We’re delighted to welcome Claire to our Wiltshire retreat on June 5. Her first novel, Our Endless Numbered Days won the 2015 Desmond Elliott Prize for debut fiction and was a Richard and Judy Book Club book in 2016. Her second novel, Swimming Lessons was published in early 2017, and the third, Bitter Orange will…
For writers working on a novel or work of fiction – 5 day writing retreat with editorial support at a historic house in Wiltshire from Sunday June 3 to Friday June 8, 2018. Also includes workshops and dinners with best selling author Claire Fuller and Orion fiction publisher and editor, Kirsty Dunseath. Five night stay in a…
We asked author Fiona Mitchell, author of The Maids Room to give some tips to writers entering the 2018 competition: What will you be looking for in the competition line up? I’d love to see a brilliant character-led novel with a dynamic, original voice. I adore uplifting fiction, but am also a sucker for a book…
The Award is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre Following on from the success of our inaugural First Novel Award in 2017, we are asking for submissions for the 2018 Award. Winner: £1,000 + introduction to literary agent, Madeleine Milburn Runner Up: £250 + manuscript review from…
We asked Carolyn to tell us what winning the inaugural Award meant to her: “Winning the 2017 Bluepencilagency First Novel Award marked a real breakthrough in my writing life. The slightly overwhelming news that I had won first prize (I found myself shaking uncontrollably!) was followed by an exciting week involving a London photo-shoot with…
Friday 15 June, 2018 – 9.30 am to 4.00 pm, The University of Winchester, Hampshire STORY, STRUCTURE AND CHARACTER ARCS It’s a character’s desires, fears and actions that shape story. This workshop looks at how the protagonist’s character arc can give structure to a novel. Sara and Emma discuss what a central narrative is, and…
We had a successful end to 2017 with two clients signing with agents in the same week. Congratulations to Jayne Swinton and Triona Campbell, both of whom are on the road to publishing success. Sara worked with Jayne on two of her novels and it was while chatting to Rachel Mills at Furniss Lawton that…
The lovely Fi looked after us so well at Asthall with delicious healthy meals and snacks. Her beetroot and feta cheese tart was a favourite. Our editor Oliver James was lucky enough to celebrate his birthday with an epic chocolate cake!
Marcel Theroux’ creative writing workshop held on November 15 in the stunning ballroom at Asthall Manor was greatly enjoyed by our writers. Here’s what he had to say about storytelling: Story is all around us, all the time Characters are defined by their relationships Story happens when characters want things Story…
Carolyn Kirby, Winner of the First Novel Award for Half Of You “I started writing as my children got older and I began to find, between the bustle of family life and stints of English language teaching, a few solitary hours in each week. I loved how those hours on my own, researching, imagining and…