London Writers' Club notes from agent Laura Macdougall of Tibor Jones, plus Sam Eades Orion Publishing event 23 February 6.30-8.30pm and Write with an Agent session 28 January 10.30-1.30pm

London Writers' Club have generously shared the notes from their agent Laura Macdougall of Tibor Jones event in their latest newsletter, plus the details of two upcoming events with Sam Eades of Orion Publishing and the Write with an Agent session, full details below:

 

London Writers' Club   helping writers connect with agents & publishers         January 2016   Notes on January's event with agent Laura Macdougall of Tibor Jones.   Our first event of 2016 was with the agent, Laura Macdougall of Tibor Jones and Associates.      She joined Tibor Jones in March 2015 (after  5 years at Hodder & Stoughton) and has been steadily building her list. Tibor Jones is a small team of agents based in Brixham. Their most famous client is Wilber Smith and they also represent a number of music journalists/musicians. The atmosphere is fun, laidback and collaborative.   Laura's current list is mostly made up of novelists (12 novelists, 3 or 4 non-fiction writers) but she is looking for more of both. 2 of those novelists came through the usual process - through the site - the remainder came through recommendations from friends/editors etc.  Contacts can be used!   Laura spends an hour a day reading the submissions sent to her - it's an important part of her day. However, the majority of her time is spent editing ms. and proposals.   Foreign rights are sold 'in house' and it's important to consider that different territories have different tastes.   What is Laura looking for? Fiction - literary (books which Fourth Estate, Granta, Sceptre etc. would publisher) and then more commercial fiction - including Historical Fiction. And Crime.   Top tip - be persistent - it's a subjective industry!   What stands out in a submission letter? Perfect spelling! Formal but not overly Get your research done on agents Follow an agent's guidelines/rules Have a great title. It's a selling tool!   Laura recently sold an historical crime series to Headline - editors could see beyond the perceived problems (of historical fiction not doing so well) and this happens all the time. So don't apologise for your work.   Non-fiction - cookery, travel, history, nature, narrative - quite a broad remit. She recently sold a book to Virago about genders/identity and is currently working on a book about relationships/friendships.     If you'd like to submit to Laura do mention you are part of the London Writers' Club community and you will get shifted to a higher place on her manuscript pile. All guidelines are on the Tibor Jones website here.    Next event will be with TWO publishers   What: Event with publisher, Sam Eades of Orion Publishing and her colleague   When: 23 February, 6.30pm-8.30pm   Where: The Cube, Studio 5,  155 Commercial Street,  London E1 6BJ (nearest station is Shoreditch High St.)   Members free - just let us know if you are coming      Advance tickets: £20 for event plus a free copy of Write a Bestseller by Jacq Burns   Or £15 for just the ticket.        Write with an Agent session   Three hour session £107.  (Join the club and receive theLondon Writers' Club Members' discounted price of £97.) Venue: Central London     When:   There will be just one session for this quarter. Thursday, January 28th, 10.30-1.30pm.        Most writers need help somewhere on their journey. Here you will get help to plan your book, to start writing and keep going, or in the drafting, editing or pitching process. These intimate sessions are a mix of one-to-one advice and taking action on that advice that will move you on from whatever stage you are now, to get your book written faster.   If you're finished your book and are ready to prepare your book proposal and synopsis or you want to create a platform for your book, you can do that here too. Jacq will read your synopsis or outline in advance ready to advice you as you improve your proposal and writing.   Click here for more information.      Book now for February's event with publisher  Sam Eades of Orion Publishing   When   Tuesday,February 23 6.30-8.30pm speaker will start at  6.45pm    Where   The Cube, 155 Commercial Street, E1 6BJ (nearest station, Shoreditch High St.)   What   Spend an evening in the company of two publishers PLUS a chance to pitch your book one to one.   View More Info   Members: free    £20 for non-members for event plus a free copy of Write a Bestseller by Jacq Burns     Why?    'Informative, insightful and fun. I would recommend any aspiring writer to pop along'  Mark Morris, Speechwriter for NATO Secretary General.           Quick Links    Join the Club   Contact us today    LWC Live Events    Write with an Agent   LWC blog       Stay Connected