For the next couple of weeks, Hampshire Writers’ Society has gone all Publishy. Here, Claire Fuller tells us about finding her Agent.
It’s Not Who You Know
A few years ago when I was in the middle of writing my first novel, without any idea about what would happen to it, I went to a talk by a writer who told us how her book came to be published. ‘I went to a party in London,’ she said. ‘And I met a girl there who was the receptionist at a London literary agency. A few days later I sent her my manuscript; she showed it to her boss; and he offered to represent me. You’ve got to know someone in the industry.’
All of us came out of that talk feeling dejected – getting published was about who you know, and I didn’t know anyone, and I certainly didn’t get invited to any London parties.
But, I’m pleased to say that she was wrong. My novel got picked up from the ‘slush pile’, and I now know that so do many more. It’s not about who you know, but it is about following the rules.
Of course you still have to write a novel that an agent will be interested in. You need to be passionate about it, and that passion needs to come across in the writing. And it goes without saying that it must be well written and brilliantly edited.
After that you only need to regard your submission like a job application. I used Agent Hunter (www.agenthunter.co.uk) to select twelve agents who had open lists, were looking for my genre, and were interested in debut authors. I went onto each of their websites and I sent them a submission that followed their guidelines exactly and professionally. No funny coloured font, no gifts enclosed, no begging letters (and agents do receive all of these).
There is still some luck involved – will your submission hit the right desk at the right time? But get the basics right, and your novel, like mine, can be selected without knowing anyone in the industry or getting invited to any parties in London.
Claire Fuller, a member of the Hampshire Writers Society, is the author of Our Endless Numbered Days, published by Penguin.
It won the 2015 Desmond Elliott Prize and is a Richard & Judy, and Waterstones Book Club book.
@ClaireFuller2
Connector Café is a must for scriptwriters. As Robin Mukherjee pointed out when he visited HWS in January; writers getting together in one place creates an air of safe insanity.
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THE DROWNING GROUND
It is with great sadness we learn of the death on 9th August of the hugely talented comedy writer, David Nobbs, David entertained members of the
Claire Fuller Wins Prestigious Prize!
It was another fantastic year for the Winchester Writers’ Festival. Hampshire Writers’ Society had a stand in the Book Fair as usual and made many new contacts as well as catching up with quite a few of our members and past speakers. Becky Bagnell of the Lindsay Literary Agency wished us well for the future.
Also, Judith Heneghan, Festival Director, stopped by for a chat. She went on to draw the winning ticket for a year’s free membership for the fifth season starting September 2015 until June 2016. The lucky winner was newly joined member Sue Davies. Congratulations Sue, we are all thrilled at the news.
Congratulations too, to our own Louise Morrish, another winner of our free membership competition for next season. Keep watching the website for the full programme and details of the competitions.
This year the Society were proud to present their anthology, ‘The Best of 2011 – 2014’ which highlights reports, winners and adjudications over the first three years. I’m delighted to say it is selling like ‘hotcakes’ and we are halfway through our limited edition already, so please make sure you order your copy for £7.95 from the Membership Secretary on