With details of opportunities and offers:

We have so much in this weeks newsletter, I didn't want you to miss any of it by not scrolling down, so here's a summary:

- free video content from top authors
- online writing weekend (9-10th May) tickets are now on sale
- our WM summer programme is coming soon (all the info below)
- we have 2 online courses running (or about to start)
- plus #WMPitch, #WMChat, Spark Mentoring, our Magazine (issue 2) launch

Free Video Content (for a limited time)

Our keynote speakers from last years WOWCON have agreed for their video content to be made available for free for the next few weeks, to give a little something to you all during this difficult time.

If you haven't watched them, I'd suggest not missing out on this limited opportunity.

Overcoming Obstacles: How To Write When Everything Is Wrong.

What Happens Next? Six easy ways to shove your plot along when you’re stuck.

The Art of Interrogation.

THE BUSINESS OF BOOKS: WHY WRITING IS LIKE RUNNING A STARTUP

Submitting Your Manuscript to Agents—Is it Ready Yet?

This Writing Business

Online Writing Weekends 2020

We are moving our in-person writing weekends online for the foreseeable future and we have just launched out first on (May 9-10th) last Friday.

Our 1-2-1s with Lydia Silver and Lauren Gardner sold out in a couple of hours, but the workshop tickets with Emma Read (MG/YA) and Clare Helen Welsh (PB) are still available.

We will be arranging one in June also, so if you miss out this time, there will be another opportunity.

WriteMentor Summer Programme 2020

We are fast approaching the mentee application window for this summer's programme, and so a few more details for you at this time.
A full list of our mentors is here.

We have a Twitter chat with all of our mentors:
Mon 6th April to Tues 14th April at various times. A timetable will be posted next week.

Applications open on the 15th and remain open until 11.59pm GMT on 17th April.

- You will need to have a completed manuscript.

- You will need to send us a query letter, 1st chapter (double-spaced, 12″ TNR), and 1-page synopsis (single-spaced) along with your application, so ensure these are as good as they can be. The first chapter should be no more than 3,000 words.

- For Picture Books, please send the full text. Illustrations are not needed, but illustrator notes are fine.

- You can apply to 3 mentors. So be sure to research them thoroughly and chat to them during our Twitter Mentor chat week, starting 6th April.

- It is 1 application (1 novel) per person.

- You will also be asked the question: Why have you applied to WriteMentor?

Hope you're all ready to go this year - I suspect with more people being at home this summer, it could even more competitive than ever!

May the Force be with you!

ONLINE COURSES

Available for sign up anytime:

12 Month Novel Course

The 12 month novel course is for those who need encouragement from first spark to first draft.

This course if for everyone, from novice to pro. We’ll build a supportive community who will cheer you on, will offer to share chapters with you and form potential critique partnerships.

Every month, we’ll have a special guest on for a chat on that month’s aspect of novel writing.

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Preparing for Submission with Aisha Bushby

Sign up is open - NOW!!! - do get in quick, as we are now getting down to the last few places. Thanks to all those who have already signed up.

Lucy Irvine has agreed to be our visiting agent again - she will read your first page, synopsis and letter, and give you feedback as part of the course - and will do a 1 hour Q&A with participants.

The course now includes a full 3 chapter read through, by Aisha, rather than just first page.

It starts on the 20th April and workshops will be held every Monday night at 8-9pm.
*Please note the final session, the Q&A with Lucy Irvine, will be on Tuesday 26th May 8-9pm.

12 Month Novel Course

£10.00 a month

View

Preparing for Submission with Aisha Bushby

£120.00

View

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

#WMPitch

We announced on Twitter that we will be doing our first ever pitch event, the day after the WM summer programme announcements. I feel like we might all need a pick me up after the disappointment of the previous day and this gives you a new focus to pitch and get the attention of our amazing WM associated agents! More info to follow...

#WMChat

Spark Mentoring

Spark Mentoring is always available if you need extra help or support each month. We have made the Spark mentoring package even better by including access to our 12 month novel course and the self-editing course with Kesia Lupo for all Spark mentees - do contact me if you wish to access either of these and are a current spark mentee. If you wish to sign, hit the link above for all the details.

WriteMentor Magazine April 2020

This Wednesday (April 1st), our second WriteMentor Magazine for Children's Writers is being published online. At only £3.00 or £9.99 for an annual subscription, this issue includes an exclusive feature from author, actress and former CBeebies presenter Cerrie Burnell; an interview with Sam Copeland on balancing life as an agent and an author; insights from authors Perdita and Honor Cargill about writing as mother and daughter; and advice from David Higham Associates agent Christabel McKinley on writing a submission letter. You could be reading all this and more from Wednesday - so grab your copy! We can't wait for you to read it.

Final word from the Jedi Master…

Home-schooling, alternatives to toilet roll and social distancing.

Those things have consumed our thoughts over the last week in a way that none of those probably ever have before!

Firstly, some advice from a secondary school teacher - young people are finding this last few weeks MUCH harder than they are saying, or we realise. Let's go easy on them. There is no need for them to be working from 9-3.30pm every day. Exams are cancelled for the older ones. For the younger ones, they'll catch up in Maths or English (if they even fall behind). Let them read books, play computer games, watch TV and play with siblings. There's so little other joys for them outside the house now.

It's okay to stick on Tangled (for the 100th time that day) rather than doing their school work.

It's okay that you can't work out what the heck their year 4 English work even means…

It's okay to just take a few breaths, hug those kids, keep them happy. You don't need to be their teacher right now, just be their parent. That's more than enough.

We're lucky that WM is a mostly online writing community. We have had to cancel our last few in-person writing weekends, but we're working on replacing those with some online weekends. We've already got one organised on 9-10th May, with more to follow.

I hope we are able to bring some certainty and some online community for you during the toughest of times. Join us for #WMChat on a Wednesday evening, or sign up to one of our cheap, online courses or events. Buy our wonderful magazine (out on Wednesday!) with magnificent contributions, compiled and edited by our amazing Chief Editor, Florianne. Watch our free videos from top, inspiring authors.

We want to always be there for you all, and if there's anything any of you ever need (that we can help with) then do let us know.

Writing can be lonely…but it doesn't need to be.

May the Force be with you!

Stuart