Emma is responsible for BPA’s bespoke programme of literary events and retreats as well as managing the First Novel Award and submissions to literary agents. With a background in communications and special events she has an eye for detail and a desire to give writers the best possible experience in an imaginative programme of events. Her retreats at Asthall Manor, the childhood home of the Mitford sisters with guest tutors including Tessa Hadley and Claire Fuller have set a new benchmark in literary experiences. The First Novel Award now in its third year has proved remarkably successful for writers with five of the 2018 shortlist gaining agent representation. With an up to date knowledge of what literary agents are looking for, Emma offers a reading service and advises writers with a polished manuscript which agents to approach and how best to ensure your work gets read. She also contacts agents on behalf of writers where there is a potential match.
Agent Submissions – Synopses and Cover Letters It’s not only agents and editors who judge a book by the first page: in an industry driven by ‘Look Inside the Book’, the opening of a novel or memoir is one of the keys which draws a reader in irresistibly – or lets them wander off. Before…
Hear from our First Novel Award 2021 judge as to what she is looking for and how getting listed in a competition gets you noticed. If you are considering submitting to our First Novel Award or indeed any competitions for debut novel writers this Q & A session will be invaluable. And even if you…
First Line, first page, first chapter It’s not only agents and editors who judge a book by the first page: in an industry driven by ‘Look Inside the Book’, the opening of a novel or memoir is one of the keys which draws a reader in irresistibly – or lets them wander off. But none…
Online Craft Tutorials and optional One on One Editorial Review, January to April 2021, Contact us for bookings >
Revising & EditingThursday April 29, 2021 Tutorial 4 from Craft Tutorials for Fiction Writers Novelist David Mitchell likens a novel to an end-of-the-pier horse-race game. The rickety horses are Character, Structure, Plot, Language and Ideas: as you write they move forward but sometimes one stalls, and sometimes another surges ahead. In this series of craft…
Voice & ProseThursday March 25, 2021 Tutorial 3 from Craft Tutorials for Fiction Writers Novelist David Mitchell likens a novel to an end-of-the-pier horse-race game. The rickety horses are Character, Structure, Plot, Language and Ideas: as you write they move forward but sometimes one stalls, and sometimes another surges ahead. In this series of craft…
Plot & StructureThursday February 25, 2021 Tutorial 2 from Craft Tutorials for Fiction Writers Novelist David Mitchell likens a novel to an end-of-the-pier horse-race game. The rickety horses are Character, Structure, Plot, Language and Ideas: as you write they move forward but sometimes one stalls, and sometimes another surges ahead. In this series of craft…
A Literary Marriage – Agent and Author Q & AAgent Jane Finigan and best selling author Claire FullerDate: Thursday November 12Time: 6.00 – 7.30 pmLocation: ZoomCost: £30BOOK NOW Find your dream agent and establish your writing career Jane Finigan from leading literary agency Lutyens & Rubinstein and best selling author Claire Fuller (Bitter Orange, Swimming…
The Power of Psychic DistanceGuest tutor: Author and writing coach Emma DarwinDate: Thursday October 29Time: 11 am – 1pmLocation: ZoomCost: £38BOOK NOW Psychic Distance: the fiction writer’s secret sauce 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…
Writing Weekend Online Tutorials – September 24 – 27, 2020, Contact us for bookings >