Are you a disabled author working towards publication? Join us to hear from authors, agents and editors who will demystify the publishing process this Disability Pride Month.
In our first session of the event, author Angela Clarke will discuss how the publication process works and her tips for navigating it, her own journey to publication and how to ensure your work is submission ready. She'll also offer specific advice for disabled writers (whether those disabilities are visible or hidden) who might face particular barriers or challenges to publication, and share how she has found her way through.
In our second session a panel of agents and editors will delve into the submissions process, shedding light on the journey of a book all the way to publication and the roles they play within that. They’ll also discuss what excites them in a pitch and a manuscript, how to get your submission package (covering letter, synopsis and opening chapters) the best they can be.
Across the two sessions the speakers will offer their thoughts on navigating the industry as a disabled writer, who is doing accessibility well and how to ask for better.
The event is £5 and all proceeds will be donated to charity.
The masterclass will take place online via Teams and will be live-captioned. It will also be recorded so if you are unable to attend live, you'll be able to catch-up and access the recording and transcript for up to two weeks after the event has taken place.
Please note, this event is open to anyone but there will be a particular focus through the content on writing and publishing as a disabled person.
Schedule:
12pm-12:50pm – Author Talk with Angela Clarke and Q&A
12:50pm-1:00pm – Break
1:00pm-2pm – Editor/Agent Panel and Q&A
Further speakers to be announced soon!
Angela Clarke is a screenwriter and best-selling crime thriller novelist.
Angela is the author of the crime thrillers On My Life (Hachette, 2019), Trust Me (HarperCollins, 2017), Watch Me (HarperCollins, 2016), and Follow Me (HarperCollins, 2015). Her latest novel The Anniversary Party will be published by Hodder in October this year.
Angela is currently working on an original drama in development with ITV, and has new developments with a number of production companies, including Wild Mercury, SunnyMarch, FilmWave, Lookout Point, West Road Pictures, and Double Dutch Banijay.
A sufferer of the rare genetic condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome III, Angela is passionate about bringing disabled talent into the industry. She also wishes there were more mirrors in accessible toilets, so she could check her hair before meetings.
Anna Brewer is Senior Publisher within Bloomsbury’s Academic division, commissioning on the Methuen Drama imprint. Her remit includes books by and for theatre makers, as well as for scholars and practitioners of dance. She oversees the list’s schools publishing, including the Methuen Drama Student Edition series, as well as some scholarly Theatre Studies series, and is the Editorial lead on Methuen Drama’s partnership on the Lit in Colour campaign. She originally joined the list back in 2008, originally as an intern, after studying for a BA in English & Theatre Studies at the University of Warwick and an MA in English Literary Studies at the University of York.
Hayley Steed is a Literary Agent primarily representing writers of fiction. She joined Janklow & Nesbit UK in 2023, and previously worked for seven years at Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. Her authors include Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling authors, and she has been named both a Trailblazer and a Rising Star by the UK book trade. Her clients include Yomi Adegoke, Clare Pooley, Freya Sampson, Heather Marshall, Sara Nisha Adams and Leah Hazard.
She says, "I’m looking for commercial and book club fiction across all genres. I’m particularly drawn to a strong hook – a setting, scenario or a ‘what if’ that captures my attention immediately and leads the way into a gripping story. I love to find compelling and distinctive voices that draw me in but are matched with well-paced plots and commercial appeal. I’m always open to books that cross genres, or which feel a little different."
Find out more about the kind of work Hayley is looking for here: https://janklowandnesbit.co.uk/agency/hayley-steed
Therese Keating is senior commissioning editor at Raven Books, the dark fiction imprint of Bloomsbury, acquiring books across crime, mystery, thriller and horror. She has previously worked in corporate, independent and start-up publishing and with bestselling authors including Janice Hallett and Elly Griffiths. In her opinion there are few books that couldn’t be improved with the addition of another dead body.
The workshop fee of £5 (incl. VAT) is payable in full online. All proceeds from this masterclass will go to charity.
This is a live online event which will be presented using video conferencing software. Joining instructions and full guidance will be provided by the W&A Team a week before the event start-date. Please note, all event timings are in UK time.
To view our event refund and cancellation policy, please click here.
Accessible to All
- It’s of real importance to Writers & Artists that our events and courses remain accessible to all.
- Payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services, as part of our accessibility scheme. Contact W&A Admin on [email protected] so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
- At the speaker's discretion, event materials will be made available to attendees after the masterclass.
- A link to a recording of the masterclass will be circulated after the event. This will be made available to event attendees only, and for a time-limited period.
- This event will include written text and visuals. Please contact us in advance so that we can make arrangements to be sure all documents appear in a format that works for you.
- If you’d like to attend but have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, then please email [email protected]
