Writers' & Artists' Blog

Dear All,

It’s been a long time coming but, after lots of hard work behind the scenes, we’re delighted to reveal a new version of our website is set to launch next month.

All W&A account holders will receive an email with further details soon, but in the meantime we thought a sneak peek of our new home was in order…

What's New?

Dashboard: Access all areas from one page. Never miss messages or new articles added to the site, manage your preferences, share work, make writing connections, take part in discussions, check in on editing services, watch your Reward Points tally grow and keep an out for exclusive discount codes.

Margin notes and bookmarks: How many of you have scribbled notes in the margins of your print copy of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook or folded over the corner of a page you’d like to return to? Sign in to make the site your own.

Bookmark pages: Found an article you’d like to come back to? Interested in an event? By clicking on the Bookmark icon, all …

This year, how many of us have sought refuge in the comfort of a good book? At Writers & Artists, we understand the value of losing ourselves between the pages – whether it’s for comfort or escape in a good fiction read or educating and growing with a non-fiction book – during a year that has been anything but relaxing.

With Christmas fast approaching, we want to spread the good cheer and joy by running our biggest book giveaway yet!

If you haven't yet got your winter reading lined up, then be sure to keep your eyes peeled on the W&A Twitter account from Tuesday 1st to Friday 18th December. We’ll be giving away a brilliant title daily – including creative writing guides and Yearbooks, children’s books, fiction reads and cookbooks and essential non-fiction reads.

To enter, it's simple: watch out for our Christmas tweet every morning and just RT by 5pm GMT to be in with a chance of winning.

Here's the line-up of books featured:

Tuesday 1st December: Writers’ & …

How we turned lockdown isolation into a global polyphonic collection exploring solitude...

There is a myth that the writer is a lonely and isolated creature, working locked away somewhere, observing but not interacting with the world. I’m sure most writers would agree that while there are moments where elements of this myth might ring true, the reality is far less ‘romantic’ – writers have families and friendships, often have other jobs, and are very much part of the world. After all, real, busy populated life is where writing is fomented, tested and finds meaningful connections. So, while the 2020 lockdowns might seem like the perfect condition for writers, the reality is that the situation has had an impact on everyone differently. 

As writers and teacher ourselves, my partner and I knew we were lucky to be able to retreat safely into online work and isolate at home when the lockdowns reached the UK in March 2020, but we also knew the effects …

It’s been a while since my last blog post here and a lot has happened. After meetings with a commissioning editor at a ‘Big Five’ publisher, my Lucy Cavendish/Mslexia-shortlisted YA novel, Twenty-Nine Locks, seemed to be blessed with a smooth journey to publication. 

I was soon to discover that there are multiple hurdles a novel must clear. As a novice writer, completing a novel in itself was an achievement worthy of celebration. The next learning curve, for me, was using feedback from agents and first readers to redraft a good idea, imperfectly delivered, and enter Twenty-Nine Locks into competitions. Once I’d chosen an agency, The Good Literary Agency (TGLA), my story was assessed by their in-house editor who suggested further improvements. When ready, my agent, Abi Fellows, pitched it to publishers, sent off the manuscript, and then… 

A nail-biting wait.

And then… 

Requests to meet the author.

And then…

Requests for further information.

And then…

More …

Author Janelle McCurdy details her eight year journey to getting a literary agent from the age of 16 to 24...

Photo credit is: Dujonna Gift-Simms 2020

The Beginning

It's no surprise that since I was little, I've always loved books. As I got older and read more, I realised whilst I loved Middle Grade and Young Adult books, there weren't many books that had characters that looked like me, a Black girl. So, I wrote stories for myself. Most of them were silly fantasy books that will probably stay on my computer forever. Probably. 

When I was sixteen I decided I wanted to take things seriously. I wanted to be a published author, and so wrote my first official contemporary YA novel to send out to agents. 

I don't need to tell you what a mess that was, and looking back I can only laugh at myself, reading that old manuscript and query letter. Still, I sent it out to agents (after looking at their guidelines and googling what a query letter was!) and believe it or not, I didn't get one …