Blue Pencil Agency newsletters

All the latest newsletters with information including the Autumn Away Day for Novel Writers and discounts throughout July:

Autumn Away Day for Novel Writers NOW ACCEPTING EARLYBIRD BOOKINGS   BPA's next Away Day will take place in Kintbury, Berkshire, on Saturday October 16, from 10am—6pm. Join us for a day of teaching, writing exercises and connection. The earlybird rate of £180 includes a full day workshop with Emma Darwin, a literary agent Q&A (guest tbc), and all refreshments – including a healthy, delicious lunch as well as plenty of coffee and cake! Kintbury is just an hour's train journey from London and there will also be parking available, with the option of staying overnight (limited capacity). Please get in touch with us via email or social media if you have any questions about the day, or read further info via the link below.     Sign Up     Coming Up ONLINE CRAFT TUTORIALS WITH EMMA DARWIN   We are also accepting bookings for two new craft tutorials with author and writing tutor Emma Darwin. Emma’s memoir, This is Not a Book About Charles Darwin, was published in 2019. Her widely-read blog This Itch of Writing gave rise to Get Started in Writing Historical Fiction which publisher Scott Pack describes as ‘essential reading’. She has taught for the Open University and is a regular guest lecturer and workshop leader.       Psychic Distance   Over the years Emma has found that learning to work with psychic distance – often called narrative distance or emotional distance – is the game-changer for her students. By the end you should have a new set of tools in your tool-kit and an understanding of why they can make such a huge difference.       Editing Your Novel   All writers know that the most important stage of writing is actually the re-write. Most know that it’s about a whole lot more than tidying up the sentences – but what does that actually mean? What should you be looking for and what do you do about it?     View all Events       July Sale DISCOUNTS ON EDITORIAL SERVICES Don't forget we're offering a £50 saving on an editor's report or submission package review for the month of July. Get in touch with the discount code JULYSALE. "As someone who always wanted to take a creative writing course but never had the time or money to do so, Iain’s report has in many ways felt like a crash course in writing and has given me specific tools and insights not only to fix this manuscript but to make me a better writer for when I start the next one." – Lucy Andia "I just wanted to let you know that as of this morning I've signed with Cara Lee Simpson at PFD and to thank you once again for your help with the book and for reaching out to agents on my behalf. The current version of the novel wouldn't be what it is without the work of BPA and Fiona and Frances' excellent notes." – Roxy Dunn     Find out More

July Offers DISCOUNTS ON MANUSCRIPT ASSESSMENTS   For the month of July, we are offering £50 off manuscript assessments so you can save money for a Summer getaway or staycation – let us work on your novel while you get away! BPA is a boutique literary consultancy offering tailored editorial services to writers at all stages in their career. We will read your first chapter and match you with the editor from our team who has the most experience in the genre you're working in and with the issues present in the work. SUBMISSION PACKAGE REVIEW – £300 (Usually £350) Receive feedback on your cover letter, synopsis, and sample chapters up to 15,000 words before you submit to literary agents. This service includes marked-up copies of each file to ensure your submission is polished to perfection. EDITOR'S REPORT – from £510 (Usually £560)  A 7 – 9 page detailed report of your full manuscript containing an overview and comments on structure, narrative, plot and character development. Examples from the manuscript will be given to illustrate each point. You also have the option of a marked-up manuscript.     Find out More   To enquire, please email info@bluepencilagency.com with your opening chapter and a brief summary or synopsis. Mention the discount code: JULYSALE.       4th Estate to Publish Jodie Matthews BPA First Novel Award shortlistee signs 2-book deal   We are thrilled to share the news that Jodie Matthews, who was shortlisted for the BPA First Novel Award 2021, has signed a two-book deal with 4th Estate. Jodie is represented by Olivia Maidment at Madeleine Milburn literary agency and her debut novel, Meet Me At The Surface, will be published by Editorial Director at Fourth Estate, Katie Bowden. "Longlisting, and then shortlisting really got the ball moving with my writing—I signed with my agent, and I had a newfound confidence in my writing, just knowing that other people were enjoying the book. I wouldn’t change my experience for the world. If you’re unsure about entering a writing competition, I say go for it." – Jodie Matthews     Read More

