August is running away.

Somehow it is three quarters of the way through August and although the writing is getting done, I’m not being as industrious as I would like to be.  And why is this? I put it down to having my son back from university and lack of sleep. Okay, that isn’t really true, it is being out in the garden and de-cluttering the house and outbuildings. However, today has changed that. I am now focused and determined to write at least 1500 good words each day, more if possible. That shouldn’t be a problem.  I know where the story is going, and how I want it to blend. The characters are screaming at me to get on with it, so that is exactly what I’m going to do.

Winchester Writers' Conference 1st - 3rd July 2011

After some great comments on my current novel ‘Ribbons of Red’ I’m hard at work, but realised I haven’t posted anything on my blog for a while.

I’m heading down to Winchester again to work on the One-to-One desk for Friday 1^st -3^rd July 2011 and be assured I’ll be writing in my spare time!!!!

There are some wonderful speakers, workshops and seminars to become involved in and if you are lucky you might still be able to purchase tickets. Here are just a few to get you excited: Barry Cunningham who is this year’s Plenary Speaker – I’ve heard Barry speak on many occasions and it is something not to miss. There are a few new faces to the Winchesters Writers Conference this year and many regulars.  David Headley (agent), Teresa Chris (agent), Lorella Belli (agent), Jude Evans (senior editor), Donna Condon (editor), Bernard McKenna (film scripts) and many, many more, seventy in total and that’s  just in the one-to-one appointments.

Winchesters’ Writers’ Conference is a family affair, only the family is rather large. There is something special that happens when writers get together...creativity flows in abundance. T he support and encouragement is delightful and the networking invaluable.

Agents, editors and book doctors are all there to give their thoughts on your work. It is an opportunity to grow as a writer and many attendees met their agent or publisher during their One-to-One meeting or by sitting next to them at the dinner table. Networking never stops – make sure you don’t.

2011 Backspace Writers’ Conference

This is the 7^th Annual Backspace Writers’ Conference which is held in New York City.

The conference runs from the 26^th – 28^th May 2011, but you can select to attend for one, two or three days. There will be many agents, authors and editors to network with and to help you to enhance our manuscripts.

So what is on offer?

Query Letter Workshops – Opening Pages Workshops – Panel Discussions – General Workshops – Master Classes – Book signing and a special workshop with Donald Maass (Literacy Agent) - http://www.maassagency.com/

All this wrapped up with good food, drinks and like minded people.

There is still time to register, but be quick, time is ticking by, so check out the website for further details: http://www.backspacewritersconference.com/

Personally, I would love to attend, unfortunately do to the fact that it is in New York City and I’m scheduled elsewhere means I’ll have to miss out on this occasion. However, should you be attending please drop me a line and let me know how it was for you and what you got out of it.

Free Yourself to Write

If you've always wanted to make space to write, really write, then this might be the ideal opportunity for you.
Do you fancy a week in the glorious Lycian region of Trukey to write? If so, then check out Philippa Pride's website: www.thebookdoctor.co.uk This break gives you the opportunity to learn, improve or hone your work with the support of a dedicated professional. So what are you waiting for? Go check it out now. 

Fantastic News from Festival of Writing

Fantastic news coming from the, ‘Festival of Writing’, that took place for the second year at the University of York. Once again this was an outstanding event. There was something for everyone, from the novice writer to the accomplished author. One thing that people might not know is the generosity of the writing community. I’ve heard people say, I don’t go to those sorts of things – I’d feel like a spare part. But this really isn’t the case. Writers are a big-hearted crowd. Willing to talk about their own work, yes, but equally interested in what the person next to them is writing. I guess it really boils down to what you put into it, as to what you get out of it.

I’m in a great position to see, the nervous faces of the tentative writer entering the one-to-one arena, (a place to pitch your work to agents etc.), scared and shaking. I’m not surprised! They enter and find me on the desk. I’ve heard it said that it’s like the fear of entering the doctor’s surgery and getting past the receptionist!! But I do always smile and try my hardest to accommodate everyone’s requests. But there is one thing I can’t do is magic up an appointment if the agent, editor or book doctor is fully booked. If you’ve missed your allotted time, I will do my hardest to slot you elsewhere, but that isn’t always possible. However, on the whole, most writers come out feeling they have received the best critique on their work, some come out with requests for full manuscripts and as it has been the case this year, writers come out with a further meeting booked to sign up with an agent. To ensure that these events run smoothly, we have to make certain that we adhere to timings; hence the day runs smoothly for agents, editors, book doctors and the delegates themselves.

This year I know for a fact that there were at least three people taken on by agents. Many people were amazed at the great feedback they received. You have to remember that this time with the agent will be brief, but they will give you some important advice. Don’t panic if they say some negative things, these can be changed and this is probably where you need to concentrate your efforts. ‘Anything worth doing is worth doing well’, it is a truth that we all have to learn to accept. Festivals like this are there to help you grow your work and extend your talents. So, if you’ve never been don’t be scared, it is fun and you will learn something. I still learn every conference or festival I attend. The writing world isn’t a dinosaur, it is constantly evolving and you have to evolve with it if you want to break into, stay in or try something new. You are only as good as your last piece of work. So take advice, edit and re-edit, then re-edit again before you send your work out there if you are to get the best result. After all it’s why you write, isn’t it?

