Literary festival speakers share their advice & experiences
Last Saturday, I gave up my role as a screaming soccer mum to be a beret-wearing, latte-sipping literary festival fan.
Alright, so I admit I don't own a beret, but if I did the 5th Children's and Young Adult (YA) Literature Festival held in Balmain, Sydney, would have been the perfect event to wear it to.
Put on by the NSW Writers' Centre, the festival is a shindig for aspiring writers to network with published authors, literary agents and publishers and lap up their advice and personal stories.
Of course, all the wide-eyed aspiring writers were warned that tackling a publisher to the ground to make them read their manuscript was not the way to publishing success.
"Just politely ask them for their business card," explained Brian Cook, who runs the Manuscript Appraisal Agency and is a mentor and publishing consultant.
Brian's snippet of educated wisdom was just one of the many comments I enjoyed on the day. As such, I thought I might share a few more with you now.
On writing
These following quotes and first-hand experiences relate to the writing process.
I spend 10 percent of my time writing. The other 90 percent is thinking and planning. - Crime writer Gabrielle Lord, Conspiracy 365.
Writing painful and emotional stories, you suffer along with your characters. – Author Moya Simons, Let Me Whisper You My Story.
You need to be extremely self-motivated. You have to write, and you have make deadlines and be professional about it. - Author Michelle Cooper, The Rage of Sheep.
I plan a very detailed plot-line before I write a single word. – Author Michelle Cooper.
Find your strength as a writer: write what you love, what appeals to you. - Author and scriptwriter Stephen Measday, Send Simon Savage.
On getting published
Now, a literary festival wouldn't be complete unless aspiring writers got some insight into how the hell they can get themselves published.
The thing that helped get me here (to being a published author) was a mentorship. – Author Michelle Cooper. (Michelle won a mentorship with the Children's Book Council of Australia, NSW).
Be patient. I know it can be tortuous, but we will get back to you. - Lisa Berryman, HarperCollins children's publisher.
Everything in your submission counts. Be professional. - Zoe Walton, Random House children’s and YA publisher.
You have to get out there and network: enter competitions, do courses, attend writing events. - Author Mo Johnson, Boofheads.
The writing journey is amazing and fantastic. Publication is part of it for some. For others, it’s not. It doesn’t matter. - Author Susanne Gervay, I am Jack. Susanne is also the co-head of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
On editing
The key message on editing to come out of the festival is that successful authors understand the need for collaboration with their editor.
I took on board everything (my editor) said. You have to have broad shoulders and not lose confidence. Everyone wants the same thing: a good book. – Author Moya Simons.
Courage is essential for a writer. The courage to listen. - Author Susanne Gervay.
I use Google timeline when I am fact-checking. It’s great. – Zoe Walton.
So, on that note, if you remember a quote from a published author, agent or publisher that resonated with you, let us know. Aspiring writers can never have too many inspirational messages post-its stuck to their computer.
For more information about Pamela Wilson or WriteSmart, log on to http://www.writesmart.com.au/