I’m writing this blog on a plane as I head back from Belfast, where I’ve had the pleasure of chairing a panel at this year’s Belfast Book Festival. The panel brought together a literary agent, two award-winning novelists, director of a writing organisation and a contracts expert from the Society of Authors. What did they have in common? An interest in helping writers to navigate the ups and downs of a creative life, signposting where they might seek practical support on money and copyright, on finding an agent and putting a submission together, about working with a publisher’s editor and publicist.
All of this (and more!) are the raison d'être of our Yearbooks. Published every July, the Writers' & Artists Yearbook and the Children's Writers' & Artists' Yearbook have become staples of the publishing calendar – offering insights into the writing process, guidance on how to get your work noticed, and updated lists of contacts across the entirety of the publishing industry. The eighty plus articles featured across both Yearbooks are the mini-series of workshops you need: from anecdotal tales of what to do and what to avoid to advice from a talented cast of agents, poets, scriptwriters, graphic artists, novelists, publishers and booksellers.
The most frequently asked questions by attendees of festivals or other book events, including our own, are: How do I do it? Where do I get help? Who do I contact? Our Yearbooks contain all of the answers you need.
Whether you are a new to writing or have years of experience; whether you're seeking agent representation or want to successfully self-publish your book; whether you write – or want to write – thrillers or romances, scripts for film, TV or radio, articles or short stories, fiction or non-fiction for children or adults, there is bound to be something between our red or green covers that serves to encourage, support or inform.
They're about sharing knowledge, building confidence, and the offer of a helping hand when you're not sure in which direction to turn. I hope our 2023 editions provide the assistance you need as you continue to make progress with your writing.
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The Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2023 and the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2023 publish on 21 July. If you can’t wait that long, take a look at the other titles we publish, while we be posting taster extracts from this year’s new articles over the course of the next few weeks.
Good afternoon! I am a writer Paul Martan, the author of the novel. I am looking for a literary agent for my work, I also wrote the script for the first novel (there are 5 of them) in one word. It is a children's Christmas novel in five parts. If you would like to continue the conversation, please write to me. I live in France. ..