At a Crossroads? How to Choose the Best Writer Development Initiative

If you could pick the perfect intervention for your development as a writer, what would it be? Writers are often brilliant at imagining big plot twists or perfecting a poem’s line break, but many find it hard to know what support to seek out during a life-long career. Over the past 25 years of being a writer published across multiple genres, I’ve also maintained a career in publishing, specialising latterly in writer development and I now work as a writer retreat host and an author coach at Write Within. To help you to consider what you might try next, I’m going to share […] some suggestions around how you might engage with the myriad writer development schemes now on offer.

Some options for you to consider might include:

• Manuscript assessment: page-based editorial critique, ideally offered by a writer expert in your genre.
• Mentoring: one-to-one service with a writer who is a good fit editorially to help direct and advise you.
• Coaching: less directive than mentoring, coaching brings an attitude of curiosity to your creative practice so you can better understand your unique process.
• Writing groups: a great option if you need group accountability and social contact.
• Short course (online or residential): a fantastic way to hothouse your manuscript, receive tutoring and feedback within a like-minded group.
• Higher education qualification (e.g. MA or PhD in creative writing): a pricey option, but you can access world-class teaching in academia.
• Performing at open mics: get live feedback in real-time from a (you hope) supportive audience.
• Writers’ retreats: craft your own, or find an organised one to focus on your work-in progress, if funds allow.
• Writer-in-residence: competitive, but worth applying for once you have a track record.
• Competitions: either winning; being highly commended, shortlisted or longlisted builds reputation.
• Writers’ conferences and festivals: a sociable means to network, gain tips and insights.

The best place to start your research is to discover what your regional writer or literature development agency offers. Many of these organisations run writers’ conferences which can include workshops, seminars and even opportunities for you to present your work in ‘agent hotseat’ sessions. Most literature development agencies run writer development schemes and fellowships, some of which are focused on assisting writers from under-represented backgrounds.

Julia Forster runs Write Within, an author coaching service and a self-led writer’s retreat with a sauna called the Writers’ Cabin in mid Wales. The Writers’ Cabin was picked by The Sunday Times as one of the UK’s top writers’ retreats just a few months after opening. Julia is a writer development specialist, an independent press book publicist, the in-house coach for the Poetry Pharmacy and also works freelance for The Literary Consultancy. She is the author of What a Way to Go (Atlantic 2016) and Muses: Revealing the Nature of Inspiration (Oldcastle Books 2007); her poetry collection, Invisible Sisterhood, is on submission at the time of writing. Visit www.writewithin.wales or see @_writewithin on Instagram.