The Novelwriter's Toolkit
Page 31
The Literary Consultancy
Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA
T 020 7324 2563
E info@literaryconsultancy.co.uk
W www.literaryconsultancy.co.uk
Fiction is critiqued. They also scout for leading agencies.
New Writers Consultancy
35a Lower Park Road, Brightlingsea, Colchester, Essex, CO7 0JX
T 01206 303607
E submissions@new-writers-consultancy.com
Offers a variety of packages including appraisals, critiques and editing. Services are provided by Diana Hayden, an ex BBC worker, editor and proofreader, and Karen Scott, a published author. Submissions are accepted by post or email.
Oxford Literary Consultancy
191 The Slade, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7HR
T 01865 751004
E oxfordwriters@mac.com
W www.oxfordwriters.com
Offers manuscript assessment and editing, proofreading, copy-editing and mentoring services, as well as acting as a scout for leading literary agencies. They have had a number of previous successes in placing first-time writers with literary agents or publishers.
Reading and Righting
618b Finchley Road, London, NW11 7RR
T 020 8455 4564
E lambhorn@gmail.com
W www.readingandrighting.netfirms.com
A script/manuscript reading and assessment service, that also offers advice on agents and publishers. One-to-one follow-up tuition and mentoring can also be provided, as well as editing of complete manuscripts, websites and blogs. Other services include workshops and lectures.
Real Writers
PO Box 170, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 1FE
E info@real-writers.com
W www.real-writers.com
Offers a manuscript appraisal service by correspondence or email, on either a one-off or an ongoing basis.
S Ribeiro, Literary Consultant
42 West Heath Court, North End Road, London, NW11 7RR
T 020 8458 9082
E sribeiroeditor@aol.com
Freelance services include copywriting and jacket information, editing to publication standards, and detailed manuscript appraisal. Works with writers, small presses and self-published writers.
Story trackS
16 St Briac Way, Exmouth, Devon, EX8 5RN
T 01395 279659
E mail@margaretjames.com
W www.storytracks.net
Provides manuscript appraisal services. Also offers a ghost-writing service, can run workshops, and may act as a scout for a literary agency.
Susan Wallace
PO Box 95, Liverpool, L17 8WY
T 0844 330 8023
E susanwallace@blueyonder.co.uk
W www.noveleditingservices.com
Journalist and writer. Provides authors with sensitive but stern editing, copy-editing and proofreading to help lift and crystallize manuscripts with a significant, professional polish. Understanding, confidential, thorough and loyal; aims to help bring your work to fruition. Fee for entire manuscript agreed after a test example. Fast turnaround available.
The Writers’ Workshop
7 Market Street, Charlbury, Oxfordshire,
OX7 3PH
T 0845 459 9560
E info@writersworkshop.co.uk
W www.writersworkshop.co.uk
The team will appraise manuscripts and produce reports, as well as entering into dialogue over the findings of the appraisal. The editors are a team of published writers, most of whom have taught creative writing at university level and/or have won or been shortlisted for major literary awards. They can also provide help in finding agents. Check the website to view their credentials.
The Writing Coach
E Online form
W www.thewritingcoach.co.uk
Run by published novelist Jacqui Lofthouse. Can provide either a reader’s report or a full critique.
Writing Literary Consultants
E Online form
W www.writing.co.uk
Provides a range of services from assisting with submissions to publishers, to manuscript appraisals. They also act as scouts for leading literary agents.
USEFUL ORGANIZATIONS
Booktrust
Book House, 45 East Hill, London, SW18 2QZ
T 020 8516 2977
F 020 8516 2978
E query@booktrust.org.uk
W www.booktrust.org.uk
Contact Chief Executive, Viv Bird
Booktrust is an independent national charity that encourages people of all ages and cultures to engage with books and the written word. It administers seven book prizes, including the Orange Prize for Fiction. It has many ongoing projects that promote reading, including the Children’s Laureate.
The British Fantasy Society
W www.britishfantasysociety.org.uk
Contact President, Ramsey Campbell; Chair, Guy Adams
The British Fantasy Society exists to promote the genres of fantasy, science-fiction and horror in all their forms. It has an active and enthusiastic membership, and runs a number of well-respected awards.
Centerprise Literature Development Project
136–138 Kingsland High Street, London,
E8 2NS
T 020 7254 9632
E literature@centerprisetrust.org.uk
W www.centerprisetrust.org.uk
Contact Administrator, Susan Yearwood
Centerprise Literature is an arts development agency for the promotion of access to, and enjoyment of, literature in all its forms, through local and community-based initiatives. Centerprise Literature services North and North East London with two parallel programmes of work. Its core programme focuses on providing a through-line of support of writers by offering courses, specialist groups, and one-on-one support. Their magazine, Calabash, has a high reputation, focusing on Black and Asian literature. They also run the Hackney Word Festival.