Ask an Agent: John Baker READ THE Q&A ON THE BPA BLOG John Baker joined Bell Lomax Moreton in 2019 where, as a junior agent, he is focusing on building his own small, cultivated list, shaped around his passion for Science Fiction and Fantasy, alongside providing administrative support across the agency. John has built a small but unique list of authors, who all share a passion for subverting expectations and creating rich new worlds of adventure. His clients include Gabriela Houston, A. M. Shine, Esmie Jikiemi-Pearson, Nadia Attia and Salma Ibrahim.  We've been keen to feature an agent who is focused on this side of the market for a while and were delighted when John agreed to answer some questions about long manuscripts, standout cover letters, and his current wishlist. "I’d love a great pirate novel or a sci-fi Top Gun! And I’d love more smart and interesting horror in my inbox, especially gothic but fresh."     Read the Q&A     Coming Up Online Events and the Autumn Away Day   We've just opened booking for two new craft tutorials with author and writing tutor Emma Darwin. It's also your last chance to sign up for tomorrow's genre tutorial on YA Fiction with Tanya Byrne.   YA Fiction with Tanya Byrne   In this workshop we will look at how the YA market has moved on since Twilight and The Hunger Games were published and changed everything. We’ll discuss what readers are looking for now and how platforms like TikTok are putting books into the hands of people who might never have found them.   Psychic Distance with Emma Darwin   Over the years Emma has found that learning to work with psychic distance – often called narrative distance or emotional distance – is the game-changer for her students. By the end you should have a new set of tools in your tool-kit and an understanding of why they can make such a huge difference.   Autumn Away Day   Save the date! We'll be opening booking soon for our next Away Day in Kintbury, Berkshire. A full-day storytelling workshop with Emma Darwin will be followed by a literary agent Q&A. Lunch and afternoon tea are included, with plenty of opportunities to chat to likeminded writers.   Novel Editing with Emma Darwin   All writers know that the most important stage of writing is actually the re-write. Most know that it’s about a whole lot more than tidying up the sentences – but what does that actually mean? What should you be looking for and what do you do about it?     View all Events

Writing Plot Twists READ OUR TOP TIPS IN THE BPA BLOG Surprise is more powerful than any other emotion in its ability to move people: to laugh, to gasp, or to turn to the next chapter! Readers enjoy ‘not knowing’ and finding out, but they love thinking they know and finding out they were wrong, especially if the clues have been there all along. That’s why twists have been around about as long as storytelling has – big twists that change your perspective on the whole narrative and little twists that add a thrill along the way. In this blog post, we ask how you can surprise your reader with twists that are grounded in the story you've already established. Find out why outlining is so important and how to make sure your twists aren't too obvious.     Read More       YA Fiction with Tanya Byrne JUNE 30, 6pm BST Our next online event is a genre tutorial on YA FICTION with author Tanya Byrne. We will do some practical exercises designed to make you think about the story that you are trying to tell and how to make your book stand out in this crowded and constantly evolving market. You will come away with a better understanding of what YA is and what agents and editors are looking for.     Sign Up     The BPA First Novel Award FAVOURITE LINES AND LONGLIST BUZZ Reading for the BPA First Novel Award is in full swing and we've been delighted to find outstanding entries in every genre under the sun! Thank you again to all who submitted – we can't wait to share the longlist in July. In the meantime, we'll continue to share our favourite first lines on Twitter. Check out #BPAfavouritelines or enjoy the preview below.       "The first time I ever meet Matthew, he’s in my bath."      "It was, thanks be to the Holy Mother of God, a Friday and Country and Western Night at the Corn Store, and the management had decided she was a big enough draw to put on the payroll."       "I come alive on the fresh cut of a summer lawn."      “Another woman’s life. Carly had tried it on like she once tried on a jacket in an expensive boutique that she had no intention of buying but wanted to feel against her skin.”       "The first time I kissed Marcel he tasted of the sea."    Follow the First Novel Award