In our new event series ‘A Writer’s Life’ we will be hearing from authors about the realities of a writer’s life, staying inspired, making a living and navigating the highs and lows of writing.
Author Nicola Garrard (On the Edge) will kick off this new series by sharing her insight into the writer’s life. She’ll discuss how she approaches career planning and goal setting, as well as ways to control what you can in an uncertain industry. She’ll offer her advice on navigating new book submission processes, and how to cope with submission waiting and anxiety. And Nicola will also talk about how she pays the bills as a writer with a range of other related work, and how you can find your way into mentoring, teaching creative writing, schools author visits, manuscript assessments and more, to support your career as a writer.
The session will end with a brief Q&A, so come ready with your questions.
The masterclass will take place online via Teams. It will also be recorded so if you are unable to attend live, you'll be able to catch-up and access the recording for up to two weeks after the event has taken place.
I grew up in Devon, France and West Sussex. I studied English Literature at university and have taught in secondary schools since 1998, including 15 years at an inner-city London comprehensive and 4 years at an education referral project for excluded young people.
My third novel, On the Edge (Old Barn Books, 2025) has been nominated for the Carnegie Medal for Writing 2026!
I have appeared at the Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, Chichester Arts Festival and the Petworth Literary Week, and I am a regular guest on BBC Radio London. I give talks for schools, libraries and colleges (including World Book Day), as well as prisons. My words and poetry have been published in Mslexia Magazine, IRON Press, The Frogmore Papers, The Guardian and the Writers & Artists Yearbook Guide to Getting Published. The story of 29 Locks’ publication is told in The Children’s Writers Artists Yearbook (Bloomsbury, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026).
My debut novel, 29 Locks, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize and Mslexia Children’s Novel Competition, and was longlisted in the Berkshire Book Award 2022.
It was chosen by Suzi Feay, books editor of The Financial Times, as one of the ‘Best Books of 2021’ It was also longlisted by the prestigious Branford Boase Award for outstanding first-time novelists and their editors.
I live in West Sussex with my wife, three children and a Jack Russell terrier called Little Bear.
Join me on social media. X: @nmgarrard Insta: @nicolagarrard7
The workshop fee of £20 (incl. VAT) is payable in full online. Please note that payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. Contact W&A Admin on [email protected] so that we can find a payment schedule that works for you.
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.
- Writers & Artists has made one bursary place available for this event as part of our accessibility scheme. Please visit our bursaries page to find out how to apply for a bursary to the event.
- Payment instalment plans are available for all W&A events, writing courses and editing services. 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.
- If you'd like to receive a transcript of the session, please do let us know and we can circulate following the session.
- 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]