The Crime Writers’ Association
T 07780 693144 (press only)
E info@thecwa.co.uk
W www.thecwa.co.uk
Contact Chair, Lesley Horton; Membership Secretary, Rebecca Tope
The Crime Writers’ Association has over 450 members. The minimum qualification for membership is to have at least one published book with a crime theme. The CWA is best known for its various ‘Dagger’ awards for crime fiction.
Historical Novel Society
E Online form
W www.historicalnovelsociety.org
Contact Founder/Publisher, Richard Lee
The Historical Novel Society promotes all aspects of historical fiction. It provides support and opportunities for new writers, information for students, booksellers and librarians, as well as a community for authors, readers, agents and publishers. The society publishes the quarterly Historical Novels Review magazine.
The Horror Writers Association UK
E hwa@horror.org
W www.horror.org/uk
The Horror Writers Association UK is the UK chapter of the Horror Writers Association, a worldwide organization of writers and publishing professionals. The HWA is dedicated to the pursuit of professional conduct within the industry, and to creating quality horror literature. Please note that the email contact given is to the HWA central US site.
The Irish Writers’ Union
19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, Republic of Ireland
T 00353 1 872 1302
E iwu@ireland-writers.com
W www.ireland-writers.com
Contact Chair, Helen Dwyer; Secretary, Brid Quinn
The Irish Writers’ Union represents the interests of all Irish writers, whether they were born in Ireland or elsewhere. Writers who are Irish by attachment, inclination or persuasion are also welcome to join. The Union offers a model contract for guidance to members and assists in disputes if, or when, things go wrong. It also acts as a watchdog on both contract and royalty payments, for members or for their estate.
> New Writing North
Holy Jesus Hospital, City Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 2AS
T 0191 233 3850
F 0191 447 7686
E office@newwritingnorth.com
W www.newwritingnorth.com
New Writing North (NWN) is the writing development agency for the North East of England (the area covered by Arts Council England North East). It aims to create an environment in which new writing in all genres can flourish and develop. It merges individual development work from writers across all media, with educational work and the production of creative projects. It works with writers from different genres and forms to develop career opportunities, new commissions, projects, residencies, publications and live events. NWN manages the Northern Writers’ Awards, and also aims to support writers at all stages of their careers through mentoring programmes and the creation of professional development training initiatives and projects.
New Writing South
9 Jew Street, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 1UT
T 01273 735353
E Online form
W www.newwritingsouth.com
A writing organization open to all creative writers in the South East of England, and also for those seeking creative writers, and to other creative writing agencies, including all producers of dramatic writing. Sister organization of New Writing North.
Public Lending Right
Richard House, Sorbonne Close, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6DA
T 01642 604699
F 01642 615641
W www.plr.uk.com
Under the United Kingdom’s PLR Scheme authors receive payments from government funds for the free borrowing of their books from public libraries. To qualify for payment, authors must apply to register their books with the PLR organization. Payments are made annually on the basis of loans data collected from a sample of public libraries in the UK. All authors can benefit from this; indeed books that may not necessarily have been successes in the high street might earn pleasant fees from library borrowing over time. Most writers would be advised to register their titles for PLR.
The Royal Society of Literature
Somerset House, Strand, London, WC2R 1LA
T 020 7845 4676
E info@rslit.org
W www.rslit.org
Contact President, Michael Holroyd; Chair, Anne Chisholm
The Royal Society of Literature is entirely devoted to the promotion and enjoyment of excellence in British writing. Founded in 1820, past and present Fellows (who are elected) include some of the most eminent names in British literature. Membership is open to all. Regular meetings with speakers from the world of literature are held at Somerset House; and members of the public are welcome. The society also has major annual awards for both fiction and non-fiction. It supports the work of writers in many ways, including campaigning for libraries to remain providers of good books above all else, and to keep English literature at the heart of the learning curriculum.
Science Fiction Foundation
75 Rosslyn Avenue, Harold Wood, Essex,
RM3 0RG
W www.sf-foundation.org
Contact Roger Robinson
The aim of the SFF is to promote science-fiction and bring together those who read, write, study, teach, research or archive science-fiction in Britain and the rest of the world. It also supports science-fiction at conventions, at conferences and at other events that bring those interested in science-fiction together. The four main objectives of the SFF are: to provide research facilities for anyone wishing to study science-fiction; to investigate and promote the usefulness of science-fiction in education; to disseminate information about science-fiction; and to promote a discriminating understanding of the nature of science-fiction. Its main activities include publication of the journal Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction, and supporting the research library The Science Fiction Foundation Collection, at the University of Liverpool.
