Writers and Artists newsletters

With details of How to Edit your Book and more (due to coronavirus, please check if these events are still going ahead:

Picture book, middle grade, and YA writers: work with acclaimed authors! https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events/how-to-write-for-children-and-young-adults

How To Edit Your Book

Are you lost within the process of editing your novel, unable to see the wood for the trees? Join us at Bloomsbury Publishing on Saturday 21st March and learn how to become a better editor - and more objective reader - of your own work. You’ll benefit from the advice of four experienced editors, who will lead practical workshop sessions on developing the tools needed to make your work the best it can possibly be ahead of submission to a literary agent or publisher. Delegates are also encouraged to submit a sample section of writing in order to receive one-to-one feedback from one of the editors in attendance. Full event details and booking

Things To Consider Before Preparing To Submit "One of the most difficult things for a writer to come to terms with after many months (sometimes years) of living inside the creative bubble [...] is to suddenly change tack and conform to 'business mode.'" In this exclusive extract from Writers' & Artists' Guide To How To Hook an Agent (pre-order your copy here) — a quick-fire introduction to the process of gaining literary agent representation — James Rennoldson offers points to consider ahead of preparing your submission documents. Read now

Creative World Building "I love those initial moments where a world is freshly forming in your mind, when you can feel the flow of possibility - what does this world look like, what makes it unique and exciting?" Debut author Struan Murray shares top tips on building whole new worlds for readers to lose themselves in. Read now

Writing Short Stories With Chris Power Join Chris Power for our five-week course on writing short stories. Whether you want to refine current stories or create something new, Chris will provide you with the tools you need to master the craft. Starting Wednesday 4th March | £350 | For payment plan options, email writersandartists@bloomsbury.com Full course details and booking

Exclusive BFI Offer for our W&A Community

Calling all playwrights and screenwriting enthusiasts! The BFI are very kindly offering W&A newsletter subscribers the opportunity of 2-for-1 tickets to watch  A Street Car Named Desire at BFI Southbank. Directed by Elia Kazan, this game-changing film of Tennesee Williams' stage hit brought Marlon Brando - and the Method - to the attention of filmgoers worldwide. Simply enter the discount code Kazan241 at the checkout to purchase two tickets for the price of one!  Reserve your seats

Yearbooks and Companion Guides Receive a huge 25% discount by using the code WAYB25 when ordering either the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2020 or the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2020. The same code can also be used against any of our popular series of Writing Companion Guides, too! Shop now

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP

Invaluable advice on how to edit your work more effectively: https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events/how-to-edit-your-book

YA Writing Tips from Lucy van Smit If we weren't already thrilled enough by YA author Lucy van Smit (The Hurting) agreeing to lead a two-hour workshop at our upcoming How To Write For Children and Young Adults conference, then her commitment to 10 weeks of bonus writing exercises has definitely tipped us over the edge! Lucy's advice and practical exercises will be exclusive to conference attendees, and encourage thinking around elements that she believes to be essential to the writing process, such as: ·         Knowing yourself as a writer ·         How to keep your expectations in check ·         Creating empathy towards your characters  ·         Remaining positive (and disciplined) ·         Writing without fear (but editing without mercy)    To join Lucy's workshop or to view a full outline of the day, when we'll also be joined by authors Hannah Lee (My Hair), Thomas Taylor (Malamander), Fiction Editorial Director Rebecca Hill (Usborne Publishing) and literary agents Julia Churchill (A.M. Heath), Davinia Andrew-Lynch (ANDLYN) and Zoe Plant (The Bent Agency) click here

30% Discount on our Guide To Writing for Children & YA

And ahead of our Children's Conference, for a limited time only, we're offering 30% off the new edition of our Guide to Writing for Children & YA. Written by Linda Strachan, children's author of over 60 books, this essential guide is packed full of practical advice for writing for children across all ages. Simply enter the code KIDSLIT30 before midnight on 27th February to receive your copy at this special price, exclusive to the W&A community.  Order your copy

What To Expect When Working With An Editor

"There's a contract we have to build together."  Acclaimed author, experienced editor and mentor Natalie Young, on what writers who enter into a mentoring program should expect from the process. Read now