World Book Night

World Book Night 2011

A busy day, alerting the population of St. Albans about the great book give away to take place at Waterstones on St. Peters Street, St. Albans. Two hundred and fifty leaflets were handed out. The event took place on 5^th March between 6pm – 8pm.

What an eclectic group of people arrived all eager to claim their free book. From Granddad’s to Sea cadets were popping in, some cautious, ‘was this really free?’, and leaving with a smile clutching their reading material. Many people were involved in making this event successful. Twenty five titles were being given away all across the country – every one of our books was homed.

The idea was to encourage reluctant readers, lapsed readers and to keep established readers. This we feel was achieved at least in St. Albans. The idea of book sharing intrigued people. All they had to do was to take a book, log on and resister the book online; read the book and pass the book along to the next reader.

After a fulfilling day, those involved trotted off to Loch Fyne for a well deserved evening meal.

Wow! What a brilliant day at the 5th Get Writing Conference.

Wow! What a brilliant day at the 5^th Get Writing Conference.

 For the second year the conference was held on the De Havilland campus at the University of Hertfordshire. Delegates arrived from 9:00 and left at 18:00 exhausted, but buzzing!

A murmur of excitement began to build as the Atrium filled with delegates, who gratefully sipped a warming cup of coffee to kick start the day before heading into the auditorium for the official welcome and opening address. This was immediately followed by a talk and Q & A session ‘How to Impress Us’ led by John Jarrold, Robert Dudley and Matt Bates. This was an excellent opportunity to ask those questions you’ve always wanted to ask and the delegates did just that, keeping the agents and buyers on their toes.

After another break for refreshments, delegates went off to their selected hour long workshops /talks. Afterward they headed back to the main auditorium for another Talk and Q & A session ‘Beyond the Revolution’ led by Simon Taylor, Marlene Johnson and Gillian Green, who made up our wonderful publishers panel. Once again this was a vibrant session questions came thick and fast - the answers giving us a peek inside the world of the publishing house.

During lunch - a delicious buffet selection there was an opportunity to socialise with the agents, editors, authors and buyers. Also at this time there was a chance to purchase books from Waterstones who joined us for the day and have the books signed by the authors in attendance. 

The Archangel and the White Hart, the new anthology from the VWC edited by Jon Pinnock, was also on sale, many of these were sold on the day, but copies can still be purchased – go to VWC website for details.

Two o’clock had delegates back in the main auditorium for the presentation of the ‘Get Writing’ Cup by Sue Cook to Geoff Guiver for his short story – Muse. This was followed by ‘From Fact to Film and Fiction’ a talk and Q & A session with Sue Cook. Once again this was a lively and animated forty-five minutes.

Then came the scary bit! Pitching to agents or editors. There were two opportunities here: the three minute pitch: John Jarrold, Scott Pack, Robert Dudley, Lyn Vernham and Jane Holland or the five minute ‘super’ pitch: Marlene Johnson, Simon Taylor, Gillian Green and Jonathan Pegg. For this the delegates were gathered, herded and put under starter’s orders. The timer was set, the go was given and the rest was up to the delegate to get the most out of their pitch as they could. Pitching is an art which has to be learnt. It isn’t easy but it can be the moment the bud of your idea begins to bloom. This is only one step in the process of getting published, but one everyone should experience at least once.

Whilst the pitching was going on upstairs those not pitching were engaged in ‘The Hooker’s Story’: keeping readers reading. This talk and Q & A session was run by the wonderful Sarah Duncan. A fantastic session on the skills needed to stop the reader closing the book.

Beautifully ice cold juice was served to quench the thirst of those delegates who were beginning to flag. It did the trick just in time for the next two talks and Q & A sessions. The first was led by Scott Pack, Raymond Tallis and Ian Skillicorn titled 'With the Innovators’ this session took us into the future of the book now we have e-readers like iPads and Kindles. This was an interesting session that inspired and encouraged writers not to be afraid of this technology but to cherish the opportunity to be part of the way forward.

This was followed by the last Q & A with: Lyn Vernham, Sue Moorcroft, Christina Courtenay and Matt Bates. You may have thought by this time that delegates would be exhausted, but no, this wasn’t the case. The questions rained down and the answers were informed and full of passion which encouraged  further questions. The closing address was given by Ian Cundell the Chairman of Verulam Writers’ Circle. 

The whole event covered by Radio Verulam and will be aired on Thursday 24th February at 5:30 by the wonderful Danny and Elizabeth

If you didn’t have the opportunity to attend the conference this year, make sure you don’t miss it next year, it promises to be another fantastic event.