Scottish Book Trust
Sandeman House, Trunk’s Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR
T 0131 524 0160
F 0131 524 0161
E info@scottishbooktrust.com
W www.scottishbooktrust.com
Contact CEO Marc Lambert; General Manager, Jeanette Harris
Scottish Book Trust is Scotland’s national agency for reading and writing. It promotes reading and books. Under its umbrella is Live Literature Scotland, a national initiative that enables Scottish citizens to engage with the nation’s authors, playwrights, poets, storytellers and illustrators. It is the only writer bursary scheme of its kind in the UK, subsidizing the cost of 1,200 community visits by writers in all areas of Scotland, and is extremely popular. More than 500 writers who are available to conduct readings and literary events in Scotland are listed and searchable on the SBT database.
Society for Storytelling
PO Box 2344, Reading, RG6 7FG
T 0118 935 1381
E Online form
W www.sfs.org.uk
Contact Chair, Martin Manasse; Treasurer, Administrator and Newsletter Editor, Tina Bilbé
The SfS is an open organization that welcomes anyone with an interest in oral storytelling. It aims to provide an information network for oral storytelling, stories, storytellers and storytelling clubs, and organizes storytelling events, such as storytelling festivals. The SfS publishes Storylines magazine and the quarterly Directory of Storytellers.
The Society of Authors
84 Drayton Gardens, London, SW10 9SB
T 020 7373 6642
F 020 7373 5768
E info@societyofauthors.org
W www.societyofauthors.org
Contact Chair, Tracy Chevalier; General Secretary, Mark Le Fanu
The Society of Authors is a non-profit organization, founded to protect the rights and further the interests of authors. The society offers grants to previously published writers who are British by birth and under the age of 40, to benefit them in research and travel. The twice-yearly grants, awarded in April and September, are normally between £1,000 and £2,000 and rarely exceed £4,000. Authors must submit: a copy of their latest published book; a brief history of their writing career; details of their current work; size of advance (if any); names of publishers already approached or working with; overall financial position and why the grant is needed; details of past grants; confirmation of their eligibility to enter; and copies of past reviews (if any). Full application details are available on the website. See entries under Bursaries, Fellowships and Grants and Competitions and Prizes for more information. See the website for details of regional groups, including The Society of Authors, Scotland.
The Society of Authors, Scotland
(See The Society of Authors)
Society of Women Writers & Journalists
c/o Secretary, Wendy Hughes, 14 Laburnum Walk, Rustington, West Sussex, BN16 3QW
W www.swwj.co.uk
Contact Chair, Jean Morris; Membership Secretary, Wendy Hughes
The UK’s longest established organization for professional women writers. The aims of the SWWJ include the encouragement of literary achievement, the upholding of professional standards, and social contact with fellow writers and others in the field, including editors, publishers, broadcasters and agents. It is an international association and is affiliated to women’s associations across the world. The society has been accepting male writers as associate members since 2004. See the website for regional contacts and activities. Many of the London meetings are held at The New Cavendish Club, 44 Great Cumberland Place, London W1.
Women Writers Network
Venue: Conway Hall, 5 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London, WC1R 4RL
E info@womenwriters.org.uk
WWN is a networking group for professional women writers. Most are freelance, some are salaried, and together they represent a wide range of writing interests. WWN is not a writers’ circle, but a group formed to help women further their professional development. The usual venue is Conway H
all, on the second Monday of every month – see the website for further details.
The Writer’s Compass
NAWE, PO Box 1, Sherrif Hutton, York,
YO60 7YU
T 0131 553 2210
E p.johnston@nawe.co.uk
W www.nawe.co.uk/the-writers-compass.html
Contact Director, Philippa Johnston
The Writer’s Compass (formerly Literaturetraining) is the UK’s only dedicated provider of free information and advice on professional development for the literature sector. It aims to help writers and literature professionals – at every stage of their career – to invest in themselves and their professional development, so that they can realize their full potential. Writers, and those involved in some way with creating or supporting new writing and literature, will find information on training and professional development opportunities on the website. If advice is needed on how to move forwards professionally, The Writer’s Compass can offer various forms of help.
The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain
40 Rosebery Avenue, London, EC1R 4RX
T 020 7833 0777
F 020 7833 4777
E erik@writersguild.org.uk
W www.writersguild.org.uk
Contact President, David Edgar; Chair, Katharine Way; General Secretary, Bernie Corbett; Admin Assistant, Erik Pohl