What Is A Chapter Book & How Do I Write One? "These books bridge the gap between picture books and middle grade and are important for the development of a young reader when they're starting to practise their new reading skills."    Linda Strachan discusses writing for a much younger audience. Read now

Yearbooks and Companion Guides Receive a huge 25% discount by using the code WAYB25 when ordering either the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2020 or the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2020. The same code can also be used against any of our popular series of Writing Companion Guides, too! Shop now

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP

Last-minute places available for our first How to Hook an Agent event of 2020!  https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/events/how-to-hook-an-agent-january

Sharpen Your Short Stories with Alison MacLeod

Begins 29th January, 6-8.30pm | Bloomsbury Publishing, 50 Bedford Square, London | £350* If you want to advance your understanding of the short story form, whatever your starting point as a writer, this course, designed and led by Alison MacLeod, a Booker-nominated and award-winning writer of short stories and novels, is a brilliant opportunity to do so. ‘An extraordinary teacher and writer ... It was a joy.’   ‘It gave me confidence to press on as well as an awareness of the commitment needed. Opened my eyes to the potential of the short story form. I am both exhilarated and exhausted!’   ‘Made me a bit more daring. Encouraged me to revisit a piece of work. Both very helpful. Alison's structure and approach was really stimulating - also her confident preparation and generosity.’ Full course outline and booking details *Payment plans available: contact writersandartists@bloomsbury.com to discuss.

What Does A Publishing House Look Like?   Ever wondered how a publishing house is structured? Found yourself thinking: What is an imprint? In this extract from the Writers’ & Artists’ Guide to Getting Published, Alysoun Owen explains all. Read now

Use Your Exclusive Discount Code Before 31st Jan!

A reminder to make sure you take advantage of the discount codes exclusive to this mailing list before midnight on 31st January. If your New Year's Resolution is to take the next step on the path to publication then we're here to help! Any of the codes below secure at least a 10% saving on products across writersandartists.co.uk; from evening courses and our bestselling Yearbooks through to editorial critiques and meetings with literary agents.

Editing Services   Enter EDITING1020 on the checkout page to unlock your 10% discount. This applies to all of our editing services, including our popular Beat the Rejection consultations (with new dates just added to our agent availability calendar!)  View all editing services here.

Writing Courses   Book your place on one of our 2020 writing courses with the code COURSE1020 and receive a 10% discount. All W&A courses take place at our offices in Bloomsbury Publishing, running from 6-8.30pm on Wednesday evenings, with payment instalment plans available on request.

One-Day Events Reserve your place at any of the one-day conferences currently listed on the site and save 10% by entering EVENT1020 on the checkout page. Confirmed events so far for 2020 include our popular How To Write for Children & Young Adults, How To Edit Your Book and How To Hook An Agent events, while we are also excited to be taking trips to both Bournemouth and Exeter for our How To Get Published conferences! View all events here.

Writing Competitions from the CWA   Take a look at these upcoming annual competitions from the CWA that are definitely worth your attention… CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition Your entry must be no longer than 3,500 words and heed Margery Allingham’s advice by containing the crime, the mystery, the enquiry, and a satisfactory (or at least a partly satisfactory!) conclusion. Cost of entry is £12, with the winner (to be announced at CrimeFest 2020) receiving £500, a selection of Margery Allingham books, and two passes for international crime writing convention CrimeFest in 2021. All rules and further details can be found on the Short Story Competition on the CWA website. CWA Debut Dagger The one to win for would-be crime novelists (though a place on the shortlist should be enough for your work to come to the direct attention of publishing industry professionals). So what do you have to do? Write an opening of a crime novel up to 3,000 words, together with a synopsis for the full novel of up to 1,500 words. Your novel doesn’t need to be finished and previously self-published novels are valid providing you’ve never had a traditional contract for a full-length novel. Cost of entry is £36, with a £500 prize given to the winner. All submission details and further information can be found on the Debut Dagger page of the CWA website. Good luck!

Yearbooks and Companion Guides Receive a huge 25% discount by using the code WAYB25 when ordering either the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2020 or the Children’s Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2020. The same code can also be used against any of our popular series of Writing Companion Guides, too! Shop now

Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP