Participating in Write-Now Live!

I had a great day yesterday taking part in Penguin Random House’s WriteNow Live event in Birmingham. This was the first time that I have networked as a writer, and my immediate thoughts were why have I not done so sooner? I was fortunate enough to have made it through the preliminary stage for this event, and heard there were over 900 submissions.

I started the process of submitting my manuscript A Flight of Fire to agents last year and have done only a handful. It was great to hear from both authors and agents yesterday on many topics but, in particular, I’ve really wanted advice on writing a synopsis. I’ve read a lot of really helpful things online but received even more priceless advice yesterday, which I’ve immediately carried into a session this morning!

It’s great that Penguin Random House has started this initiative but even better that they’ve taken it on the road to reach out to writers beyond London, in Manchester and Birmingham. I really hope that other publishers follow suit and attend even more cities in the north and Midlands.

For now, I am feeling very positive about my writing. I already had belief in my novel and hope that others see potential in it but after a one-to-one session with a well-respected editor, who I felt was really enthusiastic about my story and ideas, I feel more determined than ever. I looked at all of the authors’ books dotted around the building and hoped more than ever that one day I will be able to see my ideas actualised in the same way.