UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances Alison Baverstock will be talking on 'How to Get Published' as Jo Herbert is unable to attend the festival.
The countdown to my next 'How to Get Published' workshop at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on 16 October has started.
Anyone and everyone is welcome, from writers whose book is still a twinkle in their eye, to those who are putting the finishing touches to their manuscript.
In three short hours (it's ok there'll be a tea break or two) I'll give you an overview of the publishing industry and make suggestions of what to do before submitting your work (eg, decide if you need an agent and how to find one, identify your target market, find ways to get your work read and lots more). I'll also provide a detailed breakdown of exactly what to put in your proposal and how to do it well.
Regardless, there's nothing like the atmosphere of a good literary festival to encourage the writer in you, and the Times Cheltenham Literature Festival promises to be something special this year as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
So, indulge your eyes and ears at one of the 420 events and then go home, refreshed and enthused, and get your mind and fingers working.
Hope to see you there.
Warm wishes, Jo
I've just spent the weekend writing bloodly lesson plans - after 18 years teaching I'm totally hacked off. My novel is there, right there and its a good one. Shall I just write it and then worry about logistics??? The answer of course is yes.
What do you say. I would love to go to the workshop but teaching consumes you.
I'm thinking of just jumping and doing something which will fulfill me - the way teaching used to!
AS A FIRST TIME UNPUBLISHED AUTHOR I HAVE FOUND THE WHOLE PROCESS TOTALLY BEWILDERING AND OFF PUTTING. WRITING THE BOOK WAS EASY GETTING PAST VANITY PUBLISHERS AND LITERARY AGENTS WHO RESPOND WITHIN TWENTY FOUR HOURS DESPERATE FOR YOUR WORK - AT A FEE (OF COURSE) IS ANOTHER THING. MY GENRE IS EROTIC ROMANCE, INSPIRATIONAL WITH AN EMPHASIS ON ALL THREE. MOST PUBLISHERS SUBMISSIONS STIPULATE 90,000 TO 100,00 WORDS, MINE IS 250,000 WORDS AND TO EDIT IT WOULD COMPLETELY LOSE THE STORYLINE AS IT THE FIRST OF TWO BOOKS. I DID FIND ONE VERY FRIENDLY WEBSITE IN THE USA WHO HAVE BEEN BOTH HELPFUL AND WILLING TO ENTER INTO EMAL CORRESPONDENCE WITH ME, BUT IN THE UK IT SEEMS EVERYONE WANTS YOUR MONEY BEFORE THEY WILL TALK TO YOU