Organised by The Guardian
An unmissable masterclass for fiction writers looking to get their work into print – with the option of receiving one-to-one feedback from a leading literary agent or publisher
If you’ve sweated over the first draft of your novel, firstly, congratulations! It’s a true accomplishment. But what’s the next step? How can you bring your work out into the light? For many writers, the route to publication can feel bewildering and disheartening in equal measure.
But don’t park your writing on your desktop – the leading literary agent Ed Wilson and the publishing director Carla Josephson are here to demystify the process, from start to finish. You’ll learn how the publishing industry works, the different roles of literary agent and publisher, and what Ed and Carla look for in submissions.
There are no shortcuts in publishing, but this class will teach you how to avoid the regular pitfalls and errors made by writers, and help you stand out from the crowd.
For an additional fee, you can also book a 15-minute one-to-one consultation with either Carla or Ed, taking place on the same evening as the masterclass. Strictly limited to ten spaces, you’ll receive tailored feedback and advice on how to bring out the strengths in your cover letter and elevator pitch. Please bring along your cover letter (maximum one page) and novel pitch (maximum two paragraphs) to the session. This is an unmissable chance to get personalised feedback from a leading expert in the world of publishing.
Course preparation
Ahead of the class you’re encouraged to have a think about your novel, and how you might present it to a literary agent in a cover letter
Course Content
- Introduction to the publishing process
- The key players – how to find and work with literary agents and publishers
- How to make your submission stand out
- Maximise your chances of getting your book published
- Q&A
This course is for…
- Fiction writers who want to understand how to navigate the publishing industry
- Writers with a completed novel who are ready to take the next step and start making submissions
Tutor profiles
Carla Josephson is Publishing Director at Virago Press, the iconic feminist literary imprint that’s home to authors including Sarah Waters, Margaret Atwood, Monica Ali and Maya Angelou, among others. She publishes literary-commercial fiction and has previously worked at The Borough Press and Simon & Schuster. Find her on Twitter here.
Ed Wilson is a literary agent and director at Johnson & Alcock, a London-based literary agency established in the 1950s. Ed has a diverse and developing list of authors of fiction and non-fiction. He represents everything from award-winning literary fiction to bestselling crime, science-fiction and fantasy. Find Ed on Twitter here.