Read the thoughts of some of the authors and industry professionals who've benefited from W&A events and editing services.
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"I went back for a second W&A course with William Ryan because I wanted to hear and learn more […]I had ‘Aha” moments, and that voice on my shoulder was both a comfort and a taskmaster!" – Gaye Poole is a former W&A writing course student, and her debut novel, Edges of Me, is publishing with Cranthorpe Millner in June 2024. Read From Plays to Fiction by Gaye Poole
"Craig’s input and suggestions were invaluable, especially in deepening my characters and picking up inconsistencies in the timeline, and I know the book is much stronger as a result." – E J Pepper, author of Winter Kill (Troubador Publishing, March 2024), and who received editorial guidance via our Full Manuscript Review service
"Sara Starbuck was a source of encouragement at a time when I was looking for fresh advice and a boost of confidence with my novel, Not Alone. Her advice was warm and nurturing, whilst also balanced and sharp, and it helped me lift the next draft of the story. I went on to submit to agents some time after this and finally found my agent." – Sarah K. Jackson, author of Not Alone (Pan Macmillan, April 2023), and who received editorial guidance via our Full Manuscript Review service
Read 'How to be a Writer and Keep Your Head' by Sarah Jackson
"Joining the W&A course with Bill Ryan was a real turning point for a floundering writer! The combination of teaching, talks and workshopping gave me the skills to structure, critique and edit my novel properly. Bill is both kind and exacting - the perfect combination for guiding writers to improve and go forward to submission to agents and publishers. He is extremely generous with his time and feedback, creating a supportive and constructive space to examine your own and fellow students' work. This has extended beyond the course: several of us still meet monthly to share and discuss our writing. I highly recommend Bill's course and teaching - it was a fantastic investment and a lot of fun." – Heather Critchlow is a former W&A writing course student, and her debut novel, Unsolved, (Canelo Crime) published in May 2023.
Read 'The Feedback Loop' by Heather Critchlow
Lucy Kissick, the winner of our inaugural Working-Class Writers' Prize, went on to secure literary representation and a two book deal with Gollancz. Her debut novel, Plutoshine, was published on 17th March 2022.
"Writing can feel a lonely business, especially if you are from a demographic that isn’t generally expected to contribute to, or even belong in, the arts or publishing world. Imposter syndrome is real. But things are changing, and this prize is part of that change. For me, the W&A Working Class Writers Prize offered a space to celebrate my background, to be heard without having to hide my roots, and to feel pride in my work in an industry that can feel daunting and alien to ‘outsiders’. The encouragement of the judge, continued support of the W&A team, and being able to say I was finalist in the competition on the pitch letter I sent out once my novel was completed, all contributed to my belief in the work itself. My writing has now found its home, and I hope I can encourage others to take the leap and enter their words here.
The encouragement of the judge and being selected as a finalist for the prize boosted confidence in my novel, and helped me overcome lingering imposter syndrome and pitch for publication. My book now has its home. I encourage everyone with stories to tell to submit here." – Philippa Holloway is the author of The Half-Life of Snails (Parthian Books) and was runner-up in our W&A Working Class Writer’s Prize 2020.
"At a W&A How to Hook an Agent event, I was paired with Nicola Williams, who'd published her first legal thriller in 1997 before being distracted from writing by a highly successful legal career. She's a gifted storyteller, but I was most interested in how she was exploring the changing Black community in which her belated follow-up was set. A little under two years later, we were able to announce a two-book deal with Penguin imprint Hamish Hamilton and a TV series based on the original book in development." – Jonathan Ruppin, literary agent at Ruppin Agency & Writers' Studio, speaker at our How to Hook an Agent event.
Nicola William's next book, Until Proven Innocent, was published in March 2023.
"Taking Bill Ryan’s novel course was one of the best decisions I have made as a writer. His classes combined useful lessons on crafting a novel in all its component parts with the close reading of each writer’s text. His insightful critique of my prose cut to the heart of what did and did not work in the scene, and his kind encouragement left me motivated to keep pushing myself to grow as a writer. All this while creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere where students felt confident to share their work." – Tammye Huf, author of A More Perfect Union (Myriad Editions), and former W&A writing course student.
Read '10 Tips for Writing Historical Fiction' by Tammye Huf
"Bill gently teases the story out, with the sort of questions readers would ask. He helps writers understand that every sentence is important, that every conversation must add to the overall narrative arc, and that there is no valid ‘filler’. His feedback plus the feedback of others on the course, was invaluable for getting outside the writer’s point of view and into the reader’s." – Michele Kirsch, author of Clean (Short Books) - winner of the RSL Christopher Bland Prize - and former W&A writing course student
"My book has attracted some fantastic praise with people talking about it being 'compelling reading' and 'beautifully written'. I do not think that this would have been the case without the help of Cressida Downing of Writers & Artists whose feedback and advice in her manuscript assessment was invaluable, especially to a first-time author. It really helped me improve the final work."– Graham Addison, author of Raiders of the Hidden Ark, and who received editorial guidance via our Full Manuscript Review service.
Read more about Graham's self-publishing journey in 'Self-Publishing Success: Lessons in Research'
"I was shortlisted in a competition run by Writers & Artists and Kickback Media. This led to Kickback Media acting as my agent and a three-book deal with Usborne." – PJ Canning, author of the 21% Monster series (Usborne)
"Cressida has been an amazing partner, and added value at every stage of the writing process. She understands editing at book level and can get down into the detail. Her feedback was always insightful and easy to assimilate. Very happy to recommend." – Sion Mooney on behalf of Catriona Campbell, author of AI by Design (Routledge) The authors worked with Cressida Downing on our Full Manuscript Review editing service.