How to get published

How To Get Published

Saturday 6th July, 2013

9:30 - 17:00

Following the unprecedented success of our recent 'Self-Publishing in the Digital Age' and 'How to Write Successfully for Children and Young Adults' events, we're pleased to announce the next in our popular series of 'How To Get Published' conferences will be held at Senate House, London.

In association with the Institute of English Studies, this all-day conference will include panel discussions from editorial directors at some of the UK’s leading publishing houses, advice on how to pitch your novel with literary agents, chats with authors and a seminar on editorial dos and don’ts.

The morning session of our 'How to Get Published' conference will include:

• Introduction to the state of publishing
• What are publishers looking for?  Panel discussion with editorial directors of UK publishing houses (Jane Lawson of Transworld Publishers and Sarah Savitt of Faber) chaired by Nicolette Jones, children's books editor of The Sunday Times.
• Writing fiction - a talk from a leading author

The afternoon session will include:

• Editorial dos and don’ts - advice from Cressida Downing
• Author Renata Calverley and agent Jemima Hunt discuss the importance of the author-agent relationship
• Panel discussion: How to hook an agent
• Drinks reception with literary agents

Remaining speakers will be announced soon.  Please check back here for further details or for those of you following us on Twitter and Facebook, we'll keep you up to date with announcements as soon as they're made.

Cressida Downing has been working in the book industry for more than twenty years. Starting as a bookseller in charge of the children's department, she went on to work in publishing, back to bookselling, and now works as an editorial consultant. Her clients include Orion, a number of literary agents, and working directly with authors. She blogs for www.writersandartists.co.uk and gives workshops and talks on various aspects of publishing. A passionate reader, she is committed to getting the best out of every writer.

Nicolette Jones has been the children’s books editor of the Sunday Times for nearly two decades. She was shortlisted in 2012 for the Eleanor Farjeon Award for distinguished service to the world of children’s books (won by Quentin Blake). She is a published (and award-winning) author, writing herself for adults, as well as a journalist and broadcaster, and she has worked for the book trade press and the nationals. She has been a Royal Literary Fund writing fellow at University College, London, and was educated at Oxford and Yale.

Lucy Luck set up Lucy Luck Associates in 2006 after 8 years at Rogers, Coleridge & White Ltd, and in 2008 I joined with Aitken Alexander Associates as an associate agency. My agency focuses on writers of quality fiction and non-fiction, and I see my role as encompassing all aspects of a writer's career, as well as offering focused representation in all markets throughout the world. My authors tend to the literary end of the market, and include Catherine O'Flynn (whose novel What Was Lost won the Costa First Novel Award 2007 and Galaxy Newcomer of the Year), Adam Thorpe, Kevin Barry (winner of the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Prize 2012), Amanda Smyth, Jess Richards, Richard Beard, Owen Martell, Ray Robinson, Greg Baxter, Jon Hotten and John Hooper.

Sarah Savitt is an editor at Faber, where she publishes both fiction and non-fiction. Her authors include Louise Doughty, Maria McCann, Chibundu Onuzo, Marjorie Celona, Kat Banyard and Adharanand Finn. Before joining Faber she worked for HarperCollins, David Godwin Associates and Abner Stein.

Renata Calverley is the writer of compelling memoir ‘Let Me Tell You A Story,’ recounting her experiences in Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Born in Poland in 1937, she studied at Nottingham University, gaining an Honours Degree in English Literature and American Studies, before going on to achieve a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from the London University Institute of Education and a Diploma in Creative Writing. She taught English for thirty-seven years at sixth form, and is also an accomplished public speaker.

Jane Lawson is Editorial Director for the Doubleday imprint at Transworld/Random House where she has been commissioning mainly upmarket commercial fiction for over ten years. Her acquisitions include Brick Lane by Monica Ali, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Slumdog Millionaire by Vikas Swarup, The Light Between Oceans by M L Stedman, Adam Johnson’s The Orphan Master's Son, and several prize-winning titles in other languages, including Chinese, Syrian, Brazilian and Spanish. Other authors on the Doubleday list include Bill Bryson, Kate Atkinson, Rachel Joyce, John Boyne, John Irving, Joanna Trollope, Joanne Harris, Armistead Maupin and Curtis Sittenfeld.

Book your place by clicking on the 'Apply Now' buttons on this page or by calling 0207 631 5989

• After payment, you will receive an automated booking confirmation.
• You will receive further news and updates in the run up to the event.

“Really useful conference.  I feel very inspired and motivated" J Hart

“Enthusiasm, sincerity, intelligence and inclusiveness” D Wilson

“Good and useful day with lots to think about” KW Weston

“I enjoyed the whole day tremendously” P Williamson

“Really appreciate all the hard work that was put in, I feel boosted” J Gittins

"Really valuable day and so pleased I cam to it. Fantastic advice that should really help me" T Randall

"The whole conference was excellently presented and packed with information" C Caruthers

"Very good conference. Really enjoyed it. I have been inspired." S Woods

"I'm very glad that I attended today, it has given me a roadmap to follow on my new journey as an author!" A Sewell