On Saturday 11th February I attended a writers' event at Manchester City Library, Eliot House. It was entitled 'It's Grim Up North' and I am happy to say that it was anything but grim.
The packed out Baker room played host to first in a professional series of talks and workshops organised by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators .The events are to be held over the year and aim to bring a range of children's publishing professionals into our region to work face to face with authors and illustrators of all levels. (See our events page for details of other workshops).
For this first meeting three experienced North West Children's writers came to talk about their journey into publishing and discuss what it was like to be a working author in the North West. There was time to listen to the speakers, chat over a chocolate brownie and ask questions.
Name: Steve Hartley
Books: Danny Baker Record Breaker Series.
Big Break: It took 15 years but eventually Steve's chance came when he was chosen for the 2008 Undiscovered Voices Anthology. The Anthology is produced bi-annually by the Society of Children's Writers and Illustrators. It publishes the work of 12 unpublished and unagented children's writers and showcases their work to the publishing community. As well as launching Steve's career it has also set many other authors on the path to publication including Sarwat Chadda and Candy Gourlay.
Top Tips:
1. Find your voice. The one that you truly own, and not the one you wish you did. You might want to write gut wrenching drama, but if you keep slipping slap stick gags in, then it's not going to work for anyone.
2. Be prepared to really polish your work. It needs to be as good as it can be when you submit to agents or authors, they will make judgments about you as a writer based on what you are prepared to submit.
3. And before you submit, really do your research. Spend time looking at publishers and agents to see what interests them. Only submit to those who you believe will love your work and who you would love to work with.
What's Next? The original Danny Baker, 'The World's Biggest Bogey' is being re issued in April with a 100% new and 100% unofficial Olympic Danny Baker story. Meanwhile Steve has his teeth into a new, very different project.
Name: Jon Mayhew
Books: Mortlock, The Bone Collector
Big Break: Breaking his ankle when training for the London Marathon! When poor Jon found himself housebound for six weeks he began to write... and write... and write! And no, what he wrote was not fit for publication.
Jon didn't give up writing, or running or breaking his ankle. Another six weeks at home took him further along the literary road until his wife (possibly going mad at having him home so much) booked him on a Cornerstones weekend. Here Jon learned the value of good critique. He edited his work, he spent time at writing groups and conferences, he met people, he talked about his work and people asked to see it.
Top Tips:
1. Critique is good. It's what helps us grow and develop as writers. Be a member of a writing group and attend classes and conferences when you can.
2. Netwoking is important, and doesn't need to be done cynically. Getting to know people on-line or through events such as conferences and book launches may help open doors to you. Editors and agents are more likely to seriously read a piece of work given to them by a person they have met than one that is just treading slush.
3. And be choosy. As aspiring writers we can be too keen to jump at any offer we get, but it's important to be working with the right person, some one who loves your work as much, maybe more, than you do.
What's Next? Jon's third book 'The Bonehill Curse' will be released in May this year.
Name: Toby Forward
Books: The Wyvern Quartet, The Flaxfield Quartet, and The Wolf's Story (to name a few).
Big Break: It took a while for Toby to be brave enough to submit his writing anywhere, but when he did it was to 'Morning Story' a programme that used to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4. His first submission was considered 'a bit much' for 11 O'clock in the morning but he was invited to submit another. Feeling encouraged he did and this time it was accepted and broadcast. This was his first step on a career than has lasted since 1987 and includes over twenty published titles. 'Morning Story' sadly is no longer in exsistance, but Toby believes aspiring writers should seek out opportunities to have short work published, be that radio, anthology or magazines. It's all about learning your craft.
Top Tips:
Toby suggested that we came up with our own 'Top Ten Tips for Writing'. They should be personal to all of us. Here are the highlights of his own.
1. Write for your own inner child.
2. Picture that child as you write and just tell them the story. Don't patronize them.
3. If you hit an impasse, miss it out and write something further on in your story. It will be easy to fill the gap later.
4. Don't begin to edit until it's finished.
5. Don't have morning coffee until the first 500 words are done.
What's Next? Toby is currently completing the forth book in the Flaxfield Quartet. The first book, 'Dragon Born', was recently long listed for the Carnegie Medal. We're all routing for you Toby!
It was a Saturday afternoon well spent. Listening to and chatting with authors who started out no different to anyone else in the room was an inspiring experience. Everyone left energised and enthused, ready to write the good write once more.
We're practicing out grim faces.
The Next event is on 21st April 2012 1—4pm Manchester City Library, Elliot House
The Professional Panel is an opportunity to meet with some of the industry professionals— including Catherine Pellegrino (Literary Agent), Ben Cameron (Pavilion Children’s Books) and Fiona Ross (Barefoot Books).
For tickets contact Stephanie by email at: lilyboo147@googlemail.com
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