I’ve just come across a website that features interviews with authors. This one caught my attention immediately as it is an email conversation between Markus Zusak, whose book The Book Thief was recently featured in our Book Club, and non-fiction history writer Susan Campbell Bartoletti, author of Hitler Youth. It makes fascinating reading into the respective processes and world-views of two very different authors: one a middle-aged American woman (sorry Susan!) and the other a young Australian man. Continue reading ‘Writers in conversation’
Archive for June, 2008
In this fourth session on writing for performance our guest is Jeremy Herrin, who will be chatting to us about New Writing for theatre. Jeremy is Associate Director at Live Theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne as well as running the New Writing department. He has directed productions at the National Theatre, The Royal Court, in the West End and at The Market Theatre in Johannesburg. He has also enjoyed directing short films and radio plays. Continue reading ‘New Writing for theatre’
I’m going to be in Cape Town in September and will be speaking at a creative writing and publishing workshop, in collaboration with award-winning author Gillian D’Achada. I’ve just finished editing her novel Sharkey’s Son, which has won the prestigious Sanlam Award, and I’ll be over in South Africa for the book’s launch.
So if you’re going to be in Cape Town in September, why not come along to one or both of the sessions:
Session 1
Releasing your creativity:
Getting those ideas from the brain to the page. A two-hour workshop where you can explore what’s already in you and how best to get it out.
Plus – a bonus half hour on the South African and UK publishing markets.
Session 2
Bringing your writing to life:
How to use all your senses, ‘show not tell’ and banish passive writing for ever. A two-hour workshop that will give you the tools to develop your writing into something worth publishing.
Plus – a bonus half hour with Gillian D’Achada on one author’s journey towards publication.
Venue: Stellenbosch Library
Date: Saturday 13 September 2008
Time: 10am–12.30 and 2–4.30pm
Venue: Hout Bay Library
Date: Saturday 20 September 2008
Time: 10am–12.30 and 2–4.30pm
Cost: R500 for both sessions, R350 for one session. Light refreshments will be provided for each session, but lunch is not included. There are lots of eateries nearby, or bring your own!
To book: Telephone Gill on 0833610167 in SA, or contact me via email.
Your hosts
The workshops will by run by me (Fiona) and Gill, and you will have an opportunity to meet Gill and ask her questions about her book and her experience of the publishing industry.
I’ve just had a short story published 18 months after submitting to Aquila children’s magazine. It’s the first of a two-parter. I submitted it as a three-parter (as per their contributors’ guidelines) but then the editor asked me to cut it by 1000 words and make it a two-parter. Yes ma’am! I said. What does this tell you about magazines? Continue reading ‘Magazine ‘lead times’’
In our series on scriptwriting (see writing short films and writing for radio) we have explored some of the outlets for writing for performance. This week we speak to ex-Eastenders writer Richard Stockwell about writing for television.
Richard was an actor who had time on his hands, so started writing plays, then moved into television. His plays Bad Blood and Killing Time have been produced many times, in 10 countries and in several languages – most recently touring in California. He wrote for the BBC’s premier evening soap Eastenders for two years. He is also the Programme Leader for Drama and Scriptwriting at Northumbria University. Continue reading ‘Writing for Television’
In the increasingly competitive world of mainstream publishing, it’s hard to get a book deal – and that’s an understatement. In the gap between self-publishing and mainstream publishing are the independent publishers. These small publishing houses take on work that might be overlooked by their larger competitors, and while they do not have the resources to market books in any major way, many talented authors have found a home with them. For some, they hope that it will be a stepping stone into mainstream publishing, for others, like the acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid, who chose to approach independent publisher Flambard Press with her anthology of short stories, Stranded, it’s a strategic move.
The Crafty Writer spoke to first-time novelist Rosalie Warren about her experiences with an independent publisher. Continue reading ‘Independent publishers – an author’s perspective’
