I was at the LBF yesterday to do some filming (which will be up on this site as soon as we’ve done an edit) and there again today on the offchance I could squeeze my way into a seminar where pre-booking was ‘essential’.
These are ten things I picked up, which are worth knowing, either for use and reference right now, or to decide whether you want to attend next time round.
1. “Everyone thinks they can write a children’s book”, according to Jayne at A&C Black. But then everyone at some point wanted to be an astronaut/train driver/Olympic athlete (delete as applicable). Writing a children’s book is harder than you think, and reading age is tricky to get right.
2. Authors who approach a stand and say “I know the editor-in-chief for blah blah” (when they clearly do not know the editor-in-chief) are not welcome. Don’t do it. It’s unprofessional and will make you feel rubbish when it doesn’t come off. Publishers know this ploy well.
3. The exhibition centre is like a maze, but that is only until you get the hang of it. There’s a grid layout, but it isn’t square. It’s a bit like a US city in miniature.
4. The volcano messed things up. Meetings – especially international ones – were cancelled.
5. The front desk at a publisher’s stand will not accept your unsolicited manuscript on the spot.
6. Don’t sit it out not saying anything. This is a big event, play it right by going to key seminars and you can hear all the publishing trends from insiders at major houses. When there’s a Q&A, get stuck in, introduce yourself, and ask your question. You might not get the chance again.
7. Aspiring authors worry about other people stealing their ideas, and this is especially true when they’re thinking of starting a blog or putting work online. Most creative people don’t want to steal ideas, they’re like you, they want to develop their own. Don’t stress too much about this.
8. The volcano benefited those who could attend. You could get into more seminars and see more people as a result. And some of the ‘volcano victims’ were ‘stuck somewhere nice like Mauritius’.
9. A recommendation on Facebook is a fantastic way of getting word out about your book – sometimes it’s even better than a review in a newspaper. A book recommendation on Facebook comes from a friend, and we are more inclined to trust their opinion.
10. In the future, independent bookshops will be as much a hub for live events as a place to shift units of stock, so that might be where you – as an author – will be staging your signing/reading.
Best wishes,
(Publisher)
My condolences for Bree O'Mara, who I've heard was to attend the London Book Fair. Her tragic passing is a reminder of the very real hardships writers face. I will think about her as I write tonight.
Thank you cleanwhitepage and I hope you enjoy the LBF next time round - you can't beat it for learning about the publishing industry.
I can't be there, but this made me feel like I was going. Great pointers and I hope to use them next year!