As promised, here is a follow-up post
relaying the excellent advice for aspiring authors provided at Getting
Published Today, a Wordfest event that took place on Saturday.
Those passing on their tips were:
Nicola Morgan - an award-winning author of
90 books and giver of crabbit advice to aspiring writers everywhere. Nicola
runs a consultancy service and writes a fantastic blog, Help! I Need a Publisher!, which is stuffed full of information for writers. For details of the book of
the blog click here. I've got it and highly recommend it.
Rebecca Swift – a former editor at Virago,
and now Director of Arts Council-funded TLC (The Literary Consultancy). TLC provides manuscript feedback (I’ve used it and would recommend
the service) as well as mentoring (I haven’t used this but I sat next to
someone at the event who had. She told me she found the programme supportive, thorough
and very good for keeping up motivation. It’s mainly done online, but there is
an industry day where you can make contacts in person).
Jill Dawson, – a highly acclaimed writer of
both fiction and poetry, and director of Gold Dust, a mentoring scheme for
writers. (I haven’t got personal experience of this one, but there are
plenty of testimonials on the website.
Gold Dust involves face-to-face meetings, as opposed TLC’s online approach, and JD explained that not all applicants are accepted – it is a competitive process.
Getting
Published Today
It was interesting to hear the different
viewpoints of the panellists on what it takes to be a success. I hope I've summed up their views fairly; I certainly found it fascinating to listen to them.
Nicola Morgan pointed out that writing doesn’t
necessarily have to be ‘good’ to get taken on, it has to be ‘right’. If it happens to be right for the
market then it can be downright awful but
still be snapped up. NM recommended reading this article by Danuta Kean, which is sobering.
NM was clearly in no personal doubt about
the value of great writing (and her own work is highly acclaimed). She didn't want writers to abandon their artistic
dreams, but to proceed with a very clear,
businesslike eye on the whole process, and to recognise what’s driving the
industry right now.
She pointed out that any publisher has to
believe they can sell enough copies to make the book/author they’re taking on financially
viable, and ‘enough’ now, is more than it used to be. Books are heavily
discounted and, with prices falling, revenue per unit is getting smaller.
She encouraged writers to recognise that we
are where we are, rather than getting hung up on what can’t be changed.
She said there are still publishers out there who will publish adventurously,
but it’s up to individuals to go out and search for them. Realistically, in these
straightened times they do often opt to go with the most obviously commercial
books.
RS commented on the same issue, but did say she felt
most good writers should be able to find a story or theme on which to
hook their gifts to make them consumable (which she acknowledged was a horrible
word!)
JD still felt that, ultimately, good writing would win the day.
Instant Success
No, I'm afraid this isn't some kind of miracle method to have it, but the fundamental need to achieve it!
NM pointed out that authors can no
longer afford to have low-selling books, leading up to a breakthrough novel.
You have to succeed with your first offering, or you’re unlikely to get taken
on to write a second. This is particularly scary when you consider that Ian
Rankin’s first novel was published in 1986, but it wasn’t until 1997 that Black and Blue, the book considered to
be his breakthrough novel, was published. Six years after he’d won the Chandler-Fullbright
prize. I hate the fact that, in today’s publishing climate, we might miss out
on someone as good as Ian Rankin.
Craft – Some Key Advice
JD reckoned that most good writing is re-writing. She
herself undertakes many serious drafts (not just editing and tweaking) and relishes
doing a full 90K word re-write.
NM said it was crucial be expert in the type of book you want
to write.
JD added that reading is as good a grounding in
writing as any. She said all writers should hold books dear and view literature as their favourite art form.
Pitching
NM said you must be able to sum up your
work in a paragraph – but a sentence, say 25 words – is better. And be specific. Don't use your sentence to convey come sort of abstract, philosophical
theme. Instead, give a concrete set up that will spark
interest and lodge itself in the reader's head. And make sure you can show what marks your work as
different from the competition.
In response to a question about ‘Pitch to
an Agent’ slots at literature festivals, RS said they should be treated as
a bit of fun – otherwise they can simply be too intimidating to contemplate.
However, she did say they were worth doing, if for nothing else than because
they get you used to pushing yourself forward, which is essential in today’s
marketplace.
All the panellists noted that when
submitting to agents/publishers you should check individual websites for
specific requirements and follow them to the letter.
As for the dreaded synopsis they always
ask for, NM’s book, Write a Great Synopsis, is devoted to helping writers overcome that hurdle. JD said it’s essential to get to
grips with writing one, and if you are published you'll be required to produce umpteen potted versions of your story for all sorts of people involved in promoting you.
Digital Self-Publishing
RS advised writers to prepare very carefully before going ahead. She acknowledged that, with the advent of e-publishing,
it is tempting to get a novel uploaded in that first flush of post-completion excitement. However, she urged writers to get their novels 'well sound-checked' first.
RS said TLC will be running a conference 8/9 June called Writing in a Digital Age, which will cover topics such as how to self-publish in a way that will improve your chances with a mainstream publisher, and
will explore the effect that digital self-publishing is having on the industry. Might it one day become a standard test bed that publishers consider before
taking a new author on? NM will also be speaking at the conference.
And Finally
The chair of the event, writer Jo
Browning-Wroe, asked each of the panellists to give one final piece of advice and
here’s what they said:
RS – meditate. And be prepared to let go of
what you’re trying to do for a time if you need to. If it’s important, it’ll
come back.
JD - tell your own story, the only way you
know how.
NM - write from the heart, but engage your
head! (And visit the Help! I Need a Publisher! blog post here for more useful
information.)
I'm really grateful to Wordfest and all the panellists for providing such an interesting event.
If you've been to similar talks, or have any advice from your own personal experience, do please chip in and leave a comment!
