.
1. “Everyone thinks they can write a children’s book”, according to Jayne at A&C Black. But then everyone at some point wanted to be an astronaut/train driver/Olympic athlete (delete as applicable). Writing a children’s book is harder than you think, and reading age is tricky to get right.
2. Authors who approach a stand and say “I know the editor-in-chief for Read more
The London Book Fair for beginners
Thousands of publishers, booksellers, literary agents and media suppliers attend the London Book Fair, which could sound intimidating. So what’s it like for a first-timer?
An early start at Earl’s Court and I have my itinerary: attend the seminar on risk aversion with a Kierkegaard quote in the title, catch Ian Rankin talking in the PEN Café, and then see what’s happening after that.
Having not been to the London Book Fair before, just getting my Read more
More ash than dash
I am sure we all have all heard stories of who is stranded where in the world thanks to the ash delays, but spare a thought right now for Kingston MA Publishing student Andrew Turner, currently languishing in Seoul in South Korea, and having to pay all his own expenses while stuck.
With great enterprise, he Read more
What is the greatest reward of writing?
This is the 3rd in a series of four guest posts from author Thomas E. Kennedy, each focusing on questions that have empowered him – and could also empower you – as a writer.
Q: What is the greatest reward of writing?
Thomas E. Kennedy:
Rewards for your writing sometimes seem scarce. How much are you paid for a story or a poem? How many copies are published of the magazine in which it appears? Read more
The pleasure of the unexpected
The following is a guest post from Sheena Guz, winner of the Writers’ & Artists’ short story competition 2010:
In March I attended a writing workshop in Newcastle. Participants ranged from teenagers to pensioners and we were asked to say a few words about ourselves.
When my turn came, I said I was a ‘competition junkie’, having entered a children’s novel competition, a play competition and a TV screenplay competition, and I was waiting to hear about a short story competition.
Like many others, I’d Read more
‘Me and My Web Shadow’ giveaway
Filed under: Competitions and Offers
Win a copy of Me and My Web Shadow!
Have you noticed that when you leave a comment on this blog, and others like it, you can add an avatar to it?
What is an avatar, you may have wondered? It’s really simple. An avatar is a representation of you in a digital space. You’d normally choose a 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